National Register of Historic Places

Potwin Place Historic District

Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas
Listed
April 30, 1980
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80001476

About this property

Potwin Place Historic District (known locally as Potwin) is a neighborhood of Topeka, Kansas. The neighborhood is well known for its brick-lined streets and variety of Victorian and Queen Anne style homes. It is bounded by SW Willow Ave (south), SW Woodlawn Ave (west), NW Grove Ave (north) and SE Greenwood Ave (east). Charles Wolcott Potwin, a banker from Zanesville, Ohio, purchased several acres of land from a Shawnee Native American in 1869. In 1882, Potwin divided the land into 80 lots for development. By 1885, the lots were available for purchase. In 1888, the area was incorporated as the City of Potwin. There was controversy as many Topeka residents had become resentful as many Potwin residents were making their money in Topeka and not spending it there. In 1899, the City of Topeka annexed Potwin, mostly due to the lack of public services in the area.

Location

Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas
39.06258, -95.69440

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Potwin Place Historic District

This page lists Potwin Place Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Potwin Place Historic District report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

House at 116 Southwest The Drive
Industrial
0.2 mi
Sargent, John, House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Ward-Meade House
Industrial
0.7 mi
Church of the Holy Name
Industrial
0.8 mi
Hughes Conoco Service Station
Industrial
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Potwin Place Historic District listed on the National Register?

Potwin Place Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Potwin Place Historic District?

Potwin Place Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Potwin Place Historic District?

The period of significance for Potwin Place Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Potwin Place Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Potwin Place Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Shawnee County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Shawnee County.

Explore ShawneeCounty ›

More historic places in Kansas

Browse all historic places in Kansas.

View Kansashistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Kansas history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Kansashistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Potwin Place Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report