Emporia, Kansas

Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. 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
Located on upland prairie, Emporia was founded on February 20, 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.

Emporia is home to the U.S. Army National Guard unit, 1-237 Cab.

Geography and climate
Emporia is located at 38.40806°N, -96.18694°W (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, 108 mi southwest of Kansas City, 58 mi southwest of Topeka, and 87 mi 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 km²), of which, 9.9 square miles (25.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.60%) is water.

The city averages about 60 rainy days per year, 59 days with high temperatures of 90 °F or higher, and 124 days with low temperatures below freezing. The average temperature in January is 29 °F, and in July it is 79 °F. Annual snowfall averages 10.2 in.

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 2,703.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,043.6/km²). There were 11,019 housing units at an average density of 1,113.0 per square mile (429.7/km²). 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, and the William Allen White 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.

Bus
Bus service within the city is provided by LCAT or Lyon County Area Transportation. The agency provides fixed-route bus service to the city of Emporia, and paratransit service to the disabled and the rest of Lyon County. The buses are a service of Lyon County, with significant support coming from the Kansas Department of Transportation. The Greyhound Lines has a bus stop in Emporia.

Print
Emporia has one daily newspaper, The Emporia Gazette.

Radio
The following radio stations are licensed to Emporia:

AM

FM

Television
The following television station is licensed to Emporia:

Notable people

 * Clint Bowyer, Nascar driver of the 33 Cheerios Chevy Impala SS
 * 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
 * Jim Everett, former quarterback, National Football League
 * Thelma Hill, silent film comedienne
 * Chad S. Johnson, attorney
 * J.L. Lewis, professional golfer
 * Edward Herbert Rees, congressman
 * Carl Salser, author, businessman and educator
 * Dean Smith, former North Carolina Tarheels basketball coach
 * Keith Waldrop, author and translator
 * William Allen White, author and newspaper editor
 * Al King, proposed the idea of changing the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day
 * Don Coldsmith, author of the fictional Westerns, "Spanish Bit Saga"

Fictional resident
 * Ray Krebbs, character in Dallas