EUREKA STRONG MISSOURI

About

History of Eureka MO Summary-

Eureka, Missouri – Community Overview

Location & Geography

Eureka is a city in St. Louis County, with a small portion extending into Jefferson County.
It sits on the southwest edge of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area, along the Meramec River.
Total area: 11.22 sq mi (11.05 land, 0.17 water).
Elevation: about 476 ft (145 m).

Population

2020 Census population: 11,646 residents.
Population density: ~1,054 people per square mile.
The community is predominantly family-oriented, with many households including children.
Median age: ~39.8 years.
Median household income: ~$112,750.
Poverty rate: less than 1% of residents.

History

The area was originally home to Shawnee Native Americans along the Meramec River.
Platted in 1858 when the Pacific Railroad came through. The name “Eureka!” reportedly came from railroad workers who found flat land easy to clear.
In 1898, the St. Louis Children’s Industrial Farm (later the Wyman Center) was established here.
First high school class was held in 1909.
Incorporated as a fourth-class city on April 7, 1954.
In 2019, Eureka expanded by annexing two commercial lots across the Meramec River (including a quarry) and the Windswept Farms subdivision (549 homes) in Jefferson County.

Flooding & Resilience

Eureka has been heavily impacted by Meramec River flooding, most notably in 2015 and 2017.
- In December 2015, record floodwaters caused extensive damage, including $2.5 million in repairs at Eureka High School.
- In 2017, floodwaters again covered athletic fields and damaged school facilities.
These events highlighted the challenges of development in floodplains and the need for flood-mitigation strategies such as levees, floodwalls, property buyouts, and natural floodplain restoration.

Education & Community Services

Served by the Rockwood R-VI School District: several elementary schools, a middle school, and Eureka High School.
Private options include St. Mark’s Lutheran School and Most Sacred Heart Church & School.
The city is home to the Eureka Hills Branch of the St. Louis County Library, with a new facility opened in 2021.

Media & Local Life

Local publications include the Tri-County Journal, Eureka and Pacific Current NewsMagazine, and the Washington Missourian.
Eureka is known for its strong community identity and small-town values while being part of the larger St. Louis metro area.

Attractions

Home to Six Flags St. Louis, a major amusement park since 1971.
Surrounded by scenic parks, trails, and river access, reflecting the city’s close connection to nature.

Notable People

Clayton Echard – former NFL player and star of The Bachelor.
Cam Janssen – NHL hockey player.
Bob Klinger – Major League Baseball player.
Rissi Palmer – country singer.

Eureka Strong is more than a website — it’s a community hub.
It was built to celebrate the strength, resilience, and heart of Eureka, Wildwood, and the surrounding areas. To us, Eureka is more than just a city — it’s our schools, our people, and our home.

I’m Jamie Bone — an online community builder, entrepreneur, and founder of the Eureka Strong community pages. My passion has always been connecting people: through local events, uplifting stories, and by highlighting the businesses, schools, and organizations that make our community unique.

When my family moved here, we had to get creative to find our place — getting the kids on teams, making new friends, and building our businesses. Creating community pages online gave us (and many other newcomers) a way to connect for free, share opportunities, and belong.

For over 12 years, I’ve served Eureka and Wildwood in many roles, including:

Eureka Jr. Wildcat Football – President, compliance, tech, site development, social media, and photography/videography. Guided the program through COVID, brought AEDs and CPR training, and secured LaSalle Retreat Center as a practice hub.
St. Louis Feeder League – Founding members & Secretary, helping build the league from scratch.
Eureka Police Support Group – Co-VP, fundraiser and organizer for major community events like the Big Dawg Poker Bash. Making sure our police have what they need.
EHS Football Booster – Board member & sponsor, Trivia Night organizer, fundraiser.
Eureka Chamber of Commerce & EHS PTO – Active supporter and event planner.
LaSalle Retreat Center, Wildwood – Longtime board member and volunteer.
HOA Wildwood – Board member Secretary for 10+ years.
Realtor with Realty Executives, Eureka – No longer active agent as of a few years ago to focus on family business and community works. As a Realtor at Realty Executives we got to get all involved with the community thanks to Chuck and Kim Maher, we did parades, hosted massive toys drives, shop with the cop Eureks, food drives, Eureka Chamber events, and community MANY MORE community events.

Over the years, I’ve planned, hosted, and supported 3–5 events per year for 7+ years. I’ve been in the trenches — not just snapping pictures but putting in the work. Fundraising for our community.

Being so involved also gave me a front-row seat to our community’s struggles: mental health battles, alcohol issues, and families hurting in silence. That’s why I sought out resources and began sharing them through Eureka Strong. Because real community means caring for each other’s wellbeing, not just celebrating the wins.

👉 My goal has always been bigger than just sharing events — I want to help kids, including get noticed for scholarships, highlight their hard work, and make them proud to be “famous” in their small town for doing the work. Because when we shine a light on them, we lift the whole community.

And that’s why I refuse to be silenced or bullied for shining a light on the town my family was brought to by God. Eureka and Wildwood deserve authentic community building — not gatekeeping or favoritism so the gates are open for all not just some.

💡 The Purpose of Eureka Strong

To highlight the real of our community: resources, support groups, and opportunities.
To celebrate the best of our towns: people, places, traditions, and hidden gems.
To share up-to-date info on events, fundraisers, and activities that keep us connected.
To give kids, small businesses, and local voices a fair space to shine.

🌟 What You’ll Find Here

Spotlights on local leaders, families, and businesses.
Event coverage that captures our pride and spirit.
Personal favorites — restaurants, hangouts, and community treasures.
Resources and tools to keep us strong and connected.

Whether you’re a lifelong resident, new to town, or just passing through, I invite you to explore, contribute, and celebrate what it means to be Eureka Strong.

✨ We grow strong together.
If you have an event, story, or idea to share, reach out — let’s shine a light on the true strength of our community.

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