Wolcott (town), New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wolcott is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 4,692 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Governor Oliver Wolcott of Connecticut.
The Town of Wolcott is in the northeast corner of the county. There is a village named Wolcott in the town. Both are west of Syracuse, New York.
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[edit] History
The first settlement began around 1807. The Town of Wolcott was formed 1807 from the Town of Junius in Seneca County, New York before the creation of Wayne County, but the town was not completely organized until 1810.
The town was later reduced in size by the formation of new towns in the county: Bulter, Huron, and Rose, all in 1826.
The discovery of iron ore in the county led to the smelting operation at Wolcott furnace north of Wolcott village from 1821 to 1869.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.2 square miles (104.0 km²), of which, 39.3 square miles (101.8 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) of it (2.14%) is water.
The town's north border is Lake Ontario, and the east town line is Cayuga County.
The Clinton Formation of red hematite led to the early iron production industry in the town and county.
At Red Creek, east-west highway New York State Route 104 splits off New York State Route 104A, which becomes a north-south highway near the east town line. New York State Route 370 is in the southeast part of the town.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,692 people, 1,742 households, and 1,153 families residing in the town. The population density was 119.4 people per square mile (46.1/km²). There were 2,232 housing units at an average density of 56.8/sq mi (21.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.71% White, 4.20% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 1.26% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.90% of the population.
There were 1,742 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,516, and the median income for a family was $40,265. Males had a median income of $32,617 versus $21,898 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,487. About 13.4% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.7% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
- Supervisor: Kim Park
- Town Clerk: Dawn Krul
- Town Justice: George Lachnicht
- Town Justice: Henry Krasucki, Jr.
- Councilman: Adam Ellis
- Councilman: Scott Gregg
- Councilman: Jeffrey Keller
- Councilman: Dallas Youngman
- Assessor: Diana Blankley
- Assessor: Amber Roberts
- Superintendent of Highways: Thomas Interlichia
[edit] Communities and locations in the Town of Wolcott
- Blind Sodus Bay -- A bay of Lake Ontario in the northeast part of the town. The bay is not open to the lake due to a spit of land that closes it off, forming a fresh water lagoon.
- Desbrough Park -- A hamlet near Lake Ontario on the east side of Port Bay.
- Duncans Corners -- A location near the east town line on County Road 167.
- Furnace Village -- A hamlet on the west town line north of Wolcott village. This community was important in the production of iron in the 19th Century.
- Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Mangagement Area -- Three conservation areas in the north part of the town.
- North Wolcott -- A hamlet in the north central part of the town.
- Port Bay -- A bay of Lake Ontario north of Wolcott village.
- Red Creek -- The Village of Red Creek is at the east town line on NY-104.
- Wolcott -- The Village of Wolcott is near the west town line.
- Wolcott Creek -- A stream flowing past Wolcott village and Furnace Village into Port Bay.
- Yellow Red Corners -- A location in the southeast part of the town, now at the present intersection of NY-370 and Ridge Road (County Road 163).
[edit] References
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Early Town of Wolcott history
- Historical summary of the Town of Wolcott, NY
- Historical links for Wolcott
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