Ithaca (town), New York
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- This is an article about the Town of Ithaca. For the City of Ithaca or Ithaca as a whole, see Ithaca, New York.
Ithaca is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 18,198 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Ithaca is a horseshoe-shaped portion of the metropolitan area of Ithaca, New York. It surrounds the City of Ithaca and is the City's only border, although the City has a completely separate government. The two entities form a single community for most practical purposes, for instance, sharing a local school district and many municipal services. Many of the Town's government offices are located within the City, outside of the Town's jurisdiction.
Ithaca College is in the town, south of the city center. The main campus of Cornell University is located just to the east, partly in the City and partly in the Town.
The Town Supervisor of Ithaca is Catherine Valentino. Her term will end in 2007. The Town Board has 6 members who are elected at-large to 4-year terms.
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[edit] History
The Sullivan Expedition of 1779 passed through this region. The town is in the former Central New York Military Tract.
The Town of Ithaca was created from part of the Town of Ulysses in 1821.
In 1865, Ezra Cornell, supported by New York State, provided funds and land to found Cornell University.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 78.5 km² (30.3 mi²). 75.4 km² (29.1 mi²) of it is land and 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it (3.99%) is water.
The town is at the foot of Cayuga Lake, one of the Finger Lakes. The town borders all other towns in Tompkins County, with the exception of the Town of Caroline. It also borders both the eastern and western shores of Cayuga Lake.
The town and the city are at the convergence of several state highways, including: New York State Route 13, New York State Route 34, New York State Route 79, New York State Route 96B, and New York State Route 366.
The Cayuga Inlet and Buttermilk Creek flow through the town to Cayuga Lake.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 18,198 people, 6,427 households, and 3,399 families residing in the town. The population density was 241.4/km² (625.1/mi²). There were 6,836 housing units at an average density of 90.7/km² (234.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.14% White, 2.93% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 9.18% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.38% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.36% of the population.
There were 6,427 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.1% under the age of 18, 30.1% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,281, and the median income for a family was $68,346. Males had a median income of $49,592 versus $30,728 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,065. About 4.2% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Communities and locations in the Town of Ithaca
- Buttermilk Falls State Park -- A state park in the town.
- Cayuga Heights -- The Village of Cayuga Heights is north of the City of Ithaca.
- East Cayuga Heights -- A hamlet near the northeast town line, east of Cayuga Heights.
- Forest Home -- A hamlet east of the City of Ithaca.
- Hayt Corner -- A location in the northwest part of the town.
- Kennedy Corner -- A location on the west town line.
- Renwick -- A hamlet north of Ithaca on NY-34.
- Robert H. Treman State Park -- A state park in the town.
- South Hill -- A hamlet south of the City of Ithaca on NY-96B.
- Whipple Corner -- A location on the west town line.
