Eureka, Missouri

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Eureka, Missouri
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Six Flags St. Louis


image_

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Eureka, Missouri


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Missouri
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = St. Louis
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 26.2
area_land_km2 = 26.0
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_total_sq_mi = 10.1
area_land_sq_mi = 10.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 7676
population_density_km2 = 294.9
population_density_sq_mi = 763.7

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 139
elevation_ft = 456
latd = 38 |latm = 30 |lats = 10 |latNS = N
longd = 90 |longm = 38 |longs = 42 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 29-22834GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0756031GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Eureka is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, between St. Louis and Pacific along Interstate 44. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 7,676.

It is two miles west of the former site of Times Beach, the site of dioxin contamination discovered in the 1980s; the area was cleaned up and became Route 66 State Park.

Since 1971, Eureka is best known in the region as the home of the amusement park formerly known as Six Flags Over Mid-America and now called Six Flags St. Louis.

It is located on steep bluffs above the Meramec River. Tim Boyd founded Hidden Valley Ski Resort on the grounds of the Wildwood Golf Course in 1977. His Eurkea-based company Peak Resorts now operates a chain of ski resorts across the Midwest and Northeast United States.

Local news coverage for the town and some of its neighbors is provided by the "Tri County Journal" and the "Washington Missourian".

History

The village of Eureka was platted in 1858 along the route of the Pacific Railroad. By 1890, the village consisted of about 100 homes.

According to the Eureka Chamber of Commerce, railroad workers while clearing way for the track and the next railroad camp saw Eureka, level land with little to clear, and declared, "Eureka!" Greek meaning "I have found it." Thus, Eureka was founded.

In 1898, Eureka became home to the St. Louis Children's Industrial Farm, established to give children from St. Louis tenement neighborhoods a chance to experience life in a rural setting. It later became known as Camp Wyman, now a part of Wyman Center, and as of 2004 is one of the oldest camps in the United States.

Eureka was incorporated as a fourth-class city on April 7, 1954.

Allenton

The railroad town of Allenton is a former community on U.S. Highway 66 located (now) at the junction of Interstate 44 and Business Loop 44 in western St. Louis County. In 1985 it was annexed by the city of Eureka. The town is currently rural, with adjacent farm land and forested Ozark ridges.

Allenton was declared blighted by St. Louis County, Missouri in 1973. Allenton and other parts of Eureka have become part of a $500 million redevelopment plan proposed by a partnership including The Jones Company and American Heritage Homes. The redevelopment proposal would include land and homes purchased by Eureka as part of a previously proposed redevelopment plan.

Local Economy

Eureka is known for its antique shopping. Once a year the candlelight walk is held in old town Eureka. Visitors use this night to tour the numerous antique shops within walking distance of one another.

Eureka is the original home of Joe Boccardi's Ristorante and Eureka Wine House.

Eureka is the home to the last Six Flags to be built under the "Six Flags Over" name.

Geography

Eureka is located at 38°30'10" North, 90°38'42" West (38.502736, -90.645075).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²), of which, 10.1 square miles (26.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.59% water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there are 7,676 people in the city, organized into 2,487 households and 2,064 families. Its population density is 763.7 people per square mile (294.9/km²). There are 2,622 housing units at an average density of 260.9/sq mi (100.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 97.38% White, 0.82% Asian, 0.57% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, no Pacific Islanders, 0.26% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.22% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,487 households out of which half have children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.6% are married couples living together, 8.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% are non-families. 13.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 4.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.98 and the average family size is 3.30.

In the city the population is spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $74,301, and the median income for a family is $80,625. Males have a median income of $51,799 versus $33,269 for females. The per-capita income for the city is $27,553. 2.2% of the population and 1.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.1% of those under the age of 18 and 5.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.The average home price in Eureka for 2008 was $315,000.

ee also

* Six Flags St. Louis
* St. Louis, Missouri

References

External links

* [http://www.eureka.mo.us/ City of Eureka's website]
* [http://www.efpd.org/ Eureka Fire Protection District Website]
* [http://www.eurekachamber.us/ Eureka website] for its Chamber of Commerce
* [http://www.sixflags.com/parks/stlouis/ Six Flags St. Louis]
* [http://www.wymancenter.org/kcwsum.htm Camp Wyman]

coord|38.502736|-90.645075|region:US_type:city|display=title,inline -Eurka, Missouri