Independence, New York
Encyclopedia
Independence is a town in Allegany County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,074 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Independence is in the southeast corner of Allegany County, southeast of the Village of Wellsville
.
. Independence was reduced by the formation of the Towns of Andover
, New York
(1824) and Willing
, New York
(1851).
From November 16, 1896, through June 1936 Whitesville was served by the New York & Pennsylvania Railway (and predecessors) as part of its Canisteo NY to Ceres NY (via Greenwood NY, Genesee PA, Oswayo and Shingle House PA) main line. Following severe floods in July 1935 the railroad was partially out of service and its abandonment in June 1936 was readily approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission which from an early date approved railroad abandonment to promote highway truck use. The loss of railroad service did much to promote the economic withering of the Whitesville area.
, the town has a total area of 34.5 square miles (89.4 km²), all of it land.
The southern town line forms a border with Pennsylvania
and the eastern town line is the border with Steuben County
, New York
.
New York State Route 248
is a major east-west highway in the town that intersects with New York State Route 248A (Cryder Creek Road) west of the community of Whitesville.
Cryder Creek is a stream flowing out the southwest of the town and Chenunda Creek flows across the northern part of the town.
of 2000, there were 1,074 people, 400 households, and 301 families residing in the town. The population density
was 31.2 people per square mile (12.0/km²). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 14.1 per square mile (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.98% White, 0.37% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 400 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,438, and the median income for a family was $1,056,050. Males had a median income of $27,961 versus $19,583 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,109. About 11.0% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,074 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Independence is in the southeast corner of Allegany County, southeast of the Village of Wellsville
Wellsville (village), New York
Wellsville is a Village in Allegany County of New York State. At the top of the Eastern Triple Continental Divide, in south-central wooded and rural Allegany County, it is the largest population and business center in a 30-mile radius. The population was 5,171 at the 2000 census...
.
History
The first permanent settlement occurred in 1819 at Whitesville, although an attempt was made to settle the town in 1798. The Town of Independence was formed in 1821 from part of 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....
. Independence was reduced by the formation of the Towns of Andover
Andover, New York
Andover, New York is a village and a town in Allegany County, New York:*Andover , New York*Andover , New York, incorporated in 1892 in the center of the Town of Andover...
, 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...
(1824) and Willing
Willing, New York
Willing is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,371 at the 2000 census.The Town of Willing is on the southern border of the county, south of the Village of Wellsville.- 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...
(1851).
From November 16, 1896, through June 1936 Whitesville was served by the New York & Pennsylvania Railway (and predecessors) as part of its Canisteo NY to Ceres NY (via Greenwood NY, Genesee PA, Oswayo and Shingle House PA) main line. Following severe floods in July 1935 the railroad was partially out of service and its abandonment in June 1936 was readily approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission which from an early date approved railroad abandonment to promote highway truck use. The loss of railroad service did much to promote the economic withering of the Whitesville area.
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 34.5 square miles (89.4 km²), all of it land.
The southern town line forms a border with Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and the eastern town line is the border with 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...
.
New York State Route 248
New York State Route 248
New York State Route 248 is a state highway in a remote part of the Southern Tier region of New York in the United States. The route, located close to the Pennsylvania state line, passes through Allegany and Steuben Counties...
is a major east-west highway in the town that intersects with New York State Route 248A (Cryder Creek Road) west of the community of Whitesville.
Cryder Creek is a stream flowing out the southwest of the town and Chenunda Creek flows across the northern part of the town.
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 1,074 people, 400 households, and 301 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 31.2 people per square mile (12.0/km²). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 14.1 per square mile (5.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.98% White, 0.37% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 400 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,438, and the median income for a family was $1,056,050. Males had a median income of $27,961 versus $19,583 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 $13,109. About 11.0% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Independence
- Independence – A hamlet at the intersection of County Road 22 and County Road 22A near the northern town line.
- Whitesville – A hamlet at routes NY248New York State Route 248New York State Route 248 is a state highway in a remote part of the Southern Tier region of New York in the United States. The route, located close to the Pennsylvania state line, passes through Allegany and Steuben Counties...
and NY248A near the eastern town line. The community is named after Samuel S White, the first permanent resident in the town and founder of the hamlet.