Topeka, Kansas

Topeka is the capital city of Kansas. Sited on bottomlands along the Kansas River, Topeka is the seat of Shawnee County, with a population of nearly 127,500. Though most employment is in the health, educational and social service fields, Topeka also has a thriving manufacturing base, anchored by companies such as Collective Brands (Payless Shoesource), Hill's Pet Nutrition, and yearbook publishers Jostens Printing and Publishing. Historic attractions include the Brown V. Board of Education Historic Site, the Great Overland Station of the Santa Fe Railroad, and the Olde Prairie Town at Ward Meade Historic Site. Topeka was also home to the world famous Menninger Clinic from its inception in 1925 until 2002.

Topeka's first permanent settlers arrived in 1842 and established a ferry service across the Kansas River. Topeka was incorporated as a city in 1857. As an important point in the route westward, Topeka became the nexus of several railroad lines, including the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, which later merged with another railroad to become the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Today, the BNSF Railway Company, as it is known, maintains one of the world's largest railroad shops in Topeka. Although flooding was a perpetual threat until the early 1930s, agriculture, meatpacking and the railroads were prominent industries in Topeka until the Depression. During World War II, emphasis shifted to manufacturing, with the establishment of a DuPont Chemical Company plant and a Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company plant. Forbes Air Force Base was also founded in 1941. In 1966, the city experienced a devastating tornado, and Forbes Air Force Base closed in 1974. Despite these setbacks, Topeka's economy recovered, with companies such as Goodyear and Hallmark still active today. In recent years, the city has also focused on Arts development with projects such as the Topeka Performing Arts Center, which opened in 1991.

Topeka has a diverse history of manufacturing and construction activity, making asbestos exposure a concern for workers. Workers and their loved ones who have been exposed to asbestos may be at risk for asbestos cancer. If you were exposed to asbestos in Topeka and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should also consider contacting an asbestos law firm.

Jobsites in Topeka where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Topeka, KS have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.