Sterling, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sterling is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 3,432 at the 2000 census. The town is named after "Lord Stirling", a general of the Revolutionary War.
The Town of Sterling is the most northerly town in the county. Sterling is northwest of Syracuse, New York.
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[edit] History
The region was part of the Central New York Military Tract used to pay soldiers of the American Revolution. The first settler arrived in 1805.
Sterling was formed in 1812 from the Town of Cato.
Improvements made to Little Sodus Bay in the early 19th Century, allowed the town to have port facilities. As the use of the port declined, the town developed as a vacation and recreation location. The Sterling Renaissance Festival held during the summer, for almost thirty years, adds to the tourism of the town.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 122.1 km² (47.1 mi²). 118.2 km² (45.7 mi²) of it is land and 3.9 km² (1.5 mi²) of it (3.16%) is water.
The north boundary of Sterling is Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes. Sterling is the only town in the county with access to the Great Lakes.
The western terminus of New York State Route 3 and northern terminus of New York State Route 38 are in the town. New York State Route 104 passes across the south part of Sterling, and New York State Route 104A passes across the north.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 3,432 people, 1,337 households, and 962 families residing in the town. The population density was 29.0/km² (75.2/mi²). There were 1,922 housing units at an average density of 16.3/km² (42.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.46% White, 0.09% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.
There were 1,337 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,061, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $34,205 versus $24,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,912. About 7.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.6% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Communities and locations in Sterling
- Crockets (formerly "Sterling Valley Station) -- A hamlet near the east town line, at the intersection of Route 104A and Route 3.
- Fair Haven -- The Village of Fair Haven is in the north part of the town.
- Fair Haven State Park -- A state park north of Fair Haven.
- Fintches Corners -- A hamlet centrally located in the town, on NY Route 38.
- Litte Sodus Bay -- A bay of Lake Ontario north of Fair Haven. The bay is so named to distinguish it form Great Sodus Bay to the west.
- Martville -- A location near the east town line on NY-104A.
- McKnight Corners -- A location northeast of North Fair Haven.
- Moon Beach -- A lakeside hamlet on Lake Ontario in the northeast part of the town.
- Nine Mile Creek -- A stream entering Lake Ontario in the northeast part of the town.
- North Fair Haven -- A hamlet in the northeastern part of the Village of Fair Haven on the east side of Little Sodus Bay.
- North Sterling -- A hamlet northeast of Fair Haven on NY-104A.
- North Victory -- A hamlet near the south town line at the intersection of Route 104 and Route 38.
- The Pond -- A small lake separated from Lake Ontario by a narrow ridge, located in Fair Haven State Park.
- Sterling -- The hamlet of Sterling, east of Fair Haven and on NY-38. Also known as "Sterling Center."
- Sterling Creek -- A stream flowing into The Pond.
- Sterling Valley -- A hamlet northeast of Fair Haven village, located on Route NY-104A north of its intersection with Route 3.
- Warwickshire -- A fictional English village which exists for several weekends a year at the location of the Sterling Renaissance Festival.
- West Nine Mile Point -- A projection into Lake Ontario northeast of Fair Haven.
- Whiting Corners -- A location in the southwest part of the town.
