Afton (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Afton is a town in Chenango County
, New York, United States
. The population was 2,977 at the 2000 census. Afton is situated on the south-east corner of the county and lies wholly within the original township of Clinton. It was formed from Bainbridge November 18, 1857, and derives its name from Afton Water, a small river in the parish of New Cumnock, Ayrshire, SW Scotland, immortalized by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. It is bounded on the north by Bainbridge and Coventry, on the east by Delaware county, on the west and south by Broome county.
The town of Afton contains a village, also called Afton
. The town is at the southeast corner of the county and is northeast of Binghamton
.
The Town of Afton was founded from part of the town of Bainbridge
in 1857.
Bainbridge and Afton were once combined as one town called Jericho. A particularly severe winter storm left residents starving or freezing to death from lack of supplies in the area which is now known as Afton. The cold and snow had been so severe, the townspeople of what is now Bainbridge refused to help. When spring came, hard feelings were had by the rural residents, and the town of Jericho split into two. Afton was named from a line in a poem cherished by the town, and also named with an "A" because it came first alphabetically , so that it came before "Bainbridge" on state registers. Afton was once called "Clinton" after General George Clinton, and was jokingly called "Jockey Port" due to the horse race way in Afton.
Afton was also a stop on the underground railroad
for slaves migrating from the south to the north. Some houses in Afton are found to have secret rooms and staircases, as in a house on Pleasant Avenue.
, the town has a total area of 46.5 square miles (120.5 km²), of which, 45.9 square miles (118.9 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.29%) is water.
Interstate 88
and the Susquehanna River
pass through the town. New York State Route 7
intersects New York State Route 41
at Afton village.
The west and south town lines are the border of Broome County
, and the east town line is the border of Delaware County
.
of 2000, there were 2,977 people, 1,186 households, and 829 families residing in the town. The population density
was 64.8 people per square mile (25.0/km²). There were 1,404 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.66% White, 0.27% Black or African American
, 0.54% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 1,186 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,730, and the median income for a family was $40,122. Males had a median income of $30,656 versus $25,247 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,239. About 7.3% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Chenango County, New York
Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle." Its county seat is Norwich.-History:...
, New York, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,977 at the 2000 census. Afton is situated on the south-east corner of the county and lies wholly within the original township of Clinton. It was formed from Bainbridge November 18, 1857, and derives its name from Afton Water, a small river in the parish of New Cumnock, Ayrshire, SW Scotland, immortalized by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. It is bounded on the north by Bainbridge and Coventry, on the east by Delaware county, on the west and south by Broome county.
The town of Afton contains a village, also called Afton
Afton (village), New York
Afton is a village in Chenango County, New York, USA. The population was 836 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a location in Scotland.The Village of Afton is located in the Town of Afton and is northeast of Binghamton, New York....
. The town is at the southeast corner of the county and is northeast of Binghamton
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
.
History
The town was first settled around 1786.The Town of Afton was founded from part of the town of Bainbridge
Bainbridge (town), New York
Bainbridge is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 3,401 at the 2000 census.The Town of Bainbridge has a village of Bainbridge located within it...
in 1857.
Bainbridge and Afton were once combined as one town called Jericho. A particularly severe winter storm left residents starving or freezing to death from lack of supplies in the area which is now known as Afton. The cold and snow had been so severe, the townspeople of what is now Bainbridge refused to help. When spring came, hard feelings were had by the rural residents, and the town of Jericho split into two. Afton was named from a line in a poem cherished by the town, and also named with an "A" because it came first alphabetically , so that it came before "Bainbridge" on state registers. Afton was once called "Clinton" after General George Clinton, and was jokingly called "Jockey Port" due to the horse race way in Afton.
Afton was also a stop on the underground railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
for slaves migrating from the south to the north. Some houses in Afton are found to have secret rooms and staircases, as in a house on Pleasant Avenue.
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 46.5 square miles (120.5 km²), of which, 45.9 square miles (118.9 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.29%) is water.
Interstate 88
Interstate 88 (east)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway entirely within the U.S. state of New York. Its western end is at Interstate 81 in Binghamton and its eastern end is at Interstate 90 in Schenectady. It serves as an important connector route from Albany to Binghamton, Elmira , and...
and the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
pass through the town. New York State Route 7
New York State Route 7
New York State Route 7 is a 180-mile long New York State Highway that runs from the New York/Pennsylvania border south of Binghamton, New York to the New York/Vermont border east of Hoosick. Most of the road runs along the Susquehanna Valley, closely paralleling Interstate 88 throughout...
intersects New York State Route 41
New York State Route 41
New York State Route 41 is a north–south state highway in Central New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the town of Sanford. Its northern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 20 in the village of Skaneateles...
at Afton village.
The west and south town lines are the border of Broome County
Broome County, New York
Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,600. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current...
, and the east town line is the border of Delaware County
Delaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
.
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 2,977 people, 1,186 households, and 829 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 64.8 people per square mile (25.0/km²). There were 1,404 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.66% White, 0.27% 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...
, 0.54% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% 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 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 1,186 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% 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 30.1% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,730, and the median income for a family was $40,122. Males had a median income of $30,656 versus $25,247 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 $16,239. About 7.3% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the town
- AftonAfton (village), New YorkAfton is a village in Chenango County, New York, USA. The population was 836 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a location in Scotland.The Village of Afton is located in the Town of Afton and is northeast of Binghamton, New York....
– A village located on NY Route 7New York State Route 7New York State Route 7 is a 180-mile long New York State Highway that runs from the New York/Pennsylvania border south of Binghamton, New York to the New York/Vermont border east of Hoosick. Most of the road runs along the Susquehanna Valley, closely paralleling Interstate 88 throughout...
near the center of the town and by the Susquehanna River. - Bettsburg – A hamlet near the south town line on NY-41. It is named after Peter Betts, a local merchant.
- East Afton – A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town.
- Middle Bridge – A hamlet northeast of Afton village, located on County Road 39 on the south side of the Susquehanna River.
- Nineveh – A hamlet at the town line on NY-7.
- Nineveh Junction – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town.
- North Afton – A hamlet near the north town line and north of Afton village on NY Route 41New York State Route 41New York State Route 41 is a north–south state highway in Central New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the town of Sanford. Its northern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 20 in the village of Skaneateles...
. It incorporated as a village in 1829, was dissolved and re-incorporated in 1833, and later dissolved its incorporation again. North Afton was formerly called "Ayrshire."