Montezuma, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Montezuma is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,431 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Montezuma is at the west border of Cayuga County and is northwest of Auburn, New York.
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[edit] History
Native villages were the target of the Sullivan Expedition during the American Revolution. The town was part of a reservation set aside for the members of the Cayuga tribe when the Central New York Military Tract was established. Outside settlers arrived around 1798.
Salt production was an important early industry. The Erie Canal passed through the town, but became part of the Seneca River during its re-construction.
The Town of Montezuma was established from the Town of Mentz in 1859.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 48.5 km² (18.7 mi²). 47.4 km² (18.3 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (2.19%) is water.
Most of the west town line, partly marked by the Seneca River and the Cayuga and Seneca Canal is the border of Seneca County. The northwest town line is the border of Wayne County, also marked by the Seneca River along with the Erie Canal.
The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) crosses the town. Conjoined US Route 20 and New York State Route 5 pass through the southwest corner of the town. New York State Route 90 is a north-south highway that intersects east-west New York State Route 31 north of Montezuma village.
The eastern part of the Montezuma Swamp is in the town.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 1,431 people, 498 households, and 384 families residing in the town. The population density was 30.2/km² (78.2/mi²). There were 547 housing units at an average density of 11.5/km² (29.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.39% White, 0.07% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.21% Asian, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
There were 498 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,769, and the median income for a family was $44,808. Males had a median income of $31,518 versus $22,885 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,551. About 10.7% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Communities and locations in Montezuma
- Fox Ridge -- A hamlet by the Erie Canal and the north town line.
- Free Bridge Corners -- A location in the southwest corner of the town.
- Montezuma -- A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on NY-90 north of the Thruway. It was incorporated as a village in 1866, but later abandoned that status.
- Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge -- A conservation area on the west side of the town.
- Northern Montezuma Wildlife Mangagement Area -- Part of this state conservation area is in the northern part of the town.
- Willow Grove -- A hamlet neat the west town line, located next to the Erie Canal.
