Colby, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colby, Wisconsin
|
|
|---|---|
Downtown Colby
|
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| Motto(s):
"A Growing Community Proud of Its Heritage"
"Home of Colby Cheese" |
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Location of Colby in Clark County
and Marathon County, Wisconsin. |
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| Counties | Clark, Marathon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.64 sq mi (4.26 km2) |
| • Land | 1.64 sq mi (4.25 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,352 ft (412 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,952 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
|
2,132 |
| • Density | 1,190.2/sq mi (459.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Zip code(s) |
54421
|
| Area codes | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55-16150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1563232 |
Colby is a small city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. It is located in two different counties: Clark County and Marathon County. Colby is famous for being the place where Colby cheese was first made!
In 2020, about 1,952 people lived in Colby. The city is close to the Town of Colby, the Town of Hull, and the City of Abbotsford.
Contents
History of Colby
Colby started because of a railroad! Back in 1872, the Wisconsin Central Railroad was building its tracks. They stopped their construction for the year right where Colby is now.
The railroad decided to name the new station "Colby." This was to honor Charles L. Colby. He was a partner in the company that was building the railroad. His father, Gardner L. Colby, was also important as he helped pay for the railroad.
A very important event happened in Colby in 1874. A person named Joseph Steinwand created Colby cheese here! There is a special marker in downtown Colby to remember this tasty invention.
Geography of Colby
Colby is located in central Wisconsin. It covers an area of about 1.57 square miles (4.07 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.
People in Colby
| 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% | |
| 2020 | 1,952 | 5.4% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,132 | 15.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 1,952 people living in Colby. The city is home to many families. About 28% of the households had children under 18 living there.
The average age of people in Colby was about 38.6 years old. About 26% of the residents were under 18. Also, about 21% of the residents were 65 years old or older.
Education in Colby
Students in Colby go to schools that are part of the Colby School District. This district has schools for different age groups:
- A preschool
- An elementary school
- A middle school
- A high school
Students attend Colby High School. There is also a private school in Colby called St. Mary's Catholic School. It teaches students from first to eighth grade. The public and private schools in Colby often work together. They have joint sports teams and band programs.
Fun Events in Colby
Colby has some exciting events throughout the year!
Colby Cheese Days
Since 1961, Colby has celebrated the Colby Cheese Days festival. It happens every year on the third weekend in July. This festival is a big deal and has lots of fun activities:
- A softball tournament
- A tractor pull
- Carnival rides
- Bingo games
- A cheese-curd throwing contest (yes, really!)
- A fun-run race
- A parade
During the festival, you can even get free cheese from different vendors and food stands!
Show Choir Spectacular
The Colby High School choir program hosts a special event called the Central Wisconsin Show Choir Spectacular. This competition takes place on the first Saturday in January. Many different show choirs come to perform. In 2018, it was even recognized as one of the best regional competitions!
Notable People from Colby
Many interesting people have come from Colby, Wisconsin. Here are a few:
- Kirk Baumgartner: A talented college football player.
- Todd Boss: A well-known poet.
- George Washington Blanchard: A U.S. congressman.
- James E. Lyons: He was a Wisconsin State Representative and also the Mayor of Colby.
- Joseph Weix: Another Wisconsin State Representative.
Images for kids
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Welcome sign
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Sign
See also
In Spanish: Colby (Wisconsin) para niños
