Fenton, New York
Encyclopedia
Fenton is a town
in Broome County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 6,909 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Reuben Fenton
, a governor of New York. The original name was Port Crane.
The Town of Fenton is in the northeastern part of the county and is northeast of Binghamton
.
The Town of Fenton, then called Port Crane, was formed from the Town of Chenango
in 1855. The name was changed to Fenton in 1867. A small settlement within Fenton carried on the name of Port Crane, up to the present.
The former Chenango Canal
(1834–1876) passed through the west side of the town. The town developed and prospered with the advent of the canal. While the canal was supplanted by the railroads, the town was bypassed by the trains. When the canal was gone, the prosperity in Port Crane left with it. Today, Port Crane is but a shadow of its former self.
[Added 14-Aug-11] It must be noted the US Postal Service on their zip code search web site (www.usps.com) specifically identifies Fenton as an unacceptable city name for zip code 13833. Port Crane continues as the preferred city name. Conversley, Fenton is recognized by the United States Census Bureau
.
, the town has a total area of 33.4 square miles (86.5 km²), of which, 32.9 square miles (85.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.47%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Chenango County
, and the west town line is marked by the Chenango River
.
Interstate 88
crosses the south part of the town. New York State Route 7
parallels the interstate. New York State Route 369
is a north-south highway in the town and intersects New York State Route 79
at North Fenton.
, and to the west are the Towns of Chenango
and Barker
. The Towns of Kirkwood
and Dickinson
are on the south side. The Town of Greene
in Chenango County is at the north town line.
of 2000, there were 6,909 people, 2,763 households, and 1,947 families residing in the town. The population density
was 210.1 people per square mile (81.1/km²). There were 2,941 housing units at an average density of 89.4 per square mile (34.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.52% White, 0.87% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.19% from other races
, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 2,763 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,622, and the median income for a family was $45,869. Males had a median income of $37,800 versus $25,875 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,780. About 4.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.7% 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...
in 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...
, 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 6,909 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Reuben Fenton
Reuben Fenton
Reuben Eaton Fenton was an American merchant and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of a farmer. He was elected a colonel of the New York State Militia in 1840. He became a lumber merchant, and entered politics as a Democrat...
, a governor of New York. The original name was Port Crane.
The Town of Fenton is in the northeastern part 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 1788.The Town of Fenton, then called Port Crane, was formed from the Town of Chenango
Chenango, New York
Chenango is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 11,454 at the 2000 census.The Town of Chenango is in the eastern part of the county, northeast of Binghamton.- History :The town was first settled around 1787....
in 1855. The name was changed to Fenton in 1867. A small settlement within Fenton carried on the name of Port Crane, up to the present.
The former Chenango Canal
Chenango Canal
The Chenango Canal was a towpath canal that was built and operated in the mid-19th century in Upstate New York in the United States. It was 97 miles long and for much of its course followed the Chenango River, from Binghamton on the south end to Utica on the north end...
(1834–1876) passed through the west side of the town. The town developed and prospered with the advent of the canal. While the canal was supplanted by the railroads, the town was bypassed by the trains. When the canal was gone, the prosperity in Port Crane left with it. Today, Port Crane is but a shadow of its former self.
[Added 14-Aug-11] It must be noted the US Postal Service on their zip code search web site (www.usps.com) specifically identifies Fenton as an unacceptable city name for zip code 13833. Port Crane continues as the preferred city name. Conversley, Fenton is recognized by the United States Census Bureau
United 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...
.
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 33.4 square miles (86.5 km²), of which, 32.9 square miles (85.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.47%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Chenango County
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:...
, and the west town line is marked by the Chenango River
Chenango River
The Chenango River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in central New York in the United States. It drains a dissected plateau area in upstate New York at the northern end of the Susquehanna watershed....
.
