Colon, Michigan
Encyclopedia
Colon is a village in St. Joseph County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The population was 1,227 at the 2000 census
. The village is located within Colon Township
. The village is named after the shape of Palmer Lake, and is not the only place in Michigan so named.
, the village has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (18.71%) is water. The town is flanked by Long Lake and Palmer Lake, which are connected by a narrow channel.
of 2000, there were 1,227 people, 521 households, and 339 families residing in the village. The population density
was 882.0 per square mile (340.8/km²). There were 639 housing units at an average density of 459.3 per square mile (177.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.96% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.16% from other races
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.
There were 521 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,417, and the median income for a family was $35,536. Males had a median income of $33,056 versus $21,375 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,502. About 12.5% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
(The Great Blackstone), Colon refers to itself as "The Magic Capital of the World." It is the home of the Abbott Magic Company, founded by magicians Percy Abbott, an Australian and friend of Blackstone's, and Recil Bordner, originally from Eaton, Ohio, in 1934. The company has a local store, showroom and a factory where magicians' supplies and new tricks are manufactured. Abbott Magic is well-known among professional stage acts, with customers around the world. Two other younger magic suppliers also call Colon their home, FAB Magic and the Sterlini Magic Manufacturing Company. Each August more than 1,000 magicians and lovers of magic gather there for "Abbott's Magic Get-Together", a 4 day magic convention, doubling the population, sharing magic tricks, and recollecting their knowledge of the famous occupation. The convention concludes each day with an evening show at Colon High School
.
The Colon High School
teams are known as the "Magi", and the high school mascot is a white rabbit wearing a black top hat. Also, a few of the local shops exploit the "magic" theme in their titles.
Colon also has a small Amish
community.
St. Joseph County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,422 people, 23,381 households, and 16,600 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 26,503 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The population was 1,227 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The village is located within Colon Township
Colon Township, Michigan
Colon Township is a civil township of St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,405 at the 2000 census. The village of Colon is located within the township.-Geography:...
. The village is named after the shape of Palmer Lake, and is not the only place in Michigan so named.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 village has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (18.71%) is water. The town is flanked by Long Lake and Palmer Lake, which are connected by a narrow channel.
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 1,227 people, 521 households, and 339 families residing in the village. 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 882.0 per square mile (340.8/km²). There were 639 housing units at an average density of 459.3 per square mile (177.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.96% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.16% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.
There were 521 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% 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, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,417, and the median income for a family was $35,536. Males had a median income of $33,056 versus $21,375 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 village was $14,502. About 12.5% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
People and culture
As the former home and burial site of the famous magician, Harry Blackstone, Sr.Harry Blackstone, Sr.
Harry Blackstone was a famed stage magician and illusionist of the 20th century. Blackstone was born Harry Bouton in Chicago, Illinois, he began his career as a magician in his teens and was popular through World War II as a USO entertainer. He was often billed as The Great Blackstone. His son...
(The Great Blackstone), Colon refers to itself as "The Magic Capital of the World." It is the home of the Abbott Magic Company, founded by magicians Percy Abbott, an Australian and friend of Blackstone's, and Recil Bordner, originally from Eaton, Ohio, in 1934. The company has a local store, showroom and a factory where magicians' supplies and new tricks are manufactured. Abbott Magic is well-known among professional stage acts, with customers around the world. Two other younger magic suppliers also call Colon their home, FAB Magic and the Sterlini Magic Manufacturing Company. Each August more than 1,000 magicians and lovers of magic gather there for "Abbott's Magic Get-Together", a 4 day magic convention, doubling the population, sharing magic tricks, and recollecting their knowledge of the famous occupation. The convention concludes each day with an evening show at Colon High School
Colon High School
Colon High School is a public high school in northeastern St Joseph County. It serves the residents of Colon, Michigan and the surrounding community. Its high school mascot is the Magi.-External links:*...
.
The Colon High School
Colon High School
Colon High School is a public high school in northeastern St Joseph County. It serves the residents of Colon, Michigan and the surrounding community. Its high school mascot is the Magi.-External links:*...
teams are known as the "Magi", and the high school mascot is a white rabbit wearing a black top hat. Also, a few of the local shops exploit the "magic" theme in their titles.
Colon also has a small Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
community.