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Emporia, Kansas
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Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. The population was 26,760 at the 2000 census. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike. Emporia is the principal city of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lyon and Chase counties.
ria was founded in February 1857, drawing its name from ancient Carthaginian Africa.
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Encyclopedia
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. The population was 26,760 at the 2000 census. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike. Emporia is the principal city of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lyon and Chase counties.
History
Emporia was founded in February 1857, drawing its name from ancient Carthaginian Africa. Emporia is particularly known for its newspaper, the Emporia Gazette, published in the first half of the 20th century by the legendary newspaperman William Allen White. The paper became the widely perceived model of excellence in small-town journalism.
In 1953, Emporia was the site of the first Veterans Day observance in the United States. At the urging of local shoe cobbler Alvin J. King, U.S. Representative Edward Rees introduced legislation in The United States Congress to rename Armistice Day as Veterans Day. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law on October 8, 1954. On June 8, 1974, an F4 tornado struck Emporia, killing six people, injuring 200 people, and causing $25 million in damages.
Geography and climate
Emporia is located at (38.408148, -96.187054) in east-central Kansas. It lies along the Kansas Turnpike at its intersection with Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 50, southwest of Kansas City, southwest of Topeka, and northeast of Wichita on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 square miles (25.8 kmē), of which, 9.9 square miles (25.6 kmē) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 kmē) of it (0.60%) is water.
The city averages about 60 rainy days per year, 59 days with high temperatures of or higher, and 124 days with low temperatures below freezing. The average temperature in January is , and in July it is . Annual snowfall averages .
The Neosho River flows along the northern side of the city. The Cottonwood River, one of its tributaries, flows along the city's southern edge and two large city parks, Peter Pan and Soden's Grove; the two rivers meet near the eastern boundary of Emporia and flow southeast to join the Arkansas River in Oklahoma.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,760 people, 10,253 households, and 6,039 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,043.6/kmē (2,703.0/sq mi). There were 11,019 housing units at an average density of 1,113.0/sq mi (429.7/kmē). The racial makeup of the city was 78.63% White, 2.96% African American, 0.48% Native American, 2.66% Asian, 12.75% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.49% of the population.
There were 10,253 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 19.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,809, and the median income for a family was $41,571. Males had a median income of $27,915 versus $20,946 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,157. About 12.4% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
In addition to Emporia State University and other large public-sector employers such as the city and county governments, the public schools, and the county hospital, Emporia has several large private-sector employers. Previously, a Tyson Foods beef-packing plant employed more than 2,400 workers. Dolly Madison has a bakery in Emporia. Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation, founded in Emporia in 1953 and recognized in 2003 as the city's Large Employer of the Year, makes products for the automotive aftermarket. The Braum dairy store chain, based in Oklahoma City, originated in Emporia in 1952 under the name Peter Pan. Menu Foods operates a multi-acre plant in Emporia that manufactures wet dog food.
On January 25, 2008, Tyson unexpectedly announced the layoff of 1,500 workers (more than 60 percent) by March 25, 2008. The company said it needed to move its slaughter operations closer to where the cattle are raised in western Kansas. As the city's largest employer for 37 years, the Tyson plant creates almost 10 percent of the local economy.
Historic structures
Emporia has 13 structures on the National Register of Historic Places. They are the Old Emporia Public Library, the Finney (Warren Wesley) House, the Granada Theater (also known as the Fox Theater), the Harris-Borman House, the Howe (Richard) House, the Keebler-Stone House, the Kress Building, the Mason (Walt) House, the Anderson Carnegie Memorial Library, the Plumb (Mrs. Preston B.) House, the Soden's Grove Bridge, the Soden (Hallie B.) House Now owned by John D Kretsinger (her great grandson), and the White (William Allen) House (also known as Red Rocks).
Transportation
The city is served by the Emporia Municipal Airport as well as the Lyon County Area Transportation (LCAT) municipal bus system. The city once had an Amtrak stop and was served by the east and westbound Southwest Chiefs daily. The station was eliminated in the mid-90s. The city may once again have an Amtrak station if the extension of the Heartland Flyer from Oklahoma City to Kansas City becomes a reality.
Notable residents
- Clint Bowyer, Nascar driver of the 33 Cheerios Chevy Impala SS.
- Gary Burgess, Bruff's Bar & Grill, Restaurant and Bar Owner for 27 years.
- Melora Creager, frontwoman of Rasputina
- R. Lee Ermey, former U.S. Marine Drill Instructor, television host, and actor
- Mark Essex, sniper who killed 10 people in New Orleans in 1973 (deceased)
- Jim Everett, former quarterback, National Football League
- Matt Jones, professional speaker
- J.L. Lewis, professional golfer
- Dean Smith, former North Carolina Tarheels basketball coach
- William Allen White, author and newspaper editor (deceased)
External links
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