Skaneateles (village), New York

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Skaneateles is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 2,616. The name is derived from the native term for the adjacent lake.

The Village of Skaneateles is in the Town of Skaneateles. Both village and town are about twenty miles southwest of Syracuse, New York.

Map of the village in 1884 (drawing by L.R. Burleigh).

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

In the late eighteenth century water power from the outlet from Skaneateles Lake attracted settlers. Construction of the Seneca Turnpike after 1802, and the Hamilton and Skaneateles Turnpike, begun in 1826, made the village more accessible. Isaac Sherwood, founder of the Sherwood Inn, developed a stage coach line through Skaneateles. The village, incorporated in 1833 and 1855, with scenic Skaneateles Lake, attracted prominent residents from an early date. In 1803 a major New York State landowner from New York City, William J. Vredenburgh, erected an ambitious mansion. In 1839 Nicholas Roosevelt, another New York State landowner, on retiring moved his family from New York City to Skaneateles. In the same year, Richard DeZeng, an engineer and canal builder retiring from Oswego, NY, completed his landmark mansion on the lake. Acquired forty years later by another of several members of the Roosevelt family in Skaneateles, the Greek Revival house became known as "Roosevelt Hall." Reuel Smith. a wealthy Massachusetts importer, retired to Skaneateles. In 1852 he built an architecturally distinguished house, designed in the Gothic Revival style by A. J. Davis, who designed at least one other building in the village. The DeZeng House furthermore may be the work of his partner, Ithiel Town. For more than two centuries Skaneateles has attracted residents and tourists, offering fine inns, restaurants and a spa, as well as boutique shopping. A gallery is devoted to the work of local painter, John Dodgson Barrow. The summer Skaneateles Festival of music is a seasonal event, as is the annual Antique Boat Show and the Dickens Christmas with actors in period costume performing on the streets. Unlike many American resorts that flourished for a period, Skaneateles has remained continually prosperous, retaining an attractive historic ambiance.

Richard DeZeng House, 1839 (Roosevelt Hall)

Reuel Smith House, 1852, (The Cove) A. J. Davis, architect.

[edit] Geography

Skaneateles is located at 42°56′48″N, 76°25′42″W (42.946893, -76.428586) According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.5 km² (1.7 mi²). 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (16.28%) is water.

The village is at the north end of Skaneateles Lake, in the eastern end of the Finger Lakes District.

The village is at the junction of US Route 20, an east-west highway, and New York State Route 321, a north-south highway.

Chase gazebo in Clift Park, located just west of the downtown business area.

The Judge Ben Wiles tour boat.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,616 people, 1,104 households, and 705 families residing in the village. The population density was 706.3/km² (1,826.8/mi²). There were 1,190 housing units at an average density of 321.3/km² (831.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.16% White, 0.08% Black or African American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population.

There were 1,104 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the village the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $57,083, and the median income for a family was $85,403. Males had a median income of $60,529 versus $36,797 for females. The per capita income for the village was $29,170. About 0.9% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. In 2006 164 residential properties in the Town of Skaneateles were assessed at more than a million dollars, compared to only two such properties in all the rest of Onondaga County.

[edit] References

William Beauchamp. "Notes of other days in Skaneateles, written for the Skaneateles democrat in 1876. Cornell Library New York State Literature [[1]]
Kihm Winship. "The First Postmaster", 2006. [2]
Kihm Winship. "Living History", 2005. [[3]]
Virtual American Biographies: Nicholas J. Roosevelt. [4]
Syracuse-Onondage County Planning Agency. Onondaga Landmarks. 1975.
Harley McKee, Patricia Earle, Paul Malo. Architecture Worth Saving in Onondaga County. Syracuse University Press. 1964.
Paul K. Williams. The Historic Homes and Buildings of Skaneateles.
Sue Ellen Woodcock. Skaneateles. Arcadia-Images of America. 2001
Christopher T. Baer. "Turnpikes." Syracuse University Press. Encyclopedia of New York State. 2005