Adams (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Adams is a town
in Jefferson County
, New York, USA
. The population was 5,143 at the 2010 census. The town is named after President John Adams
.
The Town of Adams also has a village named Adams
. Both village and town are centrally located in the county and are south of Watertown
.
When the town was surveyed, numerous remnants of the native inhabitants were still visible.
David Smith built a sawmill at the present site of Adams in 1801. Renamed for John Adams in 1802 (the year after his presidency ended), the Town of Adams was created from the survey townships of Aleppo and Orpheus. The eastern part of Adams was taken in 1804 to form the Town of Rodman
.
During the War of 1812
, the town formed a local militia for home defense.
, the town has a total area of 42.4 square miles (109.9 km²), of which, 42.4 square miles (109.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.05%) is water.
Interstate 81
is a major north-south highway through the middle of Adams.
New York State Route 177
runs eastward from US Route 11, another north-south highway, at Adams Center. New York State Route 178
runs westward from Adams village.
The town is located in an area called the Tug Hill Plateau
. Sandy Creek flows westward through the south part of the town, and Stony Creek flows through the northwest corner.
of 2000, there were 4,782 people, 1,864 households, and 1,293 families residing in the town. The population density
was 112.8 people per square mile (43.5/km²). There were 2,019 housing units at an average density of 47.6 per square mile (18.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.97% White, 0.29% Black or African American
, 0.27% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 1,864 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% 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 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,012, and the median income for a family was $48,354. Males had a median income of $34,000 versus $25,610 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,707. About 6.6% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Jefferson County
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, New York, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,143 at the 2010 census. The town is named after President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
.
The Town of Adams also has a village named Adams
Adams (village), New York
Adams is a village located in the Town of Adams in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 1,624 at the 2000 census. The village is named after President John Adams....
. Both village and town are centrally located in the county and are south of Watertown
Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S...
.
History
Settlement began around 1800 at Adams village.When the town was surveyed, numerous remnants of the native inhabitants were still visible.
David Smith built a sawmill at the present site of Adams in 1801. Renamed for John Adams in 1802 (the year after his presidency ended), the Town of Adams was created from the survey townships of Aleppo and Orpheus. The eastern part of Adams was taken in 1804 to form the Town of Rodman
Rodman, New York
Rodman is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,176 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a public official, Daniel Rodman....
.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, the town formed a local militia for home defense.
Residents of note
- William Eugene BlackstoneWilliam Eugene BlackstoneWilliam Eugene Blackstone was an American evangelist and Christian Zionist. he was the author of the proto- Zionist Blackstone Memorial of 1891. Blackstone was influenced by Dwight Lyman Moody, James H...
, evangelical Christian and Zionist. - Henry Keep, (1818–1869), born in Adams, noted financier and president of several railroad firms, he left an estate of over four million dollars.
- Melvil DeweyMelvil DeweyMelville Louis Kossuth Dewey was an American librarian and educator, inventor of the Dewey Decimal system of library classification, and a founder of the Lake Placid Club....
, inventor the Dewey Decimal library classification system, was born in Adams Center. - J. Sterling Morton, father of Arbor DayArbor DayArbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. It originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States during 1872 by J. Sterling Morton. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, and an estimated 1 million trees were planted that day.Many...
, was born in Adams village. - Henry Benjamin WhippleHenry Benjamin WhippleHenry Benjamin Whipple was the first Episcopal bishop of Minnesota, a humanitarian and an advocate for Native Americans.-Summary of his life:...
, 1st Episcopal bishop of Minnesota - Charles G. Finney, prominent evangelist
- Philander SmithPhilander SmithPhilander Smith was an American real estate agent and philanthropist. Philander Smith College is his namesake.- Biography :...
, son of mill operator and original settler David Smith. EponymEponymAn eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
of Philander Smith CollegePhilander Smith CollegePhilander Smith College is a private, historically black college that is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It is located in Little Rock, Arkansas. The student body averages around 850 attendees, with around 30% of that figure attending part time. Although known historically as a school...
and father-in-law of William Eugene BlackstoneWilliam Eugene BlackstoneWilliam Eugene Blackstone was an American evangelist and Christian Zionist. he was the author of the proto- Zionist Blackstone Memorial of 1891. Blackstone was influenced by Dwight Lyman Moody, James H...
(above).
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 42.4 square miles (109.9 km²), of which, 42.4 square miles (109.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.05%) is water.
Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
is a major north-south highway through the middle of Adams.
New York State Route 177
New York State Route 177
New York State Route 177 is an east–west state highway in the North Country of New York, United States. It extends from Interstate 81 exit 42 in the town of Adams, Jefferson County, to NY 12 west of the village of Lowville, Lewis County. NY 177 intersects U.S...
runs eastward from US Route 11, another north-south highway, at Adams Center. New York State Route 178
New York State Route 178
New York State Route 178 is an east–west state highway in Jefferson County, New York, in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 3 by Aspinwell Corners in the town of Henderson. Its eastern terminus is at a junction with U.S. Route 11 in...
runs westward from Adams village.
The town is located in an area called the Tug Hill Plateau
Tug Hill Plateau
The Tug Hill Plateau is an upland region in upstate New York in the USA, famous for heavy winter snow. The Tug Hill Region is west of the Adirondack Mountains and is separated from the Adirondacks by the Black River Valley. Although the region is and has traditionally been known as the Tug Hill...
. Sandy Creek flows westward through the south part of the town, and Stony Creek flows through the northwest corner.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,782 people, 1,864 households, and 1,293 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 112.8 people per square mile (43.5/km²). There were 2,019 housing units at an average density of 47.6 per square mile (18.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.97% White, 0.29% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.27% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 1,864 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% 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 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,012, and the median income for a family was $48,354. Males had a median income of $34,000 versus $25,610 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,707. About 6.6% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Adams
- AdamsAdams (village), New YorkAdams is a village located in the Town of Adams in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 1,624 at the 2000 census. The village is named after President John Adams....
– The Village of Adams, located near the south town line on US-11 at NY-178. - Adams CenterAdams Center, New YorkAdams Center is a hamlet located in the Town of Adams in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,500 at the 2000 census.- History :...
– A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
is located north of Adams village on US Route 11 at NY-177. - Butterville – A location at the west town line on County Road 76.
- Coopers Corners – A former location in the town.
- Green Settlement – A hamlet on County Road 76 west of Adams Center.
- Honeyville – A location on County Road 177 east of Adams Center.
- Lisk Settlement – A former location in the town.
- Lyon Corners – A location near the west town line on County Road 76.
- North Adams – A hamlet near the northern town line by North Kellog and Cady Roads.
- Sanford Corners – A location on County Road 66 in the northwest corner of the town.
- Talcott Corners – A location on US-11 in the northeast corner of the town.
- Thomas Settlement – A hamlet on NY-178 in the southwest corner of the town.
- Smithville – A hamlet on County Road 75 on the western town line.