To get a feel for the size and demographics of Topeka City, you can look at the population and steets. The city has a population of 125,819, or almost 30,000 people. This is spread across 61 square miles. Topeka is made up of people of different races, and the census shows that 14.3% of the population is Hispanic/Latino.
Despite the tornado that devastated the city in 1966, Topeka has continued to grow economically. During that storm, Washburn University suffered severe damage but received financial support to rebuild their facilities. Today, their facilities have over a million square feet of modern space. In addition, Topeka's population patterns were shaped by the closure of Forbes Air Force Base. Ultimately, the citizens of Topeka voted to build a new airport and change the city's government structure. In addition, West Ridge Mall opened in 1988.
The city's racial discrimination problems persisted long after Brown v. Board of Education. New lawsuits sought to force suburban school districts to integrate their schools. In the late 1980s, a Task Force to Overcome Racism in Topeka was established. Its members were elected to serve as the city's mayor and school board. The city is located in the Kansas state capital, and its people are proud of their history and culture.
The area was originally inhabited by Native Americans. In 1854, a military road linked Fort Leavenworth to Fort Riley. Soon, nine men formed the Topeka Town Association. Cyrus K. Holliday became mayor and founded the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. The railroad grew in popularity, and the population of the city more than doubled. After the Depression, the city's economic activity was greatly improved by the development of the automobile industry. The Smith Automobile Company was based in Topeka for ten years.