Aurora, KS

Aurora is a city located in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,927. The city is named after Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights.

The first settlers arrived in Aurora in 1871. The town was founded on the site of an old trading post and mill site called " Aurora Mills". In 1872, a post office was established and named " Aurora" after the lights in the night sky. The town grew rapidly as a result of its location on the Santa Fe Trail and its proximity to Fort Riley. By 1880, Aurora had a population of 1,500 people.

In 1881, Aurora became incorporated as a city with a population of 2,000 people. The city continued to grow rapidly and by 1890 had a population of 5,000 people. In 1896, Aurora annexed land from neighboring townships to increase its size to 12 square miles (31 km2). This annexation created what is now known as East Aurora.

Today, Aurora continues to be an important community in Douglas County with a strong economy based on agriculture and manufacturing. The city has seen significant growth over the past several years due to new development projects such as Crossroads at I-435 and Arrowhead Town Center which have brought new jobs and businesses to town.