Colfax, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colfax, Iowa
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Downtown Colfax, Iowa
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Location of Colfax, Iowa
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| Country | USA | |
| State |  Iowa |
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| County | Jasper | |
| Incorporated | August 10, 1875 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.64 sq mi (6.84 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.42 sq mi (6.25 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.23 sq mi (0.59 km2) | |
| Elevation | 801 ft (244 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,255 | |
| • Density | 933.75/sq mi (360.59/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | |
| ZIP code |
50054
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| Area code(s) | 515 | |
| FIPS code | 19-15060 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0455527 | |
Colfax is a city in Jasper County, Iowa, United States. It is located about 24 miles east of Des Moines. The town was started in 1866. It was named after Schuyler Colfax, who was the Vice President under President Ulysses S. Grant. In 2020, 2,255 people lived in Colfax. Newton is the main city of Jasper County.
Contents
History of Colfax
Colfax was founded in 1866. It got its name from Schuyler Colfax.
Early Industries: Coal and Mineral Springs
For many years, Colfax was known for two big industries. These were coal mining and special mineral springs. Thousands of people came to the area because of them.
The first large coal mine in Jasper County was the Watson No. 1 Mine. It was connected to the Rock Island railway. From 1881 to 1900, several mines operated north of Colfax. Later, in 1902, the Colfax Consolidated Coal Company was formed. They opened Mine No. 8 in 1905, which was one of the best mines in Iowa.
In 1875, during drilling for coal, workers found a well with water full of minerals. This discovery made Colfax very popular. For the next 40 years, many people visited the town. They believed the fourteen mineral springs had healing powers.
Nine hotels opened to offer mineral baths and spa treatments. Four companies started bottling the mineral water to sell. In 1912–1913, the city received money to build a Carnegie library. This library is still used by the community today.
Decline of the Mineral Springs
The busy mineral springs business slowed down and eventually stopped. This happened when the Great Depression affected the whole country.
Geography of Colfax
Colfax covers a total area of about 1.80 square miles (4.66 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.
Population Information
Colfax has had people living there for a long time. Here's how its population has changed over the years:
| Historical populations | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 620 | — |
| 1890 | 957 | +54.4% |
| 1900 | 2,053 | +114.5% |
| 1910 | 2,524 | +22.9% |
| 1920 | 2,504 | −0.8% |
| 1930 | 2,213 | −11.6% |
| 1940 | 2,222 | +0.4% |
| 1950 | 2,279 | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 2,331 | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 2,293 | −1.6% |
| 1980 | 2,234 | −2.6% |
| 1990 | 2,462 | +10.2% |
| 2000 | 2,223 | −9.7% |
| 2010 | 2,093 | −5.8% |
| 2020 | 2,255 | +7.7% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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In 2020, the city had 2,255 people living there.
Education in Colfax
The Colfax–Mingo Community School District runs the public schools in the area. The school districts of Colfax and Mingo joined together on July 1, 1985.
Famous People From Colfax
- James Norman Hall (1887–1951) – An author famous for his book Mutiny on the Bounty.
- Herschel F. Briles – A soldier in the United States Army who received the Medal of Honor.
- James B. Weaver (1833–1912) – He ran for president in 1892 for the People's Party. He was also the mayor of Colfax from 1901 to 1903.
- Joe Laws (1911-1979) – An American Football Player for the University of Iowa and the Green Bay Packers. He won NFL Championships and is in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Map of Colfax from 1908, showing the railroads and coal mines (shown in red) of the region.
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Part of downtown Colfax was flooded in 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Colfax (Iowa) para niños
