The capital of Kansas, Topeka is the seat of Shawnee County and center of a metropolitan statistical area that includes all of Shawnee County. It lies on both banks of the Kansas River about 60 miles upriver from the point where the Kansas joins the Missouri River. Soldier and Shunganunga Creeks, the two tributaries of Kansas river flow through the city. Topeka is an important center for mental illness. Toeka has experienced tremendous growth in business in the last two decades with several Fortune 500 companies relocating in the area.

April and September receive seventy percent of the total precipitation of Topeka. Topka is prone to floods, but the construction of dams has reduced the problem. Summers are usually hot, with low humidity and southerly winds while winters are cold and short.

Area : 56 square miles (2000)

Latitude : 39.04 N, Longitude: 95.69 W

Elevation : Ranges from 876 feet to 971 feet above sea level

Average Temperatures : January, 26.0° F; July, 78.0° F; average, 65.1° F

Average Annual Precipitation : 33 inches of rain, 21 inches of snow

Population : 121,946 (as on July 2005)

Attractions

• Casino
  
• Topeka Zoo
  
• Gage Park Reinisch Rose Garden
  

Local Festivals

• Apple Festival - Oct. 1, 2006
  
• Cider Day Fall Festival - Sept. 23-24, 2006
  
• Inter-Tribal Pow Wow - Sept. 1-3, 2006
  
• Shawnee County Fair - July 22-23 & 27-30, 2006
  
• Sunflower Music Festival - June 9-17, 2006
  
• Topeka Jazz Festival - May 26-28, 2006