Marcellus, Michigan Facts for Kids

Marcellus is a small village located in Cass County, in the state of Michigan, USA. In 2020, about 1,074 people lived there. Marcellus is part of a larger area called the South Bend-Mishawaka Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes parts of both Michigan and Indiana.

History of Marcellus
- The Arrival of the Railroad
- Marcellus Becomes a Village
Geography of Marcellus
Population and People
- Marcellus Population in 2010
Education in Marcellus
See also

History of Marcellus

The first person to settle in the Marcellus area was John Bair in October 1832. Daniel Driskel followed him almost a year later in 1833. By 1835, eleven more families had moved to Marcellus. By 1836, a total of 28 families lived there.

When the local government area, called a township, was being set up, the people wanted to name it Cambria. However, there was already a township with that name in Michigan. So, their representative, Judge Littlejohn, suggested they name it after a Roman Emperor named Flavius Marcellus. On June 16, 1843, the township was officially named Marcellus. On the same night, elections were held. Daniel G. Rouse became the Township Supervisor, Guerdor R. Beebee was elected Treasurer, and Ephraim Huyatt became the Clerk.

The Arrival of the Railroad

In the winter of 1870–71, the Peninsular Railroad came through Marcellus. This brought new life and growth to the small township. The train station, called a depot, was first on the east side of town. But because the main business area was far from the depot, it was moved in 1898. After the move, businesses grew quickly. An addition was even built onto the station to handle all the extra train traffic. By 1911, ten passenger trains stopped at the depot every single day.

Marcellus Becomes a Village

Marcellus officially became a village in 1879. At that time, more than 500 people lived there. Just three years later, the village had grown even more. It had many different businesses and services. These included churches, stores, hotels, a bank, and even a newspaper. There were also doctors and lawyers living in the village.

At its busiest time, Marcellus also had two theaters, a bowling alley, and a pool hall. Each year, the village hosts a special event called the National Bluegill Frolic. In the past, this event included a parade, a fishing tournament, and a beauty pageant. These events brought thousands of visitors to Marcellus every year.

Geography of Marcellus

The United States Census Bureau is a government agency that collects information about the country. According to them, the village of Marcellus covers a total area of about 0.59 square miles (1.53 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 0.58 square miles (1.50 square kilometers). A very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	635	—
1890	830	30.7%
1900	1,025	23.5%
1910	1,047	2.1%
1920	966	−7.7%
1930	944	−2.3%
1940	992	5.1%
1950	1,014	2.2%
1960	1,073	5.8%
1970	1,139	6.2%
1980	1,134	−0.4%
1990	1,193	5.2%
2000	1,162	−2.6%
2010	1,198	3.1%
2020	1,074	−10.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Marcellus Population in 2010

Based on the census from 2010, there were 1,198 people living in Marcellus. These people made up 441 different households, and 327 of these were families. The village had about 2,065 people per square mile (797 people per square kilometer). There were 493 homes or housing units in total.

Most of the people in Marcellus were White (96.5%). A smaller number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, about 41% of the households had children under 18 living with them. About half of the households (51.2%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.72 people, and the average family had 3.13 people. The average age of people in the village was 34.9 years old.

Education in Marcellus

Students in Marcellus attend schools that are part of the Marcellus Community Schools district.

Marcellus, Michigan facts for kids

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