Constantine, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Constantine, Michigan
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Village
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Main Street, Old U.S. 131 through town
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Location of Constantine, Michigan
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | St. Joseph |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.78 sq mi (4.61 km2) |
| • Land | 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.37 km2) |
| Elevation | 787 ft (240 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,947 |
| • Density | 1,190.10/sq mi (459.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 26-17840 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1624472 |
Constantine is a small village located in St. Joseph County, in the state of Michigan, United States. In 2020, about 1,947 people lived there. The village is part of Constantine Township.
Constantine is known as the "Seed Corn Capital of the World." This is because big companies like Monsanto and Pioneer have their largest facilities here. These companies help grow special corn seeds.
The St. Joseph River flows through the village. This river is important because it can be used by boats from where it starts all the way to Lake Michigan.
Constantine is also the birthplace of Harry Hill Bandholtz. He was a US brigadier general during World War I. He also led the US Military Mission to Hungary. The village has its own public high school, and their sports teams are called the Falcons.
Contents
History of Constantine
Early Settlements and Native Americans
Long ago, the Potawatomi people and other Native American groups lived along the St. Joseph River. They had villages there. Some of their leaders signed an agreement called the Treaty of Chicago. This treaty meant they gave up a lot of their land in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.
How the Village Began
The village of Constantine was officially planned in 1831. It was built where the Fawn River meets the St. Joseph River. Three European-American families had already settled there. In 1830, the first gristmill in the county was built here. A gristmill uses water power to grind grain into flour.
Changing Names
The village was first called Meeks Mill. This name honored Johnathon Meeks, who built the first grain mill. He was from New York or New England and moved to many new areas. Each time, a town was named after him. Later, it became popular to name towns after famous people from history. So, the village was renamed after the Roman emperor Constantine the Great.
Main Street's Story
The Main Street in Constantine is a historic area. It has many old, detailed two-story buildings from the late 1800s. This street is part of US 131, a main road that goes through the village.
Geography of Constantine
Constantine is a small place. According to the United States Census Bureau, the village covers about 1.77 square miles (4.58 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.
People of Constantine
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 760 | — | |
| 1860 | 879 | 15.7% | |
| 1870 | 1,290 | 46.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,405 | 8.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,346 | −4.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,226 | −8.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,244 | 1.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,277 | 2.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,259 | −1.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,384 | 9.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,514 | 9.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,710 | 12.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,733 | 1.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,680 | −3.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,032 | 21.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,095 | 3.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,076 | −0.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,947 | −6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Details
In 2010, there were 2,076 people living in Constantine. There were 728 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people in the village were White (91.5%). A smaller number were African American, Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 3.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in the village was about 31 years old. Many residents were under 18 (31.6%). About half of the people were male (49.2%) and half were female (50.8%).
Things to See and Do
Historic Places to Visit
John S. Barry, who was the governor of Michigan two times, lived in Constantine. His house, called the Governor John S. Barry House, is a special historic place. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972.
Constantine Fire Department
The fire department in Constantine started in 1883. Today, it has both full-time and on-call firefighters. They help the village and township of Constantine. They also help the western part of Florence township. The department is known as Station 4 because of the numbering system in St. Joseph County.
Who Works There?
From Monday to Friday, between 8 AM and 5 PM, one firefighter is at the station to respond to calls. When the station is not staffed, paid on-call firefighters respond from their homes. There are currently 16 firefighters. Some work part-time, and most are paid when they are called for a job.
Fire Trucks and Equipment
The fire department has seven main vehicles, called apparatus:
- Engine 411: This large truck carries 3,000 gallons of water. It is used for building fires. It needs so much water because there are not many fire hydrants in the townships.
- Engine 421: This truck carries 1,000 gallons of water and is used for car accidents. It also helps as a second truck for fires.
- Tanker 416: This tanker holds 3,000 gallons of water and has a small pump. It is very important for fires in areas without hydrants, as fires need a lot of water.
- Brush 415 and 425: Much of the area around Constantine is rural, including a state game area. This means wildfires are common. These trucks are 4x4 pickup trucks that can drive into woods and fields. They each carry 250 gallons of water and are lifted to get to hard-to-reach places.
- Rescue 413: This truck is like a "rolling toolbox" for rescues. It is often used for car accidents because it carries special tools like the "Jaws of Life" to cut open cars.
- Rescue 423: This truck is used for medical emergencies. It is the busiest truck because medical calls are the most common. It responds with an ambulance. Since there isn't an ambulance based in Constantine, the fire department can often get to a sick or injured person much faster to start helping them. This truck also has equipment for ice rescues.
Famous People from Constantine
- Harry Hill Bandholtz: A US brigadier general during World War I and leader of the US Military Mission to Hungary. He was born in Constantine.
- John S. Barry: He was the fourth and eighth governor of Michigan.
- Elisha Newton Dimick: A Florida legislator and the first mayor of Palm Beach, Florida. He was born in Constantine.
- George J. Sweetland: A doctor, sports leader, and college coach.
- Joseph R. Williams: The first President of Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University). He was also the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.
See also
In Spanish: Constantine (Míchigan) para niños
