Eureka, Winnebago County, Wisconsin

For the town in Polk County, see Eureka, Polk County, Wisconsin.

Eureka, Wisconsin
Census-designated place
Looking southerly in downtown Eureka
Location of Eureka, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°00′16″N88°50′30″W / 44.00444°N 88.84167°W / 44.00444; -88.84167
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Winnebago
Area
• Total	1.071 sq mi (2.77 km2)
• Land	1.024 sq mi (2.65 km2)
• Water	0.047 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation	743 ft (226 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	247
• Density	230/sq mi (89/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip Code	54934
Area code	920
FIPS code	55-24475 [1]
GNIS feature ID	2586486 [2]

Eureka is an unincorporated census-designated place in the town of Rushford, in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the Fox River at the intersection of county highways K & E southwest of Omro. ^[3] At the 2020 census, its population was 247. ^[4]

History

Eureka is situated on the south bank of the Fox River. Lester Rounds moved his stock of goods from Waukau to the site of Eureka in 1850, where he was joined by Walton C. Dickerson, who moved from Nepeuskun. They became the first settlers and founders of Eureka, a plot of which was recorded on 24 July 1850, of which Rounds, Dickerson and Starr^{[ who? ]} were proprietors. A ferry was established across the Fox River at this point, during the same season, and four years later a bridge was constructed. The post office was authorized on 16 July 1850 and Lester Rounds was appointed postmaster. A steamboat landing and warehouse was built by Dickerson for the accommodation of the daily line of steamboats on the river, running between Oshkosh and Berlin. The sawmills along the river at Eureka, Delhi, Omro and Berlin were supplied with pine logs from the Wolf River, which were towed up the Fox River at first by horsepower boats or tugs. ^[5]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2000	129		—
2010	220		70.5%
2020	247		12.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

At the 2000 census, ^[7] the population of Eureka was 129, 71 male and 58 female with a median age of 31.9, 7% under 5 years, 73.6% 18 years and over, and 11.6% 65 years and over.

The racial make-up was 98.4% White, 0.8% Native American, and 0.8% some other race. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

Average household size was 2.58. Average family size was 3.18. There were 57 housing units, 87.7% occupied. Of those occupied, 90% were owner-occupied, 10% renter occupied.

The population 25 years and older was 64, 85.9% a high school graduate or higher. Civilian veteran population was 10.3%. Disability status of the population 5 years and over was 25.8%.

Married male, except separated, population 15 years and over was 56.1%. Married female, except separated, population 15 years and over was 70.3%.

The population, 16 and over, in the labor force was 75.6%. Mean travel time to work for workers 16 and over was 23 minutes. The median household income was $33.125 and median family income was $47.500. Per capita income was $17,099. 8.3% families and 12.8% individuals were below the poverty level.

There were 35 single-family owner-occupied homes with a median value of $77,100. The median of selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage was $721, not mortgaged was $250.

Culture

Eureka was the setting for the RKO Radio Pictures film, All Mine to Give . ^[8]

People of interest

Twenty-seven-year-old E. R. Jaeger, from Eureka, Wisconsin, followed his brother west to Tacoma, Washington, at the end of the 19th century, where he worked in his brother's laundry. In fall 1894, he decided to go out on his own, to either Alaska or Hawaii. He tossed a coin and Alaska won. The Alaska Laundry Co. continues in the family in Juneau. Jaeger's coin flip left the field open for Servco Pacific, a diversified company founded in 1919, to become the oldest family business in Hawaii. ^[9]

Argalus J. and Augustus I. Foote constructed the Foote Mansion in Eureka. It had 30 rooms. The floor plan was of two mirrored sets of 15 rooms with a great hall in the center. ^[10] Local folklore claims the Foote Mansion is haunted and that Al Capone used it as a whiskey distillery during prohibition. ^[11]

Images

• 
  Welcome sign
• 
  Lift Bridge over Fox River
• 
  Eureka Lock and Lock Tender's House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• 
  Eunson Home Site on the Fox River
• 
  Eureka United Methodist Church (est. 1868) ^[12]
• 
  Foote Mansion
• 
  The Old Post Office

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 31 January 2008.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 25 October 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
3. "Eureka, WI Profile: Facts & Data". wisconsin.hometownlocator.com. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
4. "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved 3 April 2011.
5. Publius Virgilius Lawson, History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin:its cities, towns, resources, people
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
7. "Fact Finder". Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
8. Facts about the Town of Rushford
9. William T O'Hara. "The Oldest Family Businesses in America". Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
10. "P2000.41.22 cabinet card".
11. Linda S. Godfrey, Mark Moran, Richard D. Hendricks, Mark Sceurman, Weird Wisconsin: Your Travel Guide to Wisconsin's Local Legends and Best... , pg. 22
12. Building for tomorrow: Eureka United Methodist Church centennial, 1868-1968

Coordinates: 44°00′16″N88°50′30″W / 44.00444°N 88.84167°W / 44.00444; -88.84167