Facts about Topeka

[Saulbadguy]

During Ross Perot's 1992 presidential run he called Topeka, "A place I would be proud to call home" which the Kansas Republican Party had  engraved in granite at the local party headquarters.  However, he was later quoted as saying the same about cities across the country leading to the destruction of the granite engraving and it's subsequent replacement with an engraving of wheat and a meadowlark.

Source please.

Sounds very Topeka-ish, though.

[steve dave]

Topekans consume the third most Hormel Chili per capita in the United States*

*cities with greather than 50k population

[Saulbadguy]

Topekans consume the third most Hormel Chili per capita in the United States*

*cities with greather than 50k population

Kind of gross but I used to love that stuff as a kid.  I would get mad when my mom would take off that layer of orange fat before she made it.

[kitten_mittons]

Topekans consume the third most Hormel Chili per capita in the United States*

*cities with greather than 50k population

This is the most Topekaey fact of all time.

[steve dave]

During a promotional campaign in 1979 the Topps Baseball Card company issued a series of regional cards depicting famous politicians.  The politician depicted on the Topeka card was Richard B. Ogilvie who was actually from Kansas City.  In response the mayor of the city of Topeka called for a bonfire to burn all Topps Baseball Cards but there was minimal turnout.  

[steve dave]

George Randers, the inventor of the peanut butter based edible play doh, was born in Topeka but relocated to St. Louis at a young age

[WillieWatanabe]

this is like a game of Balderdash.

[jtksu]

Orange Leaf has contacted me about placing a franchise in my basement.  And garage.  And shed.  Seriously, they will put a franchise just about anywhere.

[Saulbadguy]

Orange Leaf has contacted me about placing a franchise in my basement.  And garage.  And shed.  Seriously, they will put a franchise just about anywhere.

You should accept.

[kitten_mittons]

Orange Leaf has contacted me about placing a franchise in my basement.  And garage.  And shed.  Seriously, they will put a franchise just about anywhere.

You should accept.

Yeah, garage first, obviously.

[raquetcat]

George Randers, the inventor of the peanut butter based edible play doh, was born in Topeka but relocated to St. Louis at a young age

this should come in really handy when I'm looking for a house

[slucat]

George Randers, the inventor of the peanut butter based edible play doh, was born in Topeka but relocated to St. Louis at a young age

this should come in really handy when I'm looking for a house

Need more info, type and size of house, budget...
As a general rule, the presidental streets and the state streets are rougher neighborhoods. 

When I first was looking to move to Topeka (I knew nothing of the city, other than where my office was), I called about a house rental and didn't know where it was, I asked about the neighborhood and the landlord said "well it IS highland park" and said no more...I drove by the place and across the street there were dogs standing on top of beat up cars chained to the porch hand rails...I didn't end up living there.

[Panjandrum]

George Randers, the inventor of the peanut butter based edible play doh, was born in Topeka but relocated to St. Louis at a young age

this should come in really handy when I'm looking for a house

Need more info, type and size of house, budget...
As a general rule, the presidental streets and the state streets are rougher neighborhoods. 

When I first was looking to move to Topeka (I knew nothing of the city, other than where my office was), I called about a house rental and didn't know where it was, I asked about the neighborhood and the landlord said "well it IS highland park" and said no more...I drove by the place and across the street there were dogs standing on top of beat up cars chained to the porch hand rails...I didn't end up living there.

I'm originally from the Lake Shawnee area.  I don't know what your price range is, but there are some pretty decent neighborhoods by the SCABA baseball diamonds and east of the lake.  Some south as well.  A lot of houses in the $150-300 range.  I'm pretty biased to this area.  If I was forced to move back, this is where I'd move.

Then there's stuff out west in the Washburn Rural area that's decent.  Mostly anything west of Fairlawn, south of 10th street.  At least it was decent when I lived there about ten years ago.  It still seems nice when we stay and visit relatives.

There are some neighborhoods around Washburn University (to the North and West) that are alright.  Avoid any area directly to the east and south of Washburn's campus.  Everything east of campus going along 21st street is pretty much a war zone until you hit Whittenburg.

