# Timeline of Topeka, Kansas

The following is a timeline of the history of Topeka, Kansas, USA.

## 19th century

* 1854 - Topeka Association organized.
* 1855
** Constitution Hall built.
** Topeka Constitutional Convention held.
* 1856
** Free-state government installed in Topeka, March 1856.
* 1857
** Topeka incorporated.
** State Library of Kansas established.
* 1859
** Kansas State Record newspaper begins publication.
** Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway chartered and set up offices and work shops.
** Wyandotte Constitution makes Topeka the temporary state capital.
** Topeka Cemetery established.
* 1860
** Grace Church incorporated.
** Drought.
** Population: 759.
* 1861
** Wyandotte Constitution designates Topeka as state capitol.
** Kansas legislature convenes.
** Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka chartered.
* 1863 - Kansas Farmer begins publication.
* 1864
** Topeka threatened during Price's Raid.
** Fort Simple built in the fall in to defend against Confederate troops during Price's Raid.
* 1865
** Lincoln College founded.
** Harrison School built.
** Union Pacific railway begins operating in Eugene.
* 1867 - Fort Simple torn down in April.
* 1868 - Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad construction begins.
* 1870
** Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library established.
** Population: 5,790.
* 1871 - Topeka High School established.
* 1872 - Topeka State Hospital opens.
* 1873 - Kansas Academy of Science incorporated.
* 1875 - Kansas Historical Society founded.
* 1878 - Topeka Harvey House opens.
* 1879 - Daily Capital newspaper begins publication.
* 1880 - Population: 15,452.
* 1881 - Chartered as a city.
* 1883 - Public Library building constructed.
* 1886 - Population: 25,005.
* 1887
** Governor's Mansion built.
** Topeka Golden Giants baseball team formed.
* 1890 - Population: 31,007.
* 1894 - Christ's Hospital established.
* 1895 - Topeka Industrial and Educational Institute and Stormont Hospital and Training School established.
* 1897 - Topeka Tent and Awning Company established.
* 1899 - Gage Park established.

## 20th century

* 1900
** Bethel Bible College founded.
** Population: 33,608.
* 1902 - Smith Automobile Company founded.
* 1903 - Kansas State Capitol building constructed.
* 1905 - Topeka Industrial Institute later rebuilt as a women's prison.
* 1906 - Bethesda Hospital established.
* 1909 - St. Francis Hospital established.
* 1910 - Population: 43,684.
* 1911 - Hayden High School established.
* 1914 - G.A.R. Memorial Hall built.
* 1917 - Grace Episcopal Cathedral built.
* 1920 - Menninger Clinic opens.
* 1926 - Jayhawk Theatre opens.
* 1928 - College of the Sisters of Bethany closed.
* 1933 - Topeka Zoo opens.
* 1936 - Sumner Elementary School built.
* 1941 - Topeka Army Air Field established.
* 1948 - Topeka station established.
* 1950
** Population: 78,791.
** Railroad station built.
* 1952 - Topeka Lutheran School opens.
* 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education decided.
* 1955 - Westboro Baptist Church opens.
* 1962 - Cedar Crest (mansion) becomes state governor's official residence.
* 1965 - Topeka Genealogical Society founded.
* 1966 - Tornado.
* 1976 - Forbes Field (airport) in operation.
* 1980 - Cair Paravel-Latin School founded.
* 1984 - Kansas Museum of History opens.
* 1987 - Sunflower State Expo arena opens.
* 1988 - West Ridge Mall opens.
* 1989 - Heartland Park Topeka motorsports facility opens.
* 1991 - Topeka Performing Arts Center opens.
* 1997 - City website online (approximate date).
* 1998 - Topeka ScareCrows ice hockey team founded.

## 21st century
### 2000s

* 2003 - Kansas Koyotes football team formed.
* 2004
** Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site opens.
** Topeka RoadRunners ice hockey team founded.
* 2005
** Bill Bunten becomes mayor.
** Topeka Golden Giants baseball team formed.
* 2006 - Railroad station built.
* 2008 - North Topeka Arts District formed.
* 2009 - Topeka Mudcats women's football team founded.

### 2010s

* 2010
** Kaw River State Park opens.
** Population: 127,473.