Lyme, New York
Encyclopedia
Lyme is a town
in Jefferson County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,185 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Lyme is in the northwest part of the county and is west of Watertown
.
.
A common belief is that early explorers visited this town during the 16th Century.
Settlement began around 1802. Due to the large expanse of low-lying land, there was a great deal of sickness in the town.
During the War of 1812
, the inhabitants built a fort, but tore it down after visiting British officials assured them no harm would come to them if they removed fortifications.
The town was organized from part of the Town of Brownville
in 1818. In 1849, the northern part of Lyme was used to form the Town of Cape Vincent
.
The Village of Chaumont set itself off from the town in 1874 by incorporation as a village.
, the town has a total area of 106.9 square miles (276.9 km²), of which, 56.1 square miles (145.3 km²) of it is land and 50.8 square miles (131.6 km²) of it (47.52%) is water.
The western boundary of Lyme is Lake Ontario
, but most of the coastline comprises the shoreline of Chaumont Bay, which is totally within Lyme.
New York State Route 12E
is an east-west highway through Lyme.
of 2000, there were 2,015 people, 813 households, and 573 families residing in the town. The population density
was 35.9 people per square mile (13.9/km²). There were 2,183 housing units at an average density of 38.9 per square mile (15.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.42% White, 1.14% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.15% from other races
, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 813 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,569, and the median income for a family was $43,068. Males had a median income of $32,554 versus $23,333 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,522. About 6.2% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
and west of the Towns of Brownville
and Clayton
. The western side of the town is defined by Lake Ontario.
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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, 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 2,185 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Lyme is in the northwest part of the county and is west of Watertown
Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S...
.
History
Prehistoric occupation area is known from the Middle Woodland Period as the Point Peninsula ComplexPoint Peninsula Complex
The Point Peninsula Complex was an indigenous culture located in Ontario and New York from 300 BCE to 700 CE . The people are thought to have been influenced by the Hopewell traditions of the Ohio River valley...
.
A common belief is that early explorers visited this town during the 16th Century.
Settlement began around 1802. Due to the large expanse of low-lying land, there was a great deal of sickness in the town.
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 inhabitants built a fort, but tore it down after visiting British officials assured them no harm would come to them if they removed fortifications.
The town was organized from part of the Town of Brownville
Brownville (town), New York
Brownville is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 6,263 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Jacob Brown, early settler and leader....
in 1818. In 1849, the northern part of Lyme was used to form the Town of Cape Vincent
Cape Vincent (town), New York
Cape Vincent is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 2,777 at the 2010 census.The Town of Cape Vincent is located in the northwest part of the county. In the town is a village also called Cape Vincent. Both town and village are northwest of Watertown.- History :The town...
.
The Village of Chaumont set itself off from the town in 1874 by incorporation as a village.
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 106.9 square miles (276.9 km²), of which, 56.1 square miles (145.3 km²) of it is land and 50.8 square miles (131.6 km²) of it (47.52%) is water.
The western boundary of Lyme is Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
, but most of the coastline comprises the shoreline of Chaumont Bay, which is totally within Lyme.
New York State Route 12E
New York State Route 12E
New York State Route 12E is a state highway located entirely within the northwestern part of Jefferson County in northern New York, USA. Officially, the southern terminus of NY 12E is at NY 12 in the city of Watertown; however, its signed terminus is at NY 12F in the village of...
is an east-west highway through Lyme.
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 2,015 people, 813 households, and 573 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 35.9 people per square mile (13.9/km²). There were 2,183 housing units at an average density of 38.9 per square mile (15.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.42% White, 1.14% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.15% 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 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
There were 813 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% 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, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,569, and the median income for a family was $43,068. Males had a median income of $32,554 versus $23,333 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 $19,522. About 6.2% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Lyme
- Ashland Flats Wildlife Management AreaNew York State Wildlife Management AreasNew York State owns and maintains more than 85 Wildlife Management Areas , with a total area of more than .The Wildlife Management Areas Program is administered by the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources of the Department of Environmental Conservation...
– A conservation area by the north town line. - ChaumontChaumont, New YorkChaumont is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 592 at the 2000 census. The village is named for Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, the Comte de Chaumont in France....
– The Village of Chaumont is located at the shore of Chaumont Bay on NY-12E. The village is on the south side of the Chaumont River, which empties into Chaumont Bay at that location. - Chaumont Bay – A large bayBayA bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
of Lake Ontario, entirely within the town, enclosed by Point Peninsula and the mainland. - Cherry Island – An islandIslandAn island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
southwest of Point Salubrious. - Clines Point – A location on the east side of Point Peninsula.
- Fir Island – A small island near the tip of Point Salubrious.
- Herrick Grove – A lakeside 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...
located on the south side of Three Mile Point, northwest of Chaumont village. - Horse Creek – A stream flowing past the south side of Chaumont.
- Independence Point – A peninsulaPeninsulaA peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
projecting into Chaumont Bay southwest of Chaumont village. - Long Point – A location on the northeastern shore of Point Peninsula.
- Point Peninsula – A peninsula connected to the remainder of the town by a narrow isthmusIsthmusAn isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
, called "The Isthmus." - Long Point State ParkLong Point State Park - Thousand IslandsLong Point State Park - Thousand Islands is located at the northeast tip of Point Peninsula on Chaumont Bay. This park is located in the Town of Lyme in Jefferson County, New York...
– A state park on the northeast side of Point Peninsula. - Point Peninsula – The hamlet of Point Peninsula is located on the southeast shore of Point Peninsula on County Road 57.
- Point Salubrious – A peninsula southwest of Chaumont village.
- Sawmill Bay – A small bay south of Chaumont.
- Three Mile Creek – A stream in the northern part of Lyme that flows into Three Mile Bay.
- Three Mile Bay – A lakeside hamlet located on an arm of Chaumont Bay called Three Mile Bay.
- Three Mile Point – A peninsula enclosing Three Mile Bay on the south.
- Toad Hole Cove – A small bay at the southwest part of Point Peninsula.
- Isthmus-Flanders Road – Area that transitions between the mainland and Point Peninsula.
- Shangra-La – A commercial camping area on the East side of Point Peninsula facing Chaumont Bay
Adjacent towns and areas
The town is southeast of the Town of Cape VincentCape Vincent (town), New York
Cape Vincent is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 2,777 at the 2010 census.The Town of Cape Vincent is located in the northwest part of the county. In the town is a village also called Cape Vincent. Both town and village are northwest of Watertown.- History :The town...
and west of the Towns of Brownville
Brownville (town), New York
Brownville is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 6,263 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Jacob Brown, early settler and leader....
and Clayton
Clayton (town), New York
Clayton is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 5,153 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John M. Clayton, a federal political leader from Delaware.The Town of Clayton contains a village named Clayton...
. The western side of the town is defined by Lake Ontario.