Colby, Wisconsin

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Colby, Wisconsin
City
Downtown Colby
Downtown Colby
Motto: "A Growing Community Proud of Its Heritage"
"Home of Colby Cheese"
Location of Colby, Wisconsin
Location of Colby, Wisconsin
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Country United States
State Wisconsin
Counties Clark, Marathon
Area[1]
 • Total 1.57 sq mi (4.07 km2)
 • Land 1.56 sq mi (4.04 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation[2] 1,352 ft (412 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 1,852
 • Estimate (2012[4]) 1,836
 • Density 1,187.2/sq mi (458.4/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s) 715 Exchange: 223
FIPS code 55-16150[5]
GNIS feature ID 1563232[2]
Website www.ci.colby.wi.us

Colby is a city in Clark (mostly) and Marathon counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,852 at the 2010 census.[6] Of this, 1,354 were in Clark County, and 498 were in Marathon County. The city is bordered by the Town of Colby, the Town of Hull, and the City of Abbotsford.

History

Colby took its name from the railway station on the Wisconsin Central Railway, which had been built through that area a short time before. The station had been named for Gardner L. Colby, father of Charles L. Colby, who was long identified with the railway.[citation needed]

Colby is the birthplace of Colby cheese. A historical marker in downtown Colby commemorates the development of Colby cheese by Joseph Steinwand in 1874.[7] Colby cheese is no longer made in the city of Colby, although a factory east of town cuts and packages it. The former Colby cheese factory west of the city is a dilapitated building.

Geography

Colby is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (44.910186, -90.317058).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.57 square miles (4.07 km2), of which, 1.56 square miles (4.04 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880 259 —
1900 667 —
1910 869 30.3%
1920 798 −8.2%
1930 849 6.4%
1940 903 6.4%
1950 989 9.5%
1960 1,085 9.7%
1970 1,178 8.6%
1980 1,496 27.0%
1990 1,532 2.4%
2000 1,616 5.5%
2010 1,852 14.6%
Est. 2014 1,832 [9] −1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,852 people, 714 households, and 474 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,187.2 inhabitants per square mile (458.4/km2). There were 757 housing units at an average density of 485.3 per square mile (187.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.4% White, 0.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.6% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.9% of the population.

File:2009-0620-Colby-CH.jpg
Colby City Hall

There were 714 households of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.6% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.99.

The median age in the city was 36.9 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 21.7% were from 45 to 64; and 20% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,616 people, 623 households, and 423 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,090.1 people per square mile (421.6/km²). There were 645 housing units at an average density of 435.1 per square mile (168.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.53% White, 0.19% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 1.73% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.84% of the population.

There were 623 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 24.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,318, and the median income for a family was $41,685. Males had a median income of $30,530 versus $21,806 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,137. About 3.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over. Colby, is split between one of the richest counties, (Marathon) and one of the poorest (Clark) in the state of Wisconsin.

Colby cheese historical marker

Education

Colby is part of the Colby School District. Schools in the district include a preschool, elementary school, middle school and high school. Students attend Colby High School.[11] Also located within the city is St. Mary's Catholic School, which serves students from 1st through 8th grade. The private and public schools have collaborative sports and band programs.

Events

Since 1961 Colby has put on the Colby Cheese Days festival on the third weekend in July. Events include a softball tournament, tractor pull, carnival rides, bingo, cheese-curd throwing contest, a fun-run, and finally a parade. Free cheese is distributed by vendors and food stands.

Notable people

Images

  • Colby Wisconsin Welcome Sign.jpg

    Welcome sign

  • Colby Wisconsin Sign WIS13.jpg

    Sign

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ http://www.ci.colby.wi.us/history_page/
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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