Topeka Unofficially Renamed "Google, Kan."

(CBS/AP)  Topeka's mayor says the city shall temporarily be referred to as "Google, Kansas - the capital city of fiber optics," in an effort to persuade the Internet giant to test an ultra-fast connection in the state capital.

Mayor Bill Bunten issued the proclamation Monday after no city council members objected to the month-long change.

Bunten says the proclamation is mainly for fun, but that he hopes it will set Topeka apart from other cities vying for Google's fiber optics experiment, including Grand Rapids, Mich., and Baton Rouge, La.

City attorney Jackie Williams says Topeka cannot legally be temporarily renamed, but that the proclamation asking for it to be referred to as "Google" was OK.

Google didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that a local group named Think Big Topeka initiated a campaign last month to gain support for Google's experimental fiber network to Kansas' capital.

According to Jim Ogle, general manager of CBS Affiliate WIBW, Topeka's mayor in 1998, Joan Wagnon, had similarly issued a proclamation temporarily changing the name of the city to "ToPikachu," in honor of Pokemon.


For more info:
Think Big with a Gig (Official Google Blog)

[chirantanghosh]

People who noticed this change of name today might love to view it as April Fool's Day effort but I wonder if the entire US PRESS would agree to backdate and post in March, just for kicks! Read more on this: http://topekagoogle.wordpress.com/2010/04/01/google-becomes-topeka/

I am interested to hear from people who might recognize this as a RE-Branding effort! Its going to be hard to make "Topeka" a verb, like we did for Google.

[darris321]

I live in Topeka, (Google?)Kansas
and that picture of the postcard isn't even close to how it looks here
for the record
lol
also
we have an epic mayor
lets see santa barbara do that

[erb0087]

"Topeka Unofficially Renamed "Google, Kan."

Other communities named after search engines include:

Alta Vista, Kansas ("AltaVista was once one of the most popular search engines but its popularity has waned with the rise of Google")

Bing, Oklahoma (Spelled "Byng" -- close enough)

Mobile, Alabama

[rfp1959]

And, ironically, you can't find either on Google Maps.

[NotPartyControlled]

Sad.

[rayangela98]

Why is this sad? It's not a real name change. Besides, considering what they have to possibly gain, I certainly don't think it really hurts.