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...
crosses the south part of 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...
parallels the interstate. New York State Route 369
New York State Route 369
New York State Route 369 is a state highway located entirely within the town of Fenton in Broome County, New York. It begins at NY 7B south of the concurrency of Interstate 88 and NY 7 in the hamlet of Port Crane and ends at NY 79 in the hamlet of North Fenton.-Route...
is a north-south highway in the town and intersects New York State Route 79
New York State Route 79
New York State Route 79 is an east–west state highway in the Southern Tier of New York, United States. The western terminus of the route is at the intersection with NY 414 near the southern end of Seneca Lake east of Watkins Glen...
at North Fenton.
Adjacent towns and areas
To the east is the Town of ColesvilleColesville, New York
Colesville is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 5,441 at the 2000 census.The Town of Colesville is in the northeast part of the county and is northeast of Binghamton.- History :...
, and to the west are the Towns of Chenango
Chenango, New York
Chenango is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 11,454 at the 2000 census.The Town of Chenango is in the eastern part of the county, northeast of Binghamton.- History :The town was first settled around 1787....
and Barker
Barker, Broome County, New York
----Barker is a town in Broome County, New York, USA. The population was 2,738 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Barker, an early settler...
. The Towns of Kirkwood
Kirkwood, New York
Kirkwood is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 5,651 at the 2000 census. The town is named after James P. Kirkwood, who was an engineer responsible for constructing the local railroad....
and Dickinson
Dickinson, Broome County, New York
----Dickinson is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 5,335 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Daniel S...
are on the south side. The Town of Greene
Greene, New York
Greene, New York is the name of two places in Chenango County, New York:*Greene , New York*Greene , New York...
in Chenango County is at the north town line.
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 6,909 people, 2,763 households, and 1,947 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 210.1 people per square mile (81.1/km²). There were 2,941 housing units at an average density of 89.4 per square mile (34.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.52% White, 0.87% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.19% 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 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 2,763 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,622, and the median income for a family was $45,869. Males had a median income of $37,800 versus $25,875 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 $19,780. About 4.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and other locations in Fenton
- Chenango Valley State ParkChenango Valley State ParkChenango Valley State Park is a state park located in Broome County, New York, USA. The park is located in western part of the Town of Fenton adjacent to the Chenango River....
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
adjacent to the Chenango RiverChenango RiverThe Chenango River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in central New York in the United States. It drains a dissected plateau area in upstate New York at the northern end of the Susquehanna watershed....
, known for its wooded golf course and scenic glacial topography. - Chenango Lake – The larger of two scenic wooded lakes in the Chenango Valley State Park, used for swimming and boating.
- Fenton – A location on NY-369 near the state park.
- HillcrestHillcrest, Broome County, New YorkHillcrest is a residential community outside of Binghamton, New York. Neighboring Chenango Bridge and the village of Port Dickinson, this suburb is an unincorporated entity within the Town of Fenton....
– A suburban residential community east of the Chenango River neighboring Chenango BridgeChenango Bridge, New YorkChenango Bridge is a hamlet in the southern part of the town of Chenango in Broome County, New York, United States. It lies where State Route 12A crosses the Chenango River....
and Port DickinsonPort Dickinson, New YorkPort Dickinson is a village in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 1,697 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. - Lily Lake – The smaller of two lakes, north of Chenango Lake, known for its scenic beauty and good fishing.
- North Fenton – A hamletHamletThe Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
at the junction of NY-79 and NY-369 by the north town line. It was originally called "Ketchums Corners." - Pleasant Hill – A hamlet in the south part of the town on County Road 193.
- Port Crane – A hamlet near the Chenango River and the south town line, near the intersection of NY-369, NY-7, and I-88. It was formerly a port on the now-defunct Chenango Canal and was named after Jason Crane, a canal engineer. It now carries on the original name for the whole town.
- Quinneville – A hamlet at the north town line on NY-79.
- Wyman Corner – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town.
Famous residents
- Billy MartinBilly MartinAlfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
- Baseball legend, second baseman and Yankees manager; operated and lived on a farm in Port Crane after retiring from the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. It was on that road where his tragic fatal car accident occurred on Christmas Day in 1989.