Burke (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Burke is a town
in Franklin County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,359 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Burke is a town in the northeastern part of the county. The town is east of the Village of Malone
, the county seat. The town contains a village also named Burke
.
The area was known as "West Chateaugay," and was proposed to be the "Town of Birney," but the name Burke was selected instead. The Town of Burke was formed in 1844 from the Town of Chateaugay
.
Almanzo Wilder
, often thought to be a native of nearby Malone
, actually grew up on a farm in Burke. He was the husband of Little House on the Prairie
author Laura Ingalls Wilder
, who told his story in the novel Farmer Boy
. The son of James and Angeline Day Wilder, he was born on his family's farm on February 13, 1857. In 1871 the family left to settle in Minnesota
.
, the town has a total area of 44.4 square miles (114.9 km²), all land.
U.S. Route 11
is an important east-west highway.
The north town line is the province of Quebec
, the international border with Canada
.
The Little Trout River flows past several communities in the town.
of 2000, there were 1,359 people, 483 households, and 364 families residing in the town. The population density
was 30.6 people per square mile (11.8/km²). There were 542 housing units at an average density of 12.2 per square mile (4.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.20% White, 0.52% Black or African American
, 1.03% Native American, 0.37% from other races
, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 483 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,318, and the median income for a family was $36,477. Males had a median income of $28,295 versus $22,679 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,434. About 12.6% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 21.9% 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 Franklin County
Franklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,359 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Burke is a town in the northeastern part of the county. The town is east of the Village of Malone
Malone (village), New York
-Notable natives:Notable natives include:*William Almon Wheeler served as Vice President of the United States under Rutherford Hayes. Is buried at Morningside Cemetery in Malone....
, the county seat. The town contains a village also named Burke
Burke (village), New York
Burke is a village in Franklin County, New York, USA. The population was 213 at the 2000 census.The Village of Burke is in the Town of Burke and is northeast of the Village of Malone.- History :...
.
History
The town was first settled prior to 1800 by the name of Zachary Tyler Burke.The area was known as "West Chateaugay," and was proposed to be the "Town of Birney," but the name Burke was selected instead. The Town of Burke was formed in 1844 from the Town of Chateaugay
Chateaugay (town), New York
Chateaugay is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,036. The name is derived from a location in France, which was applied to a local land grant....
.
Almanzo Wilder
Almanzo Wilder
Almanzo James Wilder was the husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder and father of Rose Wilder Lane, both noted U.S. writers.- Early life :...
, often thought to be a native of nearby Malone
Malone (village), New York
-Notable natives:Notable natives include:*William Almon Wheeler served as Vice President of the United States under Rutherford Hayes. Is buried at Morningside Cemetery in Malone....
, actually grew up on a farm in Burke. He was the husband of Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
Little House is a series of children's books by Laura Ingalls Wilder that was published originally between 1932 and 1943, with four additional books published posthumously, in 1962, 1971, 1974 and 2006.-History:...
author Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder was an American author who wrote the Little House series of books based on her childhood in a pioneer family...
, who told his story in the novel Farmer Boy
Farmer Boy
Farmer Boy is a children's historical novel by Laura Ingalls Wilder. First published in 1933, it is the second book in the nine part Little House series, also known as "The Laura Years"...
. The son of James and Angeline Day Wilder, he was born on his family's farm on February 13, 1857. In 1871 the family left to settle in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
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 44.4 square miles (114.9 km²), all land.
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 11 in New York
U.S. Route 11 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Canadian border at Rouses Point, New York...
is an important east-west highway.
The north town line is the province of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, the international border with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The Little Trout River flows past several communities in the town.
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 1,359 people, 483 households, and 364 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 30.6 people per square mile (11.8/km²). There were 542 housing units at an average density of 12.2 per square mile (4.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.20% White, 0.52% 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...
, 1.03% Native American, 0.37% 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 0.81% of the population.
There were 483 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% 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, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,318, and the median income for a family was $36,477. Males had a median income of $28,295 versus $22,679 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 $14,434. About 12.6% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Burke
- Brayton Hollow – A location near the north town line, north of US-11.
- BurkeBurke (village), New YorkBurke is a village in Franklin County, New York, USA. The population was 213 at the 2000 census.The Village of Burke is in the Town of Burke and is northeast of the Village of Malone.- History :...
– The Village of Burke, south of US-11 at the junction of County Roads 23 and 36. - Burke Center – 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...
on US-11 and north of Burke village on County Road 34. - Chateaugay Chasm – A location at the east town line.
- Cooks Mill – A hamlet by the east town line.
- Coveytown Corners – A location west of Sun and north of Burke Center.
- North Burke – A hamlet near the north town line on County Road 29. It is a port of entry between the USA and Canada.
- Sun – A hamlet north of Burke Center.
- Thayer Corners – A hamlet east of Burke Center on US-11 near the east town line.