Colfax, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Colfax is a town in Perry Township
, Clinton County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 691 at the 2010 census. The town was originally known as Midway since it was a half-way point on the IC&L Railroad between Lafayette
and Indianapolis
; it was later renamed to honor Vice President Schuyler Colfax
.
and Lafayette
along the Lafayette railroad. In 1853 the town gained a post office named Colfax, and in December 1857 the name of the town itself became Colfax, by petition of the residents. By 1861 the town had two churches, two general stores, a hotel, a saw mill and approximately 200 residents.
An incorporation election held December 25, 1869, resulted in 24 yeas and 1 no. The town had 187 residents in 1870, but with the construction of the Vandalia road through town in 1870-71 it grew quickly and by 1880 had a population of 638.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 768 people, 286 households, and 205 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,118.9 people per square mile (823.7/km²). There were 305 housing units at an average density of 841.5 per square mile (327.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.87% White and 0.13% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.
There were 286 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,688, and the median income for a family was $44,514. Males had a median income of $31,792 versus $28,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,482. About 6.7% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Perry Township, Clinton County, Indiana
Perry Township is one of fourteen townships in Clinton County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,466. The township was named for Oliver Hazard Perry, an American naval officer in the War of 1812.-History:...
, Clinton County
Clinton County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,866 people, 12,545 households, and 9,057 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 13,267 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 691 at the 2010 census. The town was originally known as Midway since it was a half-way point on the IC&L Railroad between Lafayette
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
and Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
; it was later renamed to honor Vice President Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax
Schuyler Colfax, Jr. was a United States Representative from Indiana , Speaker of the House of Representatives , and the 17th Vice President of the United States . To date, he is one of only two Americans to have served as both House speaker and vice president.President Ulysses S...
.
History
Colfax was laid out in 1849 by Montgomery Stroud and originally named Midway for its position between IndianapolisIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
and Lafayette
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
along the Lafayette railroad. In 1853 the town gained a post office named Colfax, and in December 1857 the name of the town itself became Colfax, by petition of the residents. By 1861 the town had two churches, two general stores, a hotel, a saw mill and approximately 200 residents.
An incorporation election held December 25, 1869, resulted in 24 yeas and 1 no. The town had 187 residents in 1870, but with the construction of the Vandalia road through town in 1870-71 it grew quickly and by 1880 had a population of 638.
Geography
Colfax is located at 40°11′38"N 86°40′5"W (40.193788, -86.668085).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 768 people, 286 households, and 205 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,118.9 people per square mile (823.7/km²). There were 305 housing units at an average density of 841.5 per square mile (327.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.87% White and 0.13% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.
There were 286 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,688, and the median income for a family was $44,514. Males had a median income of $31,792 versus $28,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,482. About 6.7% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.