1. Topekan Women Are Total Badasses
Topeka has produced quite a few formidable women throughout its history, including first female U.S. Treasurer Georgia Neese Clark Gray, first female full-term elected US. Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker and Joan Finney, Kansas' oldest (and first female) governor. And let's not forget the lovely ladies of Mariachi Estrella, the first all-female mariachi band. From Topeka. Who knew?
But its not just historical ladies making badass history. The women of Topeka are some of the most badass in the world. Wanna know how tough they grow ‘em here? Just ask the local Roller Derby crew The Capital City Crushers.
2. Folks In Topeka Don’t Take No Guff From Anybody
Topekans aren't shy when it comes to expressing their opinions. Citizens have rallied to protest causes ranging from ugly public sculptures to the city's attempts to seize private property under the eminent domain law.
The most recent Topekan protest to make national headlines involved first lady Michelle Obama. It seems she'd been slated to speak at the graduation ceremony for Topeka's high schools to honor the 50th anniversary of the aforementioned Brown v. Board of Education, but that didn't sit well with Topeka's about-to-be-upstaged students. The grads and their parents—over 1,200 of them—signed a petition that caused the FLOTUS to change her plans to a separate speaking engagement. Now Topekan high schoolers can have their big day free from Secret Service pat-downs.
See what we mean, Topeka ain’t taking no guff, not even from the White House.
3. Topekans Are Incredibly Proud Of Their Role In Civil Rights History
In fact, Topekans’ commitment to equality began back in the 1850s, when the state's fierce abolitionist stance earned it the sobriquet “Bleeding Kansas.” What really put Topeka on the map, however, was the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case of 1954 which led to the integration of public schools all over the nation.
Monroe Elementary, the one-time segregated school attended by plaintiff Oliver Brown's daughter, closed down in 1975, but was later re-opened as a National Historic Site that tops the list of local attractions Topekans love to show off to out-of-town visitors.
4. Topekans Are God-Fearing Folks
As well they might be, with several zip codes beginning with 666 and the Gates of Hell looming in nearby Stull. Topeka is also the birthplace of the Pentecostal movement—which is pretty, um, devout.
Topeka's also got the state's oldest continuous Baha'i community, one of the earliest to be established in the Western hemisphere, as well as one of the nation's only Presbyterian churches to have its entire sanctuary done up with Tiffany stained glass.
5. But They're Totally Embarrassed By The Westboro Baptists
Yeah, Topekans are less than thrilled to be the hometown of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church and ground zero for their, err, controversial protests.
Although Topekans do derive a certain amount of entertainment value to be had from the church's sheer over-the-top insanity—members once picketed a local hardware store for the crime of selling Swedish vacuum cleaners! Seems the Swedes are kinda down on hate speech, darn lingonberry-eating liberals that they are.
The coolest thing about Topeka's reaction to the presence of the loony Phelps clan is located right across the street from Westboro Baptist HQ—the rainbow-painted Equality House owned by the organization Planting Peace. Equality House has hosted gay weddings, a drag show, and even a little girl's “Pink Lemonade for Peace” stand, and Topekans have turned out in droves to show their support because they're just awesome like that.
6. Topekans Are Crazy About Their Furriest Family Members
Topekans also love to pamper their pets, and the city is home to numerous pet supply stores, groomers, doggie daycares and the like. Where they really shine, though, is in their commitment to helping pets in need—Topeka has several rescue organizations including Happy Tails, Helping Hands Humane Society, Saving Death Row Dogs and Second Chance Animal Rescue Society. In fact, I got my very own rescue Eskie in Topeka, which is why I'm maybe being a bit soft on you guys. Seriously, Topeka, I meant to be snarkier, but one look at his cute little face and...I just can't.
7. Topekans Are Tech-Savvy
Topeka is not only home to electronic payment system management firm Yantra Services, but it also has one of ISG Technology's business data centers. NewTek was also founded in Topeka by Tim Jenison, known as the “Father of Desktop Video” for his invention of something called Video Toaster (another Topeka creation). This, um, whatever it was, evidently revolutionized video editing back in prehistoric times when wild Commodore Amigas roamed the earth.
8. Topekans Are So Over That Whole Yellow Brick Road Thing
Okay, so they like the Wizard of Oz as much as anyone – in fact, it was a Topeka native who built the original Land of Oz, a 5,000 square foot animated ode to obsession that later relocated to Liberal. But seriously, knock off the “'and your little dog, too” business, that got old in, like, 1939.
9. To Folks In Topeka, Talking About The Weather Ain’t Small Talk
In and episode of “Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends,” the character Bloo is watching the Weather Channel when the weatherman announces it's “hot in Topeka” Bloo just goes off, repeating “Hot, hot, hot in Topeka!” Well, it certainly is. In the summertime, Topeka gets more than its share of 100 plus degree days.
Wintertimes, temps can and do drop below zero. And in the spring...that's when things take a turn for the dramatic, what with Topeka being right in the heart of Tornado Alley.
While Cartoon Network may think Topeka weather is synonymous with boredom, the truth of the matter is that Topeka is actually one of the most action packed things about the city. When a Topekan starts talking about the weather, you better listen...or prepare to find yourself saying “Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.”
Feature Image Source: Flickr user Marion Doss
