Butternuts, New York
Encyclopedia
Butternuts is a town
located in Otsego County
, New York
, USA
. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 1,792. The town name is derived from a stream flowing through the town.
The Town of Butternuts is located in southwestern part of the county and is west of Oneonta
.
In 1787, Abijah Gilbert and Jacob Morris, early owners of land in the county, were among the first who settled the town, Morris giving Gilbert land of his choice as payment for his services. Ample waterpower sites allowed for many industries in addition to agriculture that benefitted by the wide fertile valley floor along the Butternut and Unadilla.
The town was established from part of the Town of Unadilla
in 1796. The north part of Butternuts was annexed to form the Town of Morris in 1849, and additional territory was taken from the Town of Unadilla in 1857.
, the town has a total area of 54.1 square miles (140.1 km²), of which, 54.1 square miles (140.1 km²) of it is land and 0.02% is water.
Butternuts Creek is an important stream flowing through the town. It was named by early settlers who noted some unusual Butternut trees growing near it.
New York State Route 51
is a north-south highway in Butternuts, and was one of the first concrete paved highways in Upstate NY, starting from Mt. Upton northwards about 1919.
The Butternut Creek flows diagonally through the town, from Morris to the creek's confluence
with the Unadilla River in the southwest corner of the town.
of 2000, there were 1,792 people, 715 households, and 502 families residing in the town. The population density
was 33.1 people per square mile (12.8/km²). There were 902 housing units at an average density of 16.7 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.32% White, 0.78% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.45% from other races
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.
There were 715 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% 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 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,536, and the median income for a family was $45,368. Males had a median income of $31,473 versus $25,446 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,223. About 6.6% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% 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...
located in Otsego County
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. The 2010 population was 62,259. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk word meaning "place of the rock."-History:...
, 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 1,792. The town name is derived from a stream flowing through the town.
The Town of Butternuts is located in southwestern part of the county and is west of Oneonta
Oneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
.
History
Butternuts is generally believed to be named for three butternut (a.k.a. white walnut) trees growing from one stump that originally marked the corner of the townships of what is now New Lisbon, Pittsfield and Morris when this entire section of the county was surveyed by Richard Smith before the Revolution. Said tree was depicted as the corporate logo of the Butternuts Woolen & Cotton textile firm, but was cut down by the Lull family to build their log cabin.In 1787, Abijah Gilbert and Jacob Morris, early owners of land in the county, were among the first who settled the town, Morris giving Gilbert land of his choice as payment for his services. Ample waterpower sites allowed for many industries in addition to agriculture that benefitted by the wide fertile valley floor along the Butternut and Unadilla.
The town was established from part of the Town of Unadilla
Unadilla (town), New York
Unadilla is a town located in Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 4,548. The name is derived from an Iroquois word for "meeting place."...
in 1796. The north part of Butternuts was annexed to form the Town of Morris in 1849, and additional territory was taken from the Town of Unadilla in 1857.
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 54.1 square miles (140.1 km²), of which, 54.1 square miles (140.1 km²) of it is land and 0.02% is water.
Butternuts Creek is an important stream flowing through the town. It was named by early settlers who noted some unusual Butternut trees growing near it.
New York State Route 51
New York State Route 51
New York State Route 51 is a state highway in the central part of New York state. The highway runs generally in a southwest to northeast direction from the hamlet of Mount Upton to the village of Ilion...
is a north-south highway in Butternuts, and was one of the first concrete paved highways in Upstate NY, starting from Mt. Upton northwards about 1919.
The Butternut Creek flows diagonally through the town, from Morris to the creek's confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
with the Unadilla River in the southwest corner of the town.
Butternuts town lines
- The northern line borders the Town of MorrisMorris (town), New YorkThe town of Morris is located in Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 1,867. The town is named after General Jacob Morris....
in Otsego County. - The eastern line borders the Town of OtegoOtego (town), New YorkOtego is a town in Otsego County, New York, United States. The population was 3,183 at the 2000 census. The name is a native word meaning "where there is fire."The Town of Otego is on the south border of the county and contains a village called Otego...
in Otsego County. - The southern line borders the Town of UnadillaUnadilla (town), New YorkUnadilla is a town located in Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 4,548. The name is derived from an Iroquois word for "meeting place."...
in Otsego County. - The western line lies along the Unadilla RiverUnadilla RiverThe Unadilla River in New York State flows from south of Utica to the village of Sidney, where it flows into the Susquehanna River, which eventually empties into the Chesapeake Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean....
, bordering the towns of NorwichNorwich (town), New YorkNorwich is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 3,836 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Norwich, Connecticut.The Town of Norwich is located near the center of the county...
and GuilfordGuilford, New YorkGuilford is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The town is on the east border of the county. The population was 3,046 at the 2000 census.- History :The land was purchased from the Oneida tribe in 1785.The town was first settled around 1787...
in Chenango CountyChenango County, New YorkChenango 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:...
.
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 1,792 people, 715 households, and 502 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 33.1 people per square mile (12.8/km²). There were 902 housing units at an average density of 16.7 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.32% White, 0.78% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.45% 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 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.
There were 715 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% 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 29.7% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% 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 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,536, and the median income for a family was $45,368. Males had a median income of $31,473 versus $25,446 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 $19,223. About 6.6% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Butternuts
- Church Corners – A location on the north town line.
- Copes Corner – 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...
southwest of Gilbertsville on NY-51, most noted for a county owned campgrounds on the Butternut Creek, once site of a proposed flood control dam that would have flooded Gilbertsville and much of the valley. - Freer Corner – A hamlet east of Gilbertsville near the east town line.
- GilbertsvilleGilbertsville, New YorkGilbertsville is a village in Otsego County, New York, United States. The population was 375 at the 2000 census. The village is named after its founder, and early landowner Abijah Gilbert of Nuneaton, England, father of the eponymous United States Senator from Florida.The Village of Gilbertsville...
– The Village of Gilbertsville is located on NY-51. Listed on the historic register, it was formerly called "Butternuts." - Heslops Corner – A hamlet northeast of Gilbertsville located at the junction of County Highways 4 and 8.
- Hugheston Corner – A location near the southeast corner of the town.
- Mallory Corner – A location near the south town line.
- Rootville-- A location southeast of Gilbertsville, located on County Highway 5, north of Wells Bridge, once a busy hamlet founded by Major Charles Root, a cheese manufacturer who operated many small factories around the region a century ago.
- Toll Corner – A hamlet east of Gilbertsville on County Highway 8.