In our sesquicentennial year, I’d like to focus on a few of aspects that seem to run through our history and that make Lawrence special.

One of the most striking characteristics of Lawrence is our citizens’ diverse opinions. That diversity of opinion probably stems in large part to one of the facts of Lawrence’s population patterns, both past and present; namely, that we are a city disproportionately inhabited by people who came here from elsewhere and who remain here by choice.

In 1854, settlers came to Lawrence from many parts of the country, some motivated by political ideals, others by the promise of land or of commerce on the western frontier.

Today, immigration to Lawrence is fueled predominantly by our universities. The continuous infusion of new people and new ideas prevent Lawrence from falling too deeply into a rut of convention. Of course, there are plenty of local folks who feel that sticking to the beaten path might make for a more comfortable ride.

Jane Smiley’s novel, “The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton,” is largely set in Lawrence during the Bleeding Kansas years. The protagonist arrives in Lawrence and says, “I didn’t know anything about Kansas politics to speak of, but I quickly learned, because that was all anyone talked about. I didn’t know what to think. The people were all so friendly and warm and welcoming, but every word that they spoke amazed me.” Politics may not be all we discuss these days, at least during basketball season, but her sense of astonishment at the locals and their “convictions” is one that recent arrivals must still experience today.

Another aspect of our history that continues to make Lawrence a special place is the role of planning in shaping our city. The first map made of Lawrence, just months after its founding, illustrates this point. Even at that early date, the deliberate creation of a vision of what Lawrence might become is clear. The 1854 map identifies locations on Mount Oread for college grounds and a “Capitol Hill.” Although the capitol never came to be, the college did, and the map set a high standard for Lawrence to aspire to. It beautifully illustrates that quality environments don’t develop by accident but by deliberate actions.

And although every plan is a prediction, and every prediction at least partially wrong, that 1854 surveyor’s map predicted a city of education and community activism, and we have become that. We owe it to future Lawrencians to maintain those traditions, and to seek new visions of what we can become.

– David Dunfield is a city commissioner.