Emporia, KS
Music connected to Emporia
About Emporia
- • William Allen White, Pulitzer Prize winner, owned and edited Emporia Gazette for decades.
- • Veterans Day was first celebrated in Emporia, originally called "Armistice Day."
- • The railroad's strategic location made Emporia a major shipping hub in the 19th century.
- • A unique underground tunnel system exists beneath downtown, once used for utilities.
- • The Great Flood of 1951 devastated Emporia, leading to extensive flood control measures.
- • Emporia, founded in 1857, means "chief trading center" in Greek.
- • Its population of 24,498 is smaller than it was in 1960.
- • At 1,209 feet, Emporia is higher than Kansas City, Missouri.
- • Agriculture and education are key sectors; Emporia State University is a major employer.
- • Emporia offers a comforting, small-town feel, steeped in history and community.
- • Kansas City Chiefs are the closest pro team, and won Super Bowl LVII in 2023.
- • Emporia State's men's basketball team won the NAIA championship in 1964.