Potwin is pretty nice.

There's some decent housing North of the river, but Shawnee Heights and Washburn Rural are better school districts than Seaman.

Never, never, never live in the Highland Park District.  Never.  Never ever.

If you do an MLS search based on school district, this is what I'd say:

Shawnee Heights - Yes (SE part of town)
Washburn Rural - Yes (W part of town)
Seaman - Maybe (N part of town)
Topeka High - Maybe (Downtown/Center of town)
Topeka West - Maybe (West of Downtown-ish)
Highland Park - Avoid like the plague

That's pretty much it.

[steve dave]

i'm not 100% certain that raquetcat is moving to topeka

[Winters]

Topekans consume the third most Hormel Chili per capita in the United States*

*cities with greather than 50k population

Incredible

[The1BigWillie]

Topeka is the home of the smiling character Alfred E. Newman, long recognized as the logo character for Mad Magazine. The character was the logo for a Topeka dentist who professed his services "didn't hurt a bit!"

[steve dave]

Lynne Lipton, the voice of Cheetara from Thundercats, is a Topeka native and lent her voice to many local Topeka television and radio spots before hitting it big

[Panjandrum]

i'm not 100% certain that raquetcat is moving to topeka

 

[pissclams]

Topekans consume the third most Hormel Chili per capita in the United States*

*cities with greather than 50k population

Kind of gross but I used to love that stuff as a kid.  I would get mad when my mom would take off that layer of orange fat before she made it.

i bought some of this chili today to use on my chili dogs at dinner tonight.  can't wait for my C-Dogs. 

[Saulbadguy]

Topekans consume the third most Hormel Chili per capita in the United States*

*cities with greather than 50k population

Kind of gross but I used to love that stuff as a kid.  I would get mad when my mom would take off that layer of orange fat before she made it.

i bought some of this chili today to use on my chili dogs at dinner tonight.  can't wait for my C-Dogs. 

What are you doing with the layer of fat

[jtksu]

My dad lives out by Lake Shawnee.  The new SCABA fields are very impressive.  And Hormel chili is great for making skillet queso.

[_33]

George Randers, the inventor of the peanut butter based edible play doh, was born in Topeka but relocated to St. Louis at a young age

this should come in really handy when I'm looking for a house

Need more info, type and size of house, budget...
As a general rule, the presidental streets and the state streets are rougher neighborhoods.  

When I first was looking to move to Topeka (I knew nothing of the city, other than where my office was), I called about a house rental and didn't know where it was, I asked about the neighborhood and the landlord said "well it IS highland park" and said no more...I drove by the place and across the street there were dogs standing on top of beat up cars chained to the porch hand rails...I didn't end up living there.

I played little league baseball at Highland Park. It was a step above Optimist and a step below Suburban. Way below SCABA and probably about equal with Ken Berry.

Every now and then you would hear a shot ring out from the projects beyond the outfield.

P.S. We beat a SCABA team one time.   

[pissclams]

Topekans consume the third most Hormel Chili per capita in the United States*

*cities with greather than 50k population

Kind of gross but I used to love that stuff as a kid.  I would get mad when my mom would take off that layer of orange fat before she made it.

i bought some of this chili today to use on my chili dogs at dinner tonight.  can't wait for my C-Dogs. 

What are you doing with the layer of fat

i cook it right into the chili.  here's my philo on the fat cap- it wouldn't be there if it didn't need to be there.

[EMAWgeddon]

I used to go to a great thai restaurant across from sunflower bmw when my car was getting serviced 

Sunflower bmw is a real crap hole though.

[wiley]

Shawnee Heights - Yes (SE part of town)
Washburn Rural - Yes (W part of town)
Seaman - Maybe (N part of town)
Topeka High - Maybe (Downtown/Center of town)
Topeka West - Maybe (West of Downtown-ish)
Highland Park - Avoid like the plague

That's pretty much it.

Just send your kids to Hayden High School.  And live on the east side of town only go to Lawrence for shopping/entertainment purposes

you forgot to add