Eureka is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, Kansas, United States.

History

The first settlement at Eureka was in 1857. The first post office in Eureka was established in August 1858. Eureka was laid out in 1867, and it was incorporated in 1870.

2016 tornado

An EF2 tornado struck Eureka on July 7, 2016 at 9:45 pm. Over 143 total structures, including at least 50 homes, businesses, a nursing home, and grain elevator were damaged. No people were injured.

2018 tornado

An EF3 tornado struck Eureka on June 26, 2018 at 7:21 pm (daylight). A total of 175 structures were damaged or destroyed, with 78 homes being damaged (12 uninhabitable and 10 totaled), and eight people injured.

Geography

Eureka is located along the Fall River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Eureka has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Eureka had a population of 2,332, with 1,038 households and 568 families. The population density was 1,018.3 per square mile (393.2/km). There were 1,283 housing units at an average density of 560.3 per square mile (216.3/km).

The median age was 44.9 years. 22.1% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.1% were from ages 18 to 24, 21.9% were from ages 25 to 44, 25.0% were from ages 45 to 64, and 24.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males age 18 and over.

Of the city's households, 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.6% were married-couple households, 22.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 2,090 || 89.6%

|-

| Black or African American || 13 || 0.6%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 14 || 0.6%

|-

| Asian || 23 || 1.0%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 23 || 1.0%

|-

| Two or more races || 169 || 7.2%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 103 || 4.4%

|}

Non-Hispanic whites were 87.61% of the population.

Demographic estimates

The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.9. The percent of those with a bachelor's degree or higher was estimated to be 10.3% of the population.

Income and poverty

The 2016–2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $34,329 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,763) and the median family income was $45,563 (+/- $10,274). Males had a median income of $35,094 (+/- $8,495) versus $18,611 (+/- $5,359) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,750 (+/- $5,971). Approximately, 15.4% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under the age of 18 and 16.4% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,633 people, 1,171 households, and 663 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 1,410 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.2% White, 0.2% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.3% of the population.

There were 1,171 households, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 43.2 years. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 22.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

Education

The community is served by Eureka USD 389 public school district.

Transportation

Airport

Eureka Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) north of the central business district of Eureka.

Area attractions

  • Greenwood Hotel, a historic hotel and cattle trading center

;Former Attractions

  • Eureka Downs, defunct horse racing facility
  • Utopia College, former two-year college founded by Roger Babson
  • Fort Montgomery, a frontier military fort

Notable people

  • Jim Brothers (1941–2013), figurative sculptor
  • Charles Errickson (1897–1985), head football coach at Ottawa University, head football and basketball coach at Washburn University
  • John Erickson (1863–1946), lawyer, eighth governor of Montana, and United States senator
  • Lamon Harkness (1850–1915), businessman and Standard Oil heir
  • Donald L. Hollowell (1919-2004), lawyer who represented Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Fred Jackson (1868–1931), U.S. representative from Kansas.
  • Kathy Patrick, author and founder of Pulpwood Queens
  • Tyrel Reed (born 1989), basketball player who played for the University of Kansas
  • Wes Santee (1932–2010), middle distance runner
  • Eric Smith, member of the Kansas House of Representatives
  • Bob Whittaker (born 1939), U.S. representative from Kansas 1979 to 1991
  • John Woods (1911–1950), United States Army master sergeant; executioner at Nuremberg Trials

<!-- *** INSTRUCTIONS FOR NOTABLE PEOPLE SECTIONS ***

If you add/edit this section, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure ALL of the following is met:

1) You MUST insert each person into the list, sorted/ordered by last name (surname).

2) Each person MUST meet the Wikipedia:Notability (people) guideline.

3) If a person has a Wikipedia article, then you MUST wikilink the persons name to the correct wikipedia article. Their wikipedia article MUST state the person has resided in this city.

4) If a person doesn't have a Wikipedia article, then you MUST add a citation reference (Wikipedia:Citing sources) to prove notability (Wikipedia:Notability (people)) and the reference MUST state the person has resided in this city (Wikipedia:Verifiability).

  • END OF INSTRUCTIONS *** -->
  • Historic Images of Eureka, Special Photo Collections at Wichita State University Library

<gallery widths="220px" heights="165px">

Image:Eureka, Kansas, post office from NE 1.jpg|Eureka Post Office (NRHP) (2017)

Image:Eureka Carnegie Library 88001170 Greenwood County, KS.jpg|Eureka Carnegie Library (NRHP) (2017)

Image:Eureka KS congregational church.jpg|Congregational Church (2012)

Image:Greenwood hotel Eureka KS.JPG|Greenwood Hotel (NRHP) (2012)

Image:Westside bar (Eureka, KS) from NE 2.jpg|Benny's Westside Bar & Grille, formerly Westside Service Station and Riverside Motel (NRHP) (2017)

Image:Eureka Santa Fe Depot.jpg|Eureka Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Depot (NRHP) (2013)

Image:Utopia College.jpg|Former Utopia College (1965)

Image:Eureka Downs in 1910.jpg|Former Eureka Downs (1910)

</gallery>

See also

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Greenwood County, Kansas
  • Eureka Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Depot
  • Eureka Carnegie Library
  • Greenwood Hotel
  • Robertson House

References

Further reading

  • Eureka - Directory of Public Officials
  • Greenwood County Historical Society Museum
  • Eureka city map, KDOT