Clarkson, New York
Encyclopedia
Clarkson is a town
in Monroe County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 6,736 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General Matthew Clarkson.
The Town of Clarkson is on the west border of the county and is west of the City of Rochester.
, on 2 April 1819. Clarkson was reduced to form the Towns of Union (the present town of Hamlin)
in 1852.
It has been claimed that Moddy Freeman was the first settler in Clarkson. James Sayres purchased at Clarkson Corners in 1804 and was the first settler on the Ridge Road. Eli Blodgett also settled here in 1804, and there were many others prior to 1809. In 1819 and a year or two thereafter, settlement and development progressed rapidly. It was the home of Henry R. Seldon, judge of the Court of Appeals, and later lieutenant governor of the State of New York. The first male child born was a son to Mrs. Clarkson; the first female birth was that of Betsey Palmer, in 1812. Charlotte Cummings taught the first school, in 1812. Henry McCall kept the first store, about 1810. Isaac Williams built the first frame house, and was the first blacksmith. Dr. Noah Owen was the physician and Dr. Rowe the second. John Bowman was the first lawyer. The first and about the only newspaper published in Clarkson was the Jeffersonian, in 1835, which continued for only a year. The first sawmill was erected previous to 1811, by James Sayres, and stood a half-mile east of the corners. Several distilleries were among the early industries along the Ridge Road. A post-office was established in 1816, Dr. Baldwin being the first postmaster..
The Ridge Road was an important thoroughfare during the war times of 1812-15
, and Clarkson was the general rendezvous for troops and the temporary depository for supplies and munitions of war. Clarkson village, then known as "Murray Corners," was a hamlet of considerable note, the Ridge Road being the main route between Canandaigua and Lewiston. The Corners was a stopping-place where horses were changed and travelers allowed a brief respite, but since the completion of the Erie Canal, and the still later construction of the New York Central railroad, the town of Sweden; has gained an ascendency and profited, while Clarkson; has correspondingly lost in commercial importance.
, the town has a total area of 33.2 square miles (86 km²), of which, 33.2 square miles (86 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The west town line is the border of Orleans County
, marked by New York State Route 272
. New York State Route 104
, Ridge Road, is an east-west highway.
of 2000, there were 6,072 people, 2,034 households, and 1,582 families residing in the town. The population density
was 182.8 people per square mile (70.6/km²). There were 2,090 housing units at an average density of 62.9 per square mile (24.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.92% White, 2.03% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races
, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.
There were 2,034 households out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,438, and the median income for a family was $58,212. Males had a median income of $41,397 versus $25,795 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,555. About 3.1% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% 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 Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
, 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...
. The population was 6,736 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General Matthew Clarkson.
The Town of Clarkson is on the west border of the county and is west of the City of Rochester.
History
General Matthew Clarkson was an extensive landowner in this locality, who gave 100 acres (405,000 m²) to the town. Clarkson was formed from the Town of MurrayMurray, New York
Murray is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,259 at the 2000 census.The Town of Murray is on the east border of the county, northwest of the City of Rochester.- History :Murray was first settled around 1809....
, on 2 April 1819. Clarkson was reduced to form the Towns of Union (the present town of Hamlin)
Union, New York
Union is a town in Broome County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,298. The name derives from the town having served as a rendezvous for the Sullivan Expedition....
in 1852.
It has been claimed that Moddy Freeman was the first settler in Clarkson. James Sayres purchased at Clarkson Corners in 1804 and was the first settler on the Ridge Road. Eli Blodgett also settled here in 1804, and there were many others prior to 1809. In 1819 and a year or two thereafter, settlement and development progressed rapidly. It was the home of Henry R. Seldon, judge of the Court of Appeals, and later lieutenant governor of the State of New York. The first male child born was a son to Mrs. Clarkson; the first female birth was that of Betsey Palmer, in 1812. Charlotte Cummings taught the first school, in 1812. Henry McCall kept the first store, about 1810. Isaac Williams built the first frame house, and was the first blacksmith. Dr. Noah Owen was the physician and Dr. Rowe the second. John Bowman was the first lawyer. The first and about the only newspaper published in Clarkson was the Jeffersonian, in 1835, which continued for only a year. The first sawmill was erected previous to 1811, by James Sayres, and stood a half-mile east of the corners. Several distilleries were among the early industries along the Ridge Road. A post-office was established in 1816, Dr. Baldwin being the first postmaster..
The Ridge Road was an important thoroughfare during the war times of 1812-15
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...
, and Clarkson was the general rendezvous for troops and the temporary depository for supplies and munitions of war. Clarkson village, then known as "Murray Corners," was a hamlet of considerable note, the Ridge Road being the main route between Canandaigua and Lewiston. The Corners was a stopping-place where horses were changed and travelers allowed a brief respite, but since the completion of the Erie Canal, and the still later construction of the New York Central railroad, the town of Sweden; has gained an ascendency and profited, while Clarkson; has correspondingly lost in commercial importance.
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 33.2 square miles (86 km²), of which, 33.2 square miles (86 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The west town line is the border of Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
, marked by New York State Route 272
New York State Route 272
New York State Route 272 is a north–south state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for just over along the Orleans–Monroe county line from an intersection with NY 104 in Clarkson to the Lake Ontario shoreline just north of an interchange with the...
. New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
, Ridge Road, is an east-west highway.
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 6,072 people, 2,034 households, and 1,582 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 182.8 people per square mile (70.6/km²). There were 2,090 housing units at an average density of 62.9 per square mile (24.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.92% White, 2.03% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.40% 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 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.
There were 2,034 households out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,438, and the median income for a family was $58,212. Males had a median income of $41,397 versus $25,795 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 $20,555. About 3.1% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Clarkson
- BrockportBrockport, New YorkBrockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
– Part of the Village of Brockport is in the town. - Clarkson Corners – 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...
formerly known as "Murray Corners" and "Clarkson" (until 2009) that was an important community on Ridge Road until the opening of the Erie CanalErie CanalThe Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
and railroads. - Garland – A hamlet in the southeast part of town on Ridge Road (NY-104).
- Morton – A hamlet at the west town line on NY-272.
- Otis – A location in the northeast part of the town.
- Redman Corners – A hamlet on Ridge Road on the west side of the town.
- Ridge RoadRidge Road (Western New York)Ridge Road is a east–west road that traverses four counties in Upstate New York in the United States. It is named for the rise atop which the road was built, a mound of sand and gravel that was formed when it was the shoreline of ancient Glacial Lake Iroquois...
– NYS-104New York State Route 104New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
, once the major highway between Rochester and Niagara FallsNiagara Falls, New YorkNiagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
.