| Vestal | |||
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Vestal
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | New York | ||
| County | Broome | ||
| Established | 1823 | ||
| Government[1] | |||
| • Type | Town Council | ||
| • Town Supervisor | Peter Andreasen | ||
| • Town Council |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 54.7 sq mi (136.4 km2) | ||
| • Land | 52.2 sq mi (135.1 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) 0.95% | ||
| Elevation | 1,010 ft (308 m) | ||
| Population (Census 2000)[2] | |||
| • Total | 26,535 | ||
| • Estimate (2009) | 27,369 | ||
| • Density | 498.5/sq mi (65.8/km2) | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP codes | 13850-13851 | ||
| Area code(s) | 607 | ||
| FIPS code | 36-77255 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0979582 | ||
| 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 27,369 in 2009.[3]
Vestal is on the south border of the county and is west and southwest of Binghamton.
Vestal is home to Binghamton University which draws visitors to the town through its entertainment and sporting events. The university adds more than 14,000 students to the town and employs more than 3,000 faculty and staff.
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The first European settlers arrived in Vestal at around 1785.
The central area of Vestal, near Route 26 at Choconut Creek, was the site of an indigenous 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 indigenous people. During the summer of 1779, the squad eliminated at least two villages, including one situated in what is now nearby downtown Binghamton (the Chenango, at the confluence 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 indigenous people 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, several European families settled in the area near the Town of Union.
The Town of Vestal was formed from the southern half of 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 area, such as Endicott Johnson Corporation, IBM, and Lockheed Martin.
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.[4][5] 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 Southern Tier region of New York, with many large shopping centers such as the Town Square Mall, Parkway Plaza, Shoppes at Vestal, and Campus Plaza being built along the Vestal Parkway (NY Route 434), which became one of the busiest roads in the area. Vestal's historic central business district is located along three blocks of Front Street, still lined with small shops.
The Drovers Inn and Round Family Residence and Vestal Central School were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.7 square miles (136 km2). 52.2 square miles (135 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) of it (0.95%) is water. The Town of Vestal is on the south side of the Susquehanna River. The Susquehanna River flows westward past Vestal to towns like Owego and Waverly in Tioga County, NY. There, the river bends southward into Pennsylvania through Scranton/Wilkes Barre and its capital at Harrisburg, eventually flowing into the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, MD.
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.
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 26,535 people, 8,525 households, and 5,924 families residing in the town. In the 2010 census, the number becomes 28,043.[7] The population density was 508.5 /sq mi (196.3 /km2). There were 8,898 housing units at an average density of 170.5 per square mile (65.8/km²). 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.
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 (11 km) away in Maine, New York, and provides direct flights to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Vestal is also known for the heated auto-sales rivalry between the Millers and the Matthews.
The town of Vestal has 21 town operated and maintained parks which cater to all ages.[8]
The largest park in the area is Arnold Park located off of Pierce Hill Road. This park offers a newly constructed plastic playground, picnic areas, a sand volleyball court, a standard sized baseball field and three other large grassy areas, as well as a nature trail through the wooded areas surrounding the park. In October, the Recreation Department holds a Halloween event at the park. In August, the Recreation Department hosts a picnic and summer festival. The Recreational Baseball League hosts at this park a variety of competitions amongst leagues.
The Recreation Department operates the 40x20 yard Vestal Memorial Pool located on Clayton Avenue off of Rt. 434. Vestal Rec. Dept. Pictures
The Town of Vestal recognizes five hamlets within its borders:[9]
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