Parma, Michigan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Parma, Michigan
Village
Village of Parma
Location within Jackson County
Parma, Michigan Location in Michigan
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Jackson
Townships	Parma and Sandstone
Established	1847
Government
• Type	Village council
Area
• Total	1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2)
• Land	1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,001 ft (305 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	780
• Density	742.86/sq mi (286.84/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)	49269
Area code(s)	517
FIPS code	26-62740
GNIS feature ID	0634419

Parma is a small village located in Jackson County, Michigan. It's a part of the United States. In 2020, about 780 people lived here. Parma is special because it's split into three parts, stretching across both Parma Township and Sandstone Charter Township.

The History of Parma Village

Parma wasn't always where it is today! It first started a few miles east of its current spot. This original location was a train stop called Gidley's Station.

When the village moved, people called it Groveland. This name came from a large group of trees in the town. You can still see part of this original grove today. It's where Grove Street curves near Westlawn Street.

In 1847, the village officially became Parma. In the early 1900s, some people also knew Parma as Cracker Hill. A book called Cracker Hill Crumbs was even published in 1976.

Parma's Location and Land

Parma is a village that covers about 1.06 square miles (2.72 square kilometers) of land. There's no water area within the village limits.

A township line cuts right through Parma. This means the village is located in two different townships. These are Parma Township and Sandstone Charter Township.

People Living in Parma

Parma is home to a diverse group of people. The population changes over time, but it has generally been around 700-900 residents.

Parma's Population in 2010

In 2010, the village had 769 people living in 287 households. About 207 of these households were families. The village had about 725 people per square mile.

Most residents, about 95.8%, were White. Other groups included African American, Native American, and Asian people. Some residents identified with two or more races. About 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (41.5%) had children under 18 living there. About 48.8% were married couples. The average household had 2.62 people. The average family had 3.01 people.

The average age in Parma was 36.5 years. About 29% of residents were under 18. About 12.6% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (51.5%) and females (48.5%).

Community Life and Churches

Parma has a strong community spirit. Several churches serve the area.

Churches in Parma

There are two United Methodist churches in Parma. The North Parma United Methodist Church serves people from the farming areas. The Parma United Methodist Church, sometimes called "Plain Parma," serves the village residents.

North Parma is a classic white country church. The "Plain Parma" church is made of orange brick. For many years, one minister served both churches. This changed in 2005.

Spring Life Church, once known as Howe Wesleyan Church, started in 1908. It joined the Wesleyan Methodist church in 1912. In 1968, it became a Wesleyan Church. This happened when the Wesleyan Methodist and Pilgrim Holiness churches merged. In 2007, the church changed its name to Spring Life Church. This new name helps show its goal to "Cultivate, Plant, and Grow."

Other local churches include Calvary Apostolic Church and Parma Baptist Church.

Nearby Towns and Travel

Parma is surrounded by other interesting communities. To the southeast is Spring Arbor. To the northwest is Springport. The city of Jackson is to the east. To the west are Albion, Marshall, and Battle Creek. These last three cities are in Calhoun County.

Parma is located on Old US 12. This road is now known as Michigan Avenue. Today, I-94 is the main highway connecting Detroit and Chicago. Parma has two exits on I-94.

Parma is also on the Michigan Central Railroad. This railway has historically been very important. It is still the only railway connecting Detroit to Chicago. Parma once had a train station, but it closed in 1954. The old station building was later torn down.

An electric trolley, called an interurban, used to run between Parma and Jackson. In 1923, a trolley derailed and crashed into the local jail. The jail was destroyed and never rebuilt. This event is still remembered by older residents. A playground at Groner Park, built in 1999, even has a section about Parma's history, including this trolley crash. The old interurban station building now serves as the local library.

Learning and Schools

Education is important in Parma. The village is part of a larger school district.

Local Schools

The Parma Union School District used to serve the village. In 1957, it joined with other districts. This formed the Western School District.

Today, high school students from Parma attend Western High School. This high school is shared with nearby Spring Arbor. It also serves the western part of Jackson. The high school, junior high, and district offices are about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Parma.

Parma Elementary School is located in the village. It's on the south side, near where the old Parma High School used to be. When Parma Elementary first opened in 1952, kindergarten classes met in the Masonic Temple. They stayed there until the school was ready.

Colleges and Universities

Several colleges are also close to Parma. Spring Arbor University is about 6 miles (9.7 km) away. Albion College is about 9 miles (14.5 km) distant. Parma is also served by Jackson College.

Local Businesses and Jobs

Parma has always been a farming community. Much of the land around it is still used for agriculture.

In recent years, the area has seen some changes. There's been a bit of growth from the nearby Jackson area. Also, family farming has become more challenging.

There are a few small factories in the area. Most of these are along the Michigan Avenue road. In the early 1990s, a big auto parts plant was built here. It's called Michigan Automotive Compressors, Inc., and it's run by a Japanese company.

Notable People from Parma

Some well-known people have connections to Parma:

• Robert E. Horton – A famous ecologist and soil scientist.
• Brian Tyler – A professional NASCAR driver.

See also

In Spanish: Parma (Míchigan) para niños