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Marshall is a city located in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,459. It is the county seat of Calhoun County6. The town's sister city is Koka Cho, Japan. Every other year a group of Marshall students and adults go to Koka Cho, and on the off year, a group of student and adults from Koka Cho come to Marshall.
History
Settled in 1830, the village was first platted in 1831 by Sidney Ketchum, from Clinton County, New York. George Ketchum became its first postmaster on October 10, 1831.
Two Marshall citizens, Rev. John D. Pierce and lawyer Isaac E. Crary, innovated the Michigan school system and established it as part of the state constitution. Their method and format were later adopted by all the states in the old Northwest Territory and became the foundation for the U.S. Land Grant Act in 1861 which helped establish schools like Michigan State University all over the country. Pierce became the country's first state superintendent of public instruction and Crary Michigan's first member of the U.S. House.
Incorporated as a village in 1836 and as a city in 1859. Named for U.S. Chief Justice, John Marshall.
Stand against slavery
In 1843, Adam Crosswhite and his family ran away from David Giltner's Kentucky plantation because Crosswhite learned that his four children were to be sold. The Crosswhites made the tough journey north and finally settled in Marshall.
On the morning of January 2, 1847, the slave catchers and a local deputy sheriff were pounding on Adam's door. His neighbors heard the noise and came running. The cry of "slave catchers!" was yelled through the streets of Marshall. Soon over 100 people surrounded the Crosswhite home.
Threats were shouted back and forth. One of the slave catchers began to demand that people in the crowd give him their names. They were proud to tell him and even told him the correct spelling. Each name was written down in a little book. Finally, the deputy sheriff swayed by the crowd's opinion, decided he should arrest the men from Kentucky instead. By the time the slave catchers would post bond and get out of jail, the Crosswhites were on their way to Canada.
Next the Giltners went to the federal court in Detroit. They sued the crowd from Marshall for damages. Since they had many of their names it was easy to decide whom to sue. Many of the people in the crowd were fined, which they paid gladly and considered a badge of honor.
Because of the Crosswhite case and others like it, Senator Clay from Kentucky pushed a new law through Congress in 1850. It was known as the Fugitive Slave Law. This federal law made it very risky for anyone to help an escaped slave.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.8 km² (6.1 mi²). 15.3 km² (5.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (2.96%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 7,459 people, 3,111 households, and 1,935 families residing in the city. The population density was 486.5/km² (1,260.7/mi²). There were 3,353 housing units at an average density of 218.7/km² (566.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.91% White, 0.32% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.99% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.16% of the population.
There were 3,111 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,171, and the median income for a family was $53,317. Males had a median income of $41,446 versus $30,398 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,101. About 2.6% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
External links
Calhoun County, Michigan | Cities in Michigan | County seats in Michigan
"Marshall, Michigan"