Eureka, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eureka, Michigan
Census-designated place (CDP) & unincorporated community
Intersection of Maple Rapids and Welling Road
Eureka, Michigan Location in Michigan Show map of Michigan Eureka, Michigan Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Clinton
Township	Greenbush
Settled	1836
Area
• Total	1.01 sq mi (2.61 km2)
• Land	1.01 sq mi (2.61 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	725 ft (221 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	233
• Density	230.69/sq mi (89.07/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	48831 (Elsie) 48833 48879 (St. Johns)
Area code(s)	989
GNIS feature ID	2804347

Eureka is a small community in Clinton County, Michigan, in the United States. It is known as an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government. It is also a census-designated place (CDP), which is a special area defined by the government just for counting people.

In 2020, about 233 people lived in Eureka. The community is part of Greenbush Township. Even though it doesn't have its own government, Eureka has its own post office.

Exploring Eureka's Location

Eureka is found in the northeastern part of Greenbush Township in Clinton County. It's located in the center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

How Far is Eureka From Other Cities?

Eureka is about 30 miles (48 km) north of Lansing, which is Michigan's capital city. It's also about 40 miles (64 km) south of Mount Pleasant.

Nearby Roads and Towns

U.S. Route 127 is a major highway located about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Eureka. You can reach it easily from Maple Rapids Road.

Other small towns and villages close to Eureka include:

• Maple Rapids to the west
• Elsie to the east
• Ashley to the north
• Ovid and St. Johns to the south

A small stream called Halterman Creek also flows through the community.

Schools and Mail Services

Students in Eureka attend schools in the St. Johns Public Schools district. Eureka Elementary School is right in the community.

Eureka has its own post office with the ZIP Code 48833. This post office is mostly used for post office box services. Some parts of Eureka also use the St. Johns 48879 ZIP Code. If you live east of Welling Road, your mail might use the Elsie 48831 ZIP Code.

Eureka's Past: A Look at its History

The area where Eureka is now was first settled in 1836 by a person named John Ferdon.

How Eureka Got Its Name

Over the years, the community had a few different names:

• It was first called Williamsport, named after an early settler, Clark Williams.
• Then, it was known as Barrington, after another settler, J. A. Barrington.
• For a short time, it was even called Swizzletown!

On January 29, 1844, the community received its first post office. It was named Greenbush, just like the township.

The name "Eureka" came about on May 9, 1867. Edward Stark chose this name, using the word "eureka" because he believed it was a great place for business. The word "eureka" means "I have found it!"

Post Office Changes and Cemetery

The Eureka post office closed down on June 29, 1935. However, it reopened later on September 6, 1949. Today, the post office is still open and can be found at 7907 North Welling Road.

The Eureka Cemetery is located on Hyde Road, just south of the community's center. It is still used today, and its oldest grave dates all the way back to 1839.

Eureka as a Census-Designated Place

For the 2020 census, Eureka was officially listed as a census-designated place. This means it was included for counting people and gathering statistics. However, Eureka still remains an unincorporated community, meaning it does not have its own separate local government.

Population of Eureka

In 2020, the population of Eureka was 233 people.

Famous People from Eureka

• LaRue Kirby: A professional baseball player who was born in Eureka.

Images for kids

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  Evangelical Church in Eureka (1910)

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  U.S. Post Office in Eureka

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  Signage along N. Welling Road