Eureka, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eureka
City
Eureka College Administration Building
Location of Eureka in Woodford County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Woodford
Area
• Total	2.73 sq mi (7.08 km2)
• Land	2.68 sq mi (6.95 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation	768 ft (234 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,227
• Density	1,947.47/sq mi (751.86/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	61530
Area code(s)	309
FIPS code	17-24543
GNIS ID	2394706

Eureka is a city in Woodford County, Illinois, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Woodford County. In 2020, about 5,227 people lived there. Eureka is also part of the larger Peoria area.

This small city is located where two important roads meet: U.S. 24 and Illinois 117. Eureka is also a stop on the Ronald Reagan Trail. This trail connects towns in central Illinois that were important in the early life of President Reagan. He even went to and graduated from Eureka College in this city!

History of Eureka

Eureka was first planned in 1855 and was called Walnut Grove. The name was changed to Eureka because another town already had the name Walnut Grove.

The name "Eureka" comes from a Greek word that means "I have found it!" It's like when you're searching for something and finally discover it.

Where is Eureka Located?

Eureka is in central Illinois. It covers about 2.73 square miles (7.08 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

How Many People Live in Eureka?

In 2000, there were 4,871 people living in Eureka. There were 1,754 households, which means groups of people living together. Many of these were families.

Most people in Eureka are White (97.97%). A small number are African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Eureka was 36 years old. About 24.3% of the people were under 18. About 21.1% were 65 or older.

What Jobs are in Eureka?

Eureka has several important employers that provide many jobs. These include places that help older people, schools, and a hospital.

Here are some of the biggest employers in Eureka:

• Maple Lawn Homes: This place helps older people with independent and assisted living. It has 240 employees.
• District 140: This is the local school system, employing 220 people.
• Apostolic Christian Home: Another place for older people, with 190 employees.
• Woodford County Courthouse: The county's main office, with 161 employees.
• Eureka Hospital: A local hospital with 150 employees.
• Cox Transfer: A trucking company that employs 125 people.
• Eureka College: The college employs 123 people.
• Mangold Ford Mercury: An auto dealership with 64 employees.
• Washington Equipment Co.: This company makes overhead cranes and has 43 employees.

Fun Things to See and Do in Eureka

Eureka has some interesting places to visit and fun activities.

Eureka College: Home of a President

Eureka is famous for Eureka College. This is a private college linked to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It's especially known because Ronald Reagan, who later became the 40th U.S. President, went to school here.

Reagan graduated in 1932 with degrees in economics and sociology. He stayed very connected to the college throughout his life. He visited Eureka at least twelve times, even twice while he was President!

In 1947, when he was a Hollywood actor, Reagan was the grand marshal for Eureka's annual pumpkin festival parade. Huge crowds, more than ten times the town's population, came to see him. In 1967, as the new Governor of California, he returned to dedicate the Melick Library at the college. Over 5,000 people came to that event.

Eureka used to be called the "pumpkin capital of the world." This was because of a pumpkin-processing plant. However, that plant later moved to a nearby town called Morton, Illinois.

Today, a top attraction is the Reagan Museum and Peace Garden at Eureka College. After being updated in 2010-2011, it now has the largest collection of Reagan items outside of the main Reagan Presidential Library in California. People from all over the world visit this museum.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Eureka also has nice parks for outdoor activities.

• Kaufman Park is a local 9-hole public golf course where you can play golf.
• Eureka Lake Park is a large park with a man-made lake. The lake is about 30 acres (12 hectares) and the land around it is 240 acres (97 hectares). It was built in the 1940s to provide water for the city. Visitors can enjoy picnics and sometimes fishing. The park also has a dog park and a disc golf course. Every year, the park hosts a big Fourth of July fireworks show.

Famous People From Eureka

Many notable people have connections to Eureka, Illinois.

• Donald Attig (born 1936): A boat designer and yachtsman who graduated from Eureka College.
• Dan McCoy (born 1978): A comedian and TV writer who graduated from Eureka High School in 1996.
• John Peffers (1878–1936): An Illinois state representative and lawyer who was born in Eureka.
• Ronald Reagan: The 40th U.S. President, who attended Eureka College.
• Andy Studebaker (born 1985): A former NFL football player who graduated from Eureka High School in 2004.
• Mary Lou Sumner (1927-2002): An Illinois state legislator.
• Ben Zobrist (born 1981): An All-Star Major League Baseball player. He was named Most Valuable Player in the 2016 World Series while playing for the Chicago Cubs. He was born and grew up in Eureka.

See also

In Spanish: Eureka (Illinois) para niños