Edmeston, New York

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Edmeston, Otsego County

Edmeston is a town located in Otsego County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,824. Edmeston is also the name of the largest hamlet in the town. Two other communities in the Town of Edmeston are West Edmeston and South Edmeston.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 115.5 km² (44.6 mi²). 115.4 km² (44.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.11% water. The major water features are:

  • the Unadilla River, which forms the entire western border of the town,
  • Wharton Creek, which meanders to the south and west through the southeastern corner of the town,
  • Mill Creek, which flows from north to south from the northern border of Edmeston to the Wharton Creek at the Edmeston hamlet.
  • Summit Lake in the northeastern corner of the town.

The elevation of the town varies by about 800 feet: from just under 1100 feet above sea level at the Unadilla River in the southwest corner of the town, to just over 1900 feet at peaks near Taylor Hill and Summit Lake in the northeast corner.

[edit] History

For a documented history of the Town of Edmeston, see the Wikisource article: History of Edmeston, New York

The town of Edmeston, in Otsego County, extends to the West as far as the Unadilla River, a line that was established by the 1768 Treaty of Fort Stanwix between the British and the Iroquois, signed by Sir William Johnson ). The town's name came from the brothers, Robert and William Edmeston, who had been granted 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land in what is now the northwest corner of the town. The hamlets of West Edmeston and South Edmeston are situated in the Unadilla Valley, while the hamlet of Edmeston lies in the Wharton Valley. Earlier settlers came from New England; for most of the settlers, it was planned as a stopover on their way west. A strong Baptist influence came with the settlers. Universalists, Methodists and Roman Catholics soon arrived.

Dairy farming has historically been the main business of the area. Cheese factories, creameries, livery stables, blacksmith shops, and tanneries were created to support the dairy industry. One room schoolhouses were scattered throughout the town. By damming the creeks, power was created for foundries and mills. Hop growing and maple syrup production were seasonal ocupations. Each of the town's communities developed business districts and became self sufficient. By the late 1800s, and the beginning of the 1900s, trains were introduced. Then cars, busses and trucks arrived on the scene. Dams were washed out and electricity became available. The hamlets evolved into bedroom communities. The one room schoolhouses closed and the Central School was developed in the hamlet of Edmeston.

Today residents go in all four directions for employment. The New York Central Insurance Company (in Edmeston) not only provides positions for many of the locals, but also for hundreds that commute into the community each day. On the Eastern side of the town is the Pathfinder Village (home for Down Syndrome residents) that provides more employment.

The population of the town has not increased much through the years. It still remains largely rural. Organizations like the local Rotary Club, American Legion and Fire and Emergency Squads have active volunteers that provide community needs in lieu of governments in the hamlets. Edmeston Central School is the center of activities.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, the town of Edmeston contained:

The population density was 15.8/km² (40.9/mi²).

There were 821 housing units at an average density of 7.1/km² (18.4/mi²).

The racial makeup of the town was:

There were 658 households out of which:

  • 34.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them,
  • 62.2% are married couples living together,
  • 8.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and
  • 26.9% are non-families.
  • 22.5% of all households are made up of individuals and
  • 12.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older.
  • The average household size is 2.65 and
  • the average family size is 3.06.

The population spread of the town of Edmeston was:

  • 27.1% under the age of 18,
  • 6.3% from 18 to 24,
  • 28.6% from 25 to 44,
  • 23.5% from 45 to 64, and
  • 14.5% who are 65 years of age or older.

Edmeston population distribution (2000 Census)

Age Total % * Male % ** Female %**
All 1824 100.0 912 50.0 912 50.0
18+ 1330 72.9 657 36.0 673 36.9
21+ 1282 70.3 - - - -
60+ 352 19.3 166 47.2 186 52.8
62+ 324 17.8 - - - -
65+ 265 14.5 126 47.5 139 52.5
75+ 118 6.5 49 41.5 69 58.5
85+ 25 1.4 9 36.0 16 64.0
(*) percent of total population (all ages)
{**) percent of population in age bracket

The median age was 37 years.

For every 100 females there were 100.0 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

In the town of Edmeston, median income:

  • per household was $36,800,
  • per family was $41,510,
  • per male was $27,546,
  • per female was $21,089.

The per capita income for the town is $17,507.

13.6% of the population and 8.3% of families are below the poverty line.

Out of the total people living in poverty,

  • 18.3% of those under the age of 18 and
  • 7.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

[edit] External links

Wikisource has original text related to this article:


Otsego County, New York
County seat Cooperstown
Cities Oneonta
Villages Cherry Valley | Gilbertsville | Laurens | Milford | Morris | Otego | Richfield Springs | Unadilla
Towns Burlington | Butternuts | Cherry Valley | Decatur | Edmeston | Exeter | Hartwick | Laurens | Maryland | Middlefield | Milford | Morris | New Lisbon | Oneonta | Otego | Otsego | Pittsfield | Plainfield | Richfield | Roseboom | Springfield | Unadilla | Westford | Worcester
Communities/CDPs Schenevus | West End
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