Vestal, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Town of Vestal, New York | |||
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | New York | ||
| County | Broome | ||
| Established | 1823 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Town Supervisor | Pete Andreasen | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 54.7 sq mi (136.4 km²) | ||
| - Land | 52.2 sq mi (135.1 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - City | 26,535 | ||
| - Density | 170.5/sq mi (65.8/km²) | ||
| 2005 Estimate: 27,423 | |||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| Website: http://www.vestalny.com | |||
Vestal is a town within Broome County in the Southern Tier of New York, and lies between the Susquehanna River and the Pennsylvania border. As of the 2000 census, the population was 26,535, estimated to have grown to 27,423 by 2005.[1]
The Town of Vestal is on the south border of the county and is south and southwest of Binghamton.
Vestal is home to Binghamton University, the top-ranked public university in New York.[2] In addition to the academics, the university draws visitors to the town through its entertainment and sporting events. The university has greatly increased the town's population and is generally thought to be a boon to the economy.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first American settlement occurred around 1785.
The downtown area of Vestal, near Route 26 at Choconut Creek, was the site of a native village of the Ochugnut tribe of the Tuscaroras. During the American Revolution, a squad of soldiers from the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, under the command of Lt. William McKendry [1] were sent to exterminate the natives. During the summer of 1779, the squad eliminated at least two villages, including one situated in what is now Downtown Binghamton (the Chenango, at the junction of the Chenango and Susquehanna rivers), and the Ochugnut (Choconut) at the site of Choconut Creek near present-day Vestal Senior High School. Reasons for the attack include the Iroquois alliance with Great Britain during the American Revolution. However, some evidence indicates that at least some of the natives were actually Tuscarora - descendants of the Cherokee who fled from North Carolina after wars in 1711 and the War of 1763. This community was actually sympathetic to the American cause, siding against the rest of the Iroquois confederation. See Sullivan Expedition or external links for more information on the role of Upstate New York in this conflict. [2] [3]
Following the war, the area was gradually settled alongside the Town of Union by a few families.
The Town of Vestal was formed from the Town of Union in 1823.
The history of the town is closely related to its neighbors, Binghamton, Endicott, and Johnson City. During the 20th century, Vestal served as a residential suburb to emerging industries in its neighbors, such as Endicott Johnson Corporation (Shoe Company), IBM, and other companies.
In 1950, Triple Cities College of Syracuse University, in Endicott, New York, relocated to Vestal and became Harpur College, a member of SUNY. Today, the college has become Binghamton University, the highest ranked public university in the Northeastern United States[3][4]. The University adds 14,000 students to the local population each school year, and draws large numbers into the town for sporting, arts and other events.
During the 1990s, Vestal became the major retail center of the area, with many large shopping centers such as the Town Square Mall, Parkway Plaza, Shoppes at Vestal, Campus Plaza along the Vestal Parkway (NY Route 434), one of the busiest roads in the area. Its historic central business district is along three blocks of Front Street, which is still lined with small shops.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 136.4 km² (52.7 mi²). 135.1 km² (52.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (0.95%) is water. The Town of Vestal is on the south side of the Susquehanna River.
The north town line is defined by the Susquehanna River, the west town line is the border of Tioga County, and the south town line is the border of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
New York State Route 17 passes across the north part of the town and intersect north-south highway New York State Route 26 by the Susquehanna River. New York State Route 434, Vestal Parkway, intersects NY-26 south of the NY-17 junction. New York State Route 201 links the town to the north shore of the Susquehanna River.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 26,535 people, 8,525 households, and 5,924 families residing in the town. The population density was 196.3/km² (508.5/mi²). There were 8,898 housing units at an average density of 65.8/km² (170.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.13% White, 2.19% African American, 0.15% Native American, 8.33% Asian, 0.99% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.40% of the population.
There were 8,525 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.9% under the age of 18, 24.0% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,098, and the median income for a family was $60,676. Males had a median income of $48,731 versus $29,035 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,363. About 4.3% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Transportation
Vestal is linked from the west primarily by New York State Route 17, which is under development to become Interstate 86. It is also very close to Interstate 81 and Interstate 88. Two major bridges and one minor bridge of New York State Route 26, New York State Route 201, and Bridge Road link Vestal to the villages of Endicott and Johnson City. New York State Route 434, "The Vestal Parkway" is the main artery through Vestal. It provides a direct link to Binghamton in the east.
Broome County Transit provides Vestal with bus service around the town and to surrounding municipalities. Greater Binghamton Airport is located about seven miles away in Maine, New York, and provides direct flights to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
[edit] Schools
- Binghamton University - A SUNY university center with over 13,000 students.
- Vestal Central School District - A school district which includes Vestal High School, ranked in the top 1,000 high schools in the United States according to Newsweek. [4]
[edit] Shopping/Dining/Entertainment in Vestal
- Town Square Mall
- The Shoppes at Vestal
- Parkway Plaza
- Campus Plaza
[edit] Hamlets
The Town of Vestal recognizes five hamlets within its borders:[5]
- Ross Corners is named for David Ross, a prominent Lumberman who owned a store during much of the 19th Century in the west of the town.
- Tracy Creek is named for Benjamin Tracy and is situated by a creek of the same name. It was originally a lumbering and farming community. It is also located in the western section of the town.
- Twin Orchards is a hamlet on the south bank of the Susquehanna River, named for the large orchards that used to border both sides of its main road.
- Vestal Center is located on NY-26 at the intersection of County Road 53, on the Big Choconut Creek about four miles south of the main district, and approximately three miles north of the Pennsylvania State Line. It was originally spelled in English fashion ("Vestal Centre"), but this was changed in 1893. President Theodore Roosevelt once visited and gave a speech.
- Willow Point is located east of Twin Orchards, also on the south bank of the Susquehanna River.
[edit] Other locations
- Castle Gardens -- On the shore of the Susquehanna River in the western section of the town.
- Four Corners -- The town's center; refers to the intersection of Main St. and the Vestal Parkway.
- South Vestal -- A hamlet in the southern part of the town on Route 26.
- Stair Tract -- Two developments (Upper and Lower) on the Eastern edge of the town.
- Vestal Hills -- A hamlet in the northeastern part of town, adjacent to Binghamton.
[edit] References
- ^ United States Census Bureau on Vestal
- ^ "America's Best Colleges 2006: National Universities: Top Schools", U.S. News & World Report, accessed August 8, 2006
- ^ "America's Best Colleges 2006: National Universities: Top Schools", U.S. News & World Report, accessed August 8, 2006
- ^ Fiske Guide to Colleges
- ^ "History of Vestal", Town of Vestal.
[edit] External links
- Town of Vestal webpage.
- Early history of Vestal, NY
- Susquehanna River Level at Vestal, NY
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
 |
Broome County, New York County Seat: Binghamton |
|---|---|
| Cities | |
| Towns |
Barker | Binghamton | Chenango | Colesville | Conklin | Dickinson | Fenton | Kirkwood | Lisle | Maine | Nanticoke | Sanford | Triangle | Union | Vestal | Windsor |
| Villages |
Deposit | Endicott | Johnson City | Lisle | Port Dickinson | Whitney Point | Windsor |
| Hamlets |
