Tecumseh, Kansas

Unincorporated community in Shawnee County, Kansas

Unincorporated community in Kansas, United States

Tecumseh, Kansas

Unincorporated community

The main part of Tecumseh has a church, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library bookmobile stop and book drop-off box, and United States Postal Service office.

KDOT map of Shawnee County (legend)

Tecumseh

Show map of Kansas

Tecumseh

Show map of the United States

Coordinates: 39°2′53″N 95°34′45″W﻿ / ﻿39.04806°N 95.57917°W﻿ / 39.04806; -95.57917[1]
Country| United States
State| Kansas
County| Shawnee
Elevation

[1]

| 912 ft (278 m)
Population

(2020)[2]

• Total| 696
Time zone| UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code|

66542

Area code| 785
FIPS code| 20-70075
GNIS ID| 2804537[1]

Tecumseh is an unincorporated community in Shawnee County, Kansas, United States,[1] and situated along the Kansas River. As of the 2020 census, the population of the community and nearby areas was 696.[2] The community and township are both named for the Shawnee chief.[3][4]

## History[edit]

By September 1, 1854, Thomas Stinson platted the townsite of Tecumseh, having settled in the area within the Kansas Territory.[3] It was settled by pro-slavery partisans in the turbulent days of Bleeding Kansas. It temporarily served as the pro-southern capital of the territory and prospered, even having a newspaper. The town's post office opened in March 1855.[5] In 1886, the brick courthouse was sold for US$500 (equivalent to $16,300 in 2022) and removed.[3] After the Civil War, the town rapidly declined and remained so for the next ninety years.

Construction of the Kansas Power & Light Co. power plant in 1924 and 1925. In 1958, DuPont established a cellophane plant east of town which created a minor boom.[3] As Topeka grew in the 1950s, Tecumseh again started to grow, this time as a suburb of Topeka, with numerous suburban housing subdivisions. In 2018, the Tecumseh Energy Center owned by Westar (later Evergy) closed the plant and the facility was demolished.[6]

## Geography[edit]

Tecumseh is located in Section 36, Township 11 south, Range 16 east. It is situated south of the Kansas River between Tecumseh Creek to the east and Stinson Creek to the west. Contained entirely within Tecumseh Township, it is about 2 miles east of the Topeka city limits.[7] U.S. Route 40 passes the south side of Tecumseh. A BNSF rail line—running between Lawrence and Topeka—passes north of the town between it and the river.

## Demographics[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

2020| 696| | —
U.S. Decennial Census

Tecumseh is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.

For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined this community as a census-designated place (CDP).

## Economy[edit]

The community includes a public school (part of USD 450), two churches, a post office, and a cellophane factory.[8]

## Education[edit]

The community is served by Shawnee Heights USD 450 public school district.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tecumseh, Kansas
2. ^ a b "Profile of Tecumseh, Kansas (CDP) in 2020". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
3. ^ a b c d Bird, Roy D.; Douglass W. Wallace (1976). Robert W. Richmond & Joseph W. Snell (ed.). Witness of the Times: A History of Shawnee County. Topeka, Kansas: Shawnee County Historical Society. pp. 351–352. ISBN 0-916934-03-9.
4. ^ Heim, Michael (2007). Exploring Kansas Highways. p. 49.
5. ^ "Kansas Post Offices Database". Kansas State Historical Society. Retrieved February 9, 2008. Containing information taken from Baughman, Robert W. Kansas Post Offices, May 29, 1828–August 3, 1961. Kansas Postal History Society.
6. ^ Chilson, Morgan. "Westar to close Tecumseh facility". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
7. ^ "KDOT County Maps". 1994. Retrieved February 9, 2008.
8. ^ Japanese firm to invest $30 million in Tecumseh cellophane plant, the last plant of its kind in U.S.; The Topeka Capital Journal; May 18, 2016.

## Further reading[edit]

See also: List of books about Shawnee County, Kansas

## External links[edit]

* Shawnee County maps: Current, Historic, KDOT

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Shawnee County, Kansas, United States

County seat: Topeka

Cities|

* Auburn
* Rossville
* Silver Lake
* Topeka
* Willard‡

Map of Kansas highlighting Shawnee County

Unincorporated
communities|

* Berryton
* Dover
* Elmont
* Kiro
* Montara
* Pauline
* Tecumseh†
* Wakarusa†
* Watson

Ghost towns|

* Richland

Townships|

* Dover
* Grove
* Monmouth
* Williamsport

Footnotes|

†This community is designated a Census-Designated Place (CDP) by the United States Census Bureau.
‡This community also has portions in an adjacent county or counties.

* Kansas portal
* United States portal

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel
* United States

Other|

* NARA

*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template