Colfax, Illinois
| Colfax | |
| Village | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| County | McLean |
| Township | Martin |
| Elevation | 758 ft (231 m) |
| Coordinates | 40°33′59″N 88°36′55″W / 40.56639°N 88.61528°WCoordinates: 40°33′59″N 88°36′55″W / 40.56639°N 88.61528°W |
| Area | 0.55 sq mi (1 km2) |
| - land | 0.55 sq mi (1 km2) |
| - water | 0.00 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Population | 1,061 (2010) |
| Density | 1,829.4/sq mi (706/km2) |
| Timezone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | 61728 |
| Area code | 309 |
   Location of Colfax within Illinois
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Colfax is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,061 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The journalist and Northwestern University professor Elmo Scott Watson was born in Colfax in 1892.
Colfax is located at 40°33′59″N 88°36′55″W / 40.56639°N 88.61528°W (40.566290, -88.615304).
According to the 2010 census, Colfax has a total area of 0.55 square miles (1.42 km2), all land.
Colfax was laid out on March 22, 1880 by James E. Wood (22 October 1818 – October 1908). Anderson was born in Indiana and had come to McLean County about 1855 as State Missionary for the Christian Church. He stayed and became a farmer, a banker, and a lifelong promoter of Colfax. To locals, Anderson was affectionately known as “Uncle Billy.” The northeastern townships of the county were among the last to be served by railroads. After many false starts the Clinton, Bloomington, and Northwestern Railroad began making its way westward from Kankakee, Illinois. It was aided by contributions in cash and land for the right-of-way by many local farmers. Cropsey, Anchor, and Cooksville were all laid out at the same time as Colfax. The first train arrived in Colfax on 4 July 1880. For two years the track extended only from Kankakee to Colfax and a turntable was installed to send the trains back eastwards. Eventually the tracks ware completed to Bloomington. The Railroad soon became part of the Illinois Central system. Colfax is one of several communities in the United States named for Grant's Vice President Schuyler Colfax. Others include Colfax, California; Colfax, Indiana; Colfax, Louisiana; Colfax, North Carolina and Colfax, Washington.
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