Lyons (town), New York

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Lyons is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 5,831 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Lyons, France.

The Town of Lyons is in the south-central part of the county and contains a village also called Lyons. The village is located on the Erie Canal, and is the county seat of Wayne County.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Famous Lyonsians 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Communities and locations in the Town of Lyons 5 External links

[edit] History

The area was part of the Pulteney Estate. Settlement began around 1789. The region was originally known as "The Forks." The Town of Lyons was formed from the Town of Sodus in 1811. The Erie Canal was completed as far as Lyons by 1821.

In 1825, the size of the town was reduced upon the formation of the Town of Arcadia.

H.G. Hotchkiss moved his Hotchkiss Essential Oil Company to Lyons in 1841, where is became an important business in the local economy.

[edit] Famous Lyonsians

• Mel Hall-baseball player.
• Jim Boeheim-basketball coach, Syracuse University Orangemen.
• Myron C. Taylor-businessman, special envoy to the Vatican, namesake of Cornell University Law School building.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 97.4 km² (37.6 mi²). 97.1 km² (37.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.32%) is water.

The south town line is the border of Ontario County (Town of Phelps).

New York State Route 14 and New York State Route 31 intersect by Lyons village.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 5,831 people, 2,179 households, and 1,398 families residing in the town. The population density was 60.1/km² (155.6/mi²). There were 2,424 housing units at an average density of 25.0/km² (64.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.05% White, 8.63% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.62% of the population.

There were 2,179 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,322, and the median income for a family was $47,593. Males had a median income of $31,447 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,483. About 5.9% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Communities and locations in the Town of Lyons

• Alloway -- A hamlet in the south part of the town on NY-14.
• Lyons -- The Village of Lyons, on the Erie Canal and NY-14.
• Pilgrimport -- A hamlet by the east town line on County Road 244 at the old route of the Erie Canal.
• Zurich -- A hamlet at the town line in the northwest part of the town on County Road 237.

[edit] External links

• History of the Town of Lyons
• Historical summary of Lyons
• Historical links for Lyons