Silver Lake

History

Silver Lake was founded in 1868. It was named from the lake upon which it was situated. In the spring of 1871, the city of Silver Lake was incorporated. In 1911, a new six room brick school building replaced the original two room structure and the first high school class was organized. In 1928, that building became the elementary school. In 1952, the high school burned and a new high school was completed in 1953. In 1961, a new elementary school was completed. In 1928, a two-lane hard-surfaced road was completed through the city. It was later known as US Highway 40 and later became US Highway 24.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. Silver Lake is the nearest city to Topeka to the west, along U.S. Route 24. Recently Silver Lake has experienced a higher proportion of its citizens commuting into Topeka. The next city west along US 24 is Rossville. Silver Lake was originally settled along the northern shore of the Kansas River; however, in the time since the town's founding, the river has changed course and is located one-quarter of a mile south of the town.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Topeka High
  High · Topeka · 1,514 students · 16.1:1 ratio
• Topeka West High
  High · Topeka · 1,085 students · 16.7:1 ratio
• Logan Elementary
  Elementary · Topeka · 624 students · 18.4:1 ratio
• Farley Elementary
  Elementary · Topeka · 621 students · 15.1:1 ratio
• Jay Shideler Elementary
  Elementary · Topeka · 567 students · 13.8:1 ratio
• Wanamaker Elem
  Elementary · Topeka · 484 students · 13.4:1 ratio
• Indian Hills Elementary
  Elementary · Topeka · 474 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Landon Middle School
  Middle · Topeka · 457 students · 12.7:1 ratio