What kind of city is Topeka ??? Does anyone know ?? (Wichita: relocating, real estate)

[innerpeacezz]

I need some info on Topeka, Kansas I was considering moving there. What areas should I not live in.

[Plains10]

You can send information such as e-mail to the poster in a private message or direct message if they want information regarding real estate.

[Visvaldis]

Isn't Topeka the home of Reverend Phelps and his bizarre group of followers?

[Plains10]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Isn't Topeka the home of Reverend Phelps and his bizarre group of followers?

That would be correct.
Kansas is also trying to relegate itself to permanent flyover status by challenging a coal plant ruling that was denied by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The state has definitely got some problems embracing new technology such as wind energy. Kansas is the 3rd best state in the US to develop wind energy.

[Plains10]

Originally Posted by innerpeacezz

I need some info on Topeka, Kansas I was considering moving there. What areas should I not live in.

Avoid the older parts of town, and the east side. I would highly recommend Lawrence, Kansas which is just a little east of Topeka. Housing is a little more expensive in Lawrence, but it is a neat University town. If you are looking for a small town you could try Silver Lake which is NW of Topeka.

[shonner]

Check the websites on the internet that give crime indexes for cities in the US. I think Topeka will surprise you (ie. crime index is high). It used to be a nice town, but crime and gang activity has become a problem. What used to be lovely areas (Westboro, historic Potwin, and the western edge of the city) are in decline.

If you do decide to move there, check out the neighborhood where you plan to move. I'd also recommend you get a detailed crime report from the police dept. I think the newspaper, the Topeka Capital Journal, also features a zip code map detailing crimes within the various areas, but I'm not sure about that.

I agree that Lawrence is a much better location, and it's just 25 miles east of Topeka, a short trek on the turnpike. Good luck!

[herreman74]

Originally Posted by shonner

Check the websites on the internet that give crime indexes for cities in the US. I think Topeka will surprise you (ie. crime index is high). It used to be a nice town, but crime and gang activity has become a problem. What used to be lovely areas (Westboro, historic Potwin, and the western edge of the city) are in decline.

If you do decide to move there, check out the neighborhood where you plan to move. I'd also recommend you get a detailed crime report from the police dept. I think the newspaper, the Topeka Capital Journal, also features a zip code map detailing crimes within the various areas, but I'm not sure about that.

I agree that Lawrence is a much better location, and it's just 25 miles east of Topeka, a short trek on the turnpike. Good luck!

Potwin and Westboro on the decline? What exactly about these places indicates they are not living up to their reputation as beautiful neighborhoods?I live very near Potwin and it looks just as nice as ever. Topeka is not a perfect place (and as someone who didn't grow up here, I feel I have a good "outsider" perspective on the place), but I disagree with blanket statements that suggest that every older neighborhood in the city is dumpy, dangerous, and not worth the time of someone considering a move to the community. While there are some truly bad neighborhoods in Topeka (as there are in most cities), there are many great places to live as well and not all of them are located on the fringes or outside the city.
As for police statistics, visit The Official Web Site of the City of Topeka and go to the Police Dept. section of the website. You can view extensive crime stats and no, the info is not arranged by zip code (which in Topeka would not be very useful since one zipcode may cover a large tract of the city and include a wide range of neighborhoods and commercial areas). Just do your research and if you are serious about relocating to Topeka, come with an open mind. Topeka, like all places, is what you make of it. You may have to look a little harder in Topeka for cool places and people, but they are here.

[TheShoeboxDiaries541]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Isn't Topeka the home of Reverend Phelps and his bizarre group of followers?

So, everyone with an opinion that doesn't fall in line with yours is bizarre?

[Plains10]

Phelps just lost a big lawsuit. Most people do not like the man and his "group of followers" protesting at funerals of soldiers.

[AndyJ]

Originally Posted by Plains10

That would be correct.
Kansas is also trying to relegate itself to permanent flyover status by challenging a coal plant ruling that was denied by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The state has definitely got some problems embracing new technology such as wind energy. Kansas is the 3rd best state in the US to develop wind energy.

Most of my family is from Kansas, and after years and years of driving from New Mexico to Wichita and KC, I've wondered why the state doesn't utilize one of its greatest resources - wind. I had a teacher in middle school who, once I told him I had lived in KS and my family was from there, said something to the effect of "Oh yeah, I drove through Kansas one time. All the trees are practically bent at a 90 degree angle." While that's quite an exaggeration, I would certainly think that the state could benefit from the implementation of wind farms. Maybe someday