Gaines, New York
Encyclopedia
Gaines is a town in Orleans County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 3,740 at the 2000 census. The town is named after General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, who defended the area during the War of 1812
.
The Town of Gaines is in the north-central part of the county and contains part of the Village of Albion
, the county seat.
before Orleans County was established.
In 1890 the population of Gaines was 2,070.
, the town has a total area of 34.4 square miles (89.1 km²), of which, 34.4 square miles (89.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.12%) is water.
The Erie Canal
forms the southern boundary of the town, and the Oak Orchard River
flows through the northwest part of the town.
New York State Route 104
(Ridge Road) is an east-west highway across the town. New York State Route 98
(Oak Orchard Road) is a north-south highway, intersecting NY-104 north of Gaines Basin. New York State Route 279
(Gaines Waterport Road) is a north-south highway intersecting NY-104 at Gaines village.
of 2000, there were 3,740 people, 1,474 households, and 986 families residing in the town. The population density
was 108.8 people per square mile (42.0/km²). There were 1,609 housing units at an average density of 46.8 per square mile (18.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.63% White, 4.41% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 2.19% from other races
, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population.
There were 1,474 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,604, and the median income for a family was $38,523. Males had a median income of $30,709 versus $21,917 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,823. About 7.9% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
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...
, 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 3,740 at the 2000 census. The town is named after General Edmund Pendleton Gaines, who defended the area during the War of 1812
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...
.
The Town of Gaines is in the north-central part of the county and contains part of the Village of Albion
Albion (village), Orleans County, New York
Albion is a village in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 7,438 at the 2000 census. The village is centrally located in the county and is partly in both the towns of Albion and Gaines. It is the county seat of Orleans County and is about west north-west of the City of...
, the county seat.
History
The Town of Gaines was established in 1816 from a partition of the Town of RidgewayRidgeway, New York
Ridgeway, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century....
before Orleans County was established.
In 1890 the population of Gaines was 2,070.
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 34.4 square miles (89.1 km²), of which, 34.4 square miles (89.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.12%) is water.
The Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The 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...
forms the southern boundary of the town, and the Oak Orchard River
Oak Orchard River
Oak Orchard Creek is a tributary of Lake Ontario in Orleans County, New York in the United States.Oak Orchard Creek rises south of Oak Orchard Creek Marsh at the border of Orleans and Genesee Counties...
flows through the northwest part of the town.
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 across the town. New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
(Oak Orchard Road) is a north-south highway, intersecting NY-104 north of Gaines Basin. New York State Route 279
New York State Route 279
New York State Route 279 is a north–south state highway in Orleans County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 98 north of the village of Albion in the town of Gaines...
(Gaines Waterport Road) is a north-south highway intersecting NY-104 at Gaines village.
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 3,740 people, 1,474 households, and 986 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 108.8 people per square mile (42.0/km²). There were 1,609 housing units at an average density of 46.8 per square mile (18.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.63% White, 4.41% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 2.19% 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 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.14% of the population.
There were 1,474 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% 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, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,604, and the median income for a family was $38,523. Males had a median income of $30,709 versus $21,917 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 $16,823. About 7.9% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Gaines
- AlbionAlbion (village), Orleans County, New YorkAlbion is a village in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 7,438 at the 2000 census. The village is centrally located in the county and is partly in both the towns of Albion and Gaines. It is the county seat of Orleans County and is about west north-west of the City of...
- The Village of Albion is the county seat of Orleans County and a port of the Erie Canal. - ChildsChilds, New YorkChilds, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Gaines in Orleans County, New York, USA. It is named after Judge Henry Childs and previously known as "Proctor's Corners" and "Fair Haven." It is the location of the Cobblestone Historic District that was listed on the National Register of...
– 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...
east of Gaines village on Route 104 at the junction of NY-98. It is named after Judge Henry Childs and previously known as "Proctor's Corners" and "Fair Haven." It is the location of the Cobblestone Historic DistrictCobblestone Historic DistrictThe Cobblestone Historic District is located along state highway NY 104 in Childs, New York, United States. It comprises three buildings that exemplify the cobblestone architecture developed to a high degree in the regions of upstate New York near Lake Ontario and exported to other areas with...
. - Eagle Harbor – A hamlet in the south part of the town. An eagle's nest was found here while the Erie Canal was being dug, giving the location its name.
- East Gaines – A hamlet east of Gaines village on NY-104.
- Five Corners – A hamlet south of Childs on NY-98.
- Gaines – The hamlet of Gaines was established in 1832. It is located at the junction of Routes NY-104 and NY-279.
- Gaines Basin – A hamlet named after a wide place in the Erie Canal for barges to turn around.
- Hindberg – A location on the east town line.
- Waterport Pond – A wide part of the Oak Orchard River is partly in the town.
- West Gaines – A hamlet west of Gaines village on NY-104 that is now a small cluster of houses.