Galen, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Galen is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 4,439 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the classical physician Galen.
The Town of Galen is on the south border of the county and west of Syracuse, New York.
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[edit] History
Before the French and Indian War, there was a French block house and trading post near Clyde.
The town was first settled around 1800 near Marengo.
The town was part of a tract set aside for physicians and surgeons of the Colonial Army as part of the Central New York Military Tract used to pay soldiers of the American Revolution. Galen was formed from the Town of Junius in Seneca County in 1812 and became part of Wayne County in 1823, but lost part of its area to form the Town of Savannah in 1824.
The glass industry was important during the early history of Galen.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 155.5 km² (60.0 mi²). 153.9 km² (59.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (1.00%) is water.
The Erie Canal passes across the town, incorporating part to the Clyde River. During renovations of the canal, the route was altered, leaving behind the remnants as the Old Erie Canal.
The south town line is the border of Seneca County (Town of Junius).
New York State Route 31 is an east-west highway near the Erie Canal, and it intersects New York State Route 414 in Clyde village.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 4,439 people, 1,645 households, and 1,187 families residing in the town. The population density was 28.8/km² (74.7/mi²). There were 1,805 housing units at an average density of 11.7/km² (30.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.21% White, 3.36% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.70% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 1,645 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,098, and the median income for a family was $45,175. Males had a median income of $31,900 versus $25,789 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,385. About 6.4% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Communities and locations in Galen
- Angells Corners -- A hamlet in the south part of the town on NY-414.
- Clyde -- The Village of Clyde at the Erie Canal and NY-31.
- Fergusons Corner -- A location in the northwest part of the town on County Road 247.
- Hunt Corner -- A location in the northeast corner of the town on County Road 269.
- Lock Berlin -- A hamlet in the west part of the town on County Road 245 by the route of the Old Erie Canal.
- Lockpit -- A location in the southeast part of the town by the old route of the Erie Canal.
- Marengo -- A hamlet in the southwest part of the town, west of Angells Corners.
- Noble Corner -- A hamlet on the east town line.
- Pangborn Corners -- A location east of Hung Corner at the east town line.
- Shephards Corner -- A hamlet northeast of Clyde on County Road 269.
- White Schoolhouse Corners -- A location near Shephards Corner at the intersectiion of NY-414 and County Road 249.
