Hartsville, New York
Encyclopedia
----
Hartsville is a town
in Steuben County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 585 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a prominent early settler, Reuben Hart.
The Town of Hartsville is on the county's western border and is south of Hornell
, New York
.
The early lumber industry gradually converted to raising dairy cows as land was cleared.
The town was formed from the Town of Hornellsville
in 1844.
was planning to build several windmills in Hartsville, and had signed contracts with several landowners for the use of land on which to put these windmills. This has proved controversial. Opponents alleged that the Town government was excessively partial to Airtricity and the participating landowners, that it failed to take into consideration any of the possible negative impacts of turbine development, and did not make enough effort to negotiate a favourable deal with Airtricity on its own part (towns can require various things of a wind developer, specifically among them a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT). In the spring of 2006 some residents brought in B. Thomas Golisano, founder of Paychex, who expressed willingness to provide money to begin a competing wind farm which would give substantially more benefits; specifically, the PILOT and payments to the landowners would be the same as or better than what was being offered by Airtricity, and residents of the town would receive part of the profits derived from the wind farm. This was bitterly fought by the landowners under contract and by certain members of the Town Board. It no longer is being actively promoted.
Two other developments occurred during the same time frame. It was discovered that the Town Supervisor had a contract with Airtricty to allow a power line to pass over her property to the power grid connections, a matter for which she received much criticism. Also, it was announced that the town board was considering using any PILOT funds it received if the project went through to enter the New York State Retirement program. The primary beneficiaries of the entry would have been the Supervisor's father and brother, respectively the head of and an employee of the town highway department. Her father, furthermore, has a contract with Airticity to build turbines on his property. This proposal was withdrawn in the face of opposition.
The Supervisor and one board member resigned, in September and November 2006, respectively, apparently due to criticism of their handling of the issue. A divided board was unable to appoint replacements, but in the 2007 elections, two seats, including that of Supervisor (out of four seats up for elections) went to candidates who had supported the Golisano plan when it was promoted. The incumbent pro-Airtricity deputy Supervisor was defeated by a large margin, and of the other two board members, both of whom were on the other side in the debate, only one was up for election, and received the largest number of votes for a non-supervisor seat. No further candidates were fielded by this faction, and the other two seats were filled by two of the four candidates fielded by the pro-Airticity faction.
In late 2007, Airtricity sold its American operations to E.ON
, a German utility company.
, the town has a total area of 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), of which, 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
The western town line is the border of Allegany County
, New York
.
in Allegany County. To the north is the Town of Hornellsville
and to the south is the Town of Greenwood
. The eastern town line is shared with the Town of Canisteo
.
of 2000, there were 585 people, 233 households, and 170 families residing in the town. The population density
was 16.2 people per square mile (6.2/km²). There were 377 housing units at an average density of 10.4 per square mile (4.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.49% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.
There were 233 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples
living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,568, and the median income for a family was $42,656. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $18,654 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,667. About 8.3% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Hartsville is a town
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 Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
, 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 585 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a prominent early settler, Reuben Hart.
The Town of Hartsville is on the county's western border and is south of Hornell
Hornell, New York
Hornell is a city in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 9,019 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Hornell family, early settlers. Its current population has not yet been released by the new census....
, 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...
.
History
The first permanent settler arrived around 1810.The early lumber industry gradually converted to raising dairy cows as land was cleared.
The town was formed from the Town of Hornellsville
Hornellsville, New York
Hornellsville is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 4,042 at the 2000 census. The name is taken from a prominent pioneer family....
in 1844.
Windmills and Controversy
In the fall of 2005, it was publicly revealed that Irish windmill company AirtricityAirtricity
Airtricity was founded in 1997 in the Republic of Ireland and now is a renewable energy company owned by Scottish and Southern Energy...
was planning to build several windmills in Hartsville, and had signed contracts with several landowners for the use of land on which to put these windmills. This has proved controversial. Opponents alleged that the Town government was excessively partial to Airtricity and the participating landowners, that it failed to take into consideration any of the possible negative impacts of turbine development, and did not make enough effort to negotiate a favourable deal with Airtricity on its own part (towns can require various things of a wind developer, specifically among them a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT). In the spring of 2006 some residents brought in B. Thomas Golisano, founder of Paychex, who expressed willingness to provide money to begin a competing wind farm which would give substantially more benefits; specifically, the PILOT and payments to the landowners would be the same as or better than what was being offered by Airtricity, and residents of the town would receive part of the profits derived from the wind farm. This was bitterly fought by the landowners under contract and by certain members of the Town Board. It no longer is being actively promoted.
Two other developments occurred during the same time frame. It was discovered that the Town Supervisor had a contract with Airtricty to allow a power line to pass over her property to the power grid connections, a matter for which she received much criticism. Also, it was announced that the town board was considering using any PILOT funds it received if the project went through to enter the New York State Retirement program. The primary beneficiaries of the entry would have been the Supervisor's father and brother, respectively the head of and an employee of the town highway department. Her father, furthermore, has a contract with Airticity to build turbines on his property. This proposal was withdrawn in the face of opposition.
The Supervisor and one board member resigned, in September and November 2006, respectively, apparently due to criticism of their handling of the issue. A divided board was unable to appoint replacements, but in the 2007 elections, two seats, including that of Supervisor (out of four seats up for elections) went to candidates who had supported the Golisano plan when it was promoted. The incumbent pro-Airtricity deputy Supervisor was defeated by a large margin, and of the other two board members, both of whom were on the other side in the debate, only one was up for election, and received the largest number of votes for a non-supervisor seat. No further candidates were fielded by this faction, and the other two seats were filled by two of the four candidates fielded by the pro-Airticity faction.
In late 2007, Airtricity sold its American operations to E.ON
E.ON
E.ON AG, marketed with an interpunct as E•ON, is the holding company of the world's largest investor-owned energy service provider based in Düsseldorf, Germany. The name comes from the Greek word aeon which means eternity....
, a German utility company.
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 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), of which, 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
The western town line is the border of Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
, 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...
.
Neighboring towns and areas
To the west is the Town of AlfredAlfred (town), New York
Alfred is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 5,140 at the 2000 census.The Town of Alfred has a village named Alfred in the center of the town....
in Allegany County. To the north is the Town of Hornellsville
Hornellsville, New York
Hornellsville is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 4,042 at the 2000 census. The name is taken from a prominent pioneer family....
and to the south is the Town of Greenwood
Greenwood, New York
Greenwood is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 849 at the 2000 census.- History :A pioneer road was cut through the town in the 18th Century, but no settlers remained in the town....
. The eastern town line is shared with the Town of Canisteo
Canisteo (town), New York
Canisteo is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 4,005 at the 2007 census. The name is from the name of a native village located here....
.
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 585 people, 233 households, and 170 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 16.2 people per square mile (6.2/km²). There were 377 housing units at an average density of 10.4 per square mile (4.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.49% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% 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 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.
There were 233 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% 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, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 115.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,568, and the median income for a family was $42,656. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $18,654 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 $17,667. About 8.3% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Hartsville
- Hartsville – The 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...
of Hartsville, located on County Road 28 near the center of the town, is the only community in the town. It was also previously known as "Hartsville Center." - Purdy Creek – A stream flowing through the town and Hartsville village. It was named after an early settler and eventually flows into the Canisteo RiverCanisteo RiverThe Canisteo River is a tributary of the Tioga River in western New York in the United States. It drains a dissected plateau, a portion of the northern Allegheny Plateau southwest of the Finger Lakes region, in the far northwestern reaches of the watershed of the Susquehanna River.It rises in the...
. - Webb Hollow – A valley northwest of Hartsville village.