Minerva, New York
Encyclopedia
Minerva is a town
in Essex County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 796 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Minerva
, goddess of wisdom.
The Town of Minerva is located in the southwest corner of the county. It is 39 miles (62.8 km) north-northwest of Queensbury, NY, 60 miles (96.6 km) from Burlington, VT, 66 miles (106.2 km) south of Plattsburgh, NY, 83 miles (133.6 km) north of Albany, NY, 118 (190 km) miles south of Montreal, Quebec
The town was formed from part of the Town of Schroon
in 1817. Part of Minerva used to be part of the Town of Newcomb
until 1828. In 1870, Minerva was increased with territory taken from the Town of Schroon.
, painter, was a summer visitor for several years. Theodore Roosevelt
had a summer home here.
Francis Donnelly was the nation's longest serving Town Supervisor; he served from 1934 until his death in 1980.
, the town has a total area of 162.1 square miles (419.8 km²), of which, 158.6 square miles (410.8 km²) of it is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it (2.15%) is water.
The northern part of the Hudson River
forms part of the western boundary of the town. The west town line is the border of Hamilton County
and the south town line is the border of Warren County
. The Indian River and Boreas River flow into the Hudson in the southwest part of Minerva.
The highly irregular shape of the town is an irregular concave polygonal figure.
New York State Route 28N
, the Roosevelt Marcy Memorial Highway, is a north-south highway in Minerva and is the only road of significant note in the town.
of 2000, there were 796 people, 321 households, and 225 families residing in the town. The population density
was 5.0 people per square mile (1.9/km²). There were 648 housing units at an average density of 4.1 per square mile (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.86% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.13% Asian, and 2.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.
There were 321 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 110.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,903, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $28,523 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,531. About 11.3% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 14.2% 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 Essex County
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, 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 796 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Minerva
Minerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess whom Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards equated with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic...
, goddess of wisdom.
The Town of Minerva is located in the southwest corner of the county. It is 39 miles (62.8 km) north-northwest of Queensbury, NY, 60 miles (96.6 km) from Burlington, VT, 66 miles (106.2 km) south of Plattsburgh, NY, 83 miles (133.6 km) north of Albany, NY, 118 (190 km) miles south of Montreal, Quebec
History
The town was first settled around 1804 in the southeast part of Minerva, which has remained the center of the town's population.The town was formed from part of the Town of Schroon
Schroon, New York
Schroon is a town in the Adirondack Park, in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,759 at the 2000 census. The town is also known as Schroon Lake, which is actually a centrally located lake, and the name of a hamlet on the lake....
in 1817. Part of Minerva used to be part of the Town of Newcomb
Newcomb, New York
Newcomb is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 481 at the 2000 census.The Town of Newcomb is at the west border of the county. It is southwest of Plattsburgh, southwest of Burlington, VT, northeast of Utica, NY, north-northeast of Albany, NY, and ...
until 1828. In 1870, Minerva was increased with territory taken from the Town of Schroon.
Notable residents
American Revolutionary War soldier Ebenezer West and his five sons founded the town. Winslow HomerWinslow Homer
Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th century America and a preeminent figure in American art....
, painter, was a summer visitor for several years. Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
had a summer home here.
Francis Donnelly was the nation's longest serving Town Supervisor; he served from 1934 until his death in 1980.
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 162.1 square miles (419.8 km²), of which, 158.6 square miles (410.8 km²) of it is land and 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it (2.15%) is water.
The northern part of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
forms part of the western boundary of the town. The west town line is the border of Hamilton County
Hamilton County, New York
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is named after Alexander Hamilton, the only member of the New York State delegation who signed the United States Constitution in 1787 and later the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. Its county seat is Lake Pleasant...
and the south town line is the border of Warren County
Warren County, New York
Warren County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 65,707. It is named in honor of General Joseph Warren, an American Revolutionary War hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill...
. The Indian River and Boreas River flow into the Hudson in the southwest part of Minerva.
The highly irregular shape of the town is an irregular concave polygonal figure.
New York State Route 28N
New York State Route 28N
New York State Route 28N is a state highway in the Adirondacks in New York that extends from Blue Mountain Lake to North Creek. The route, in length, is a northerly alternate route to NY 28 between both locations. The highway passes through several communities before terminating at...
, the Roosevelt Marcy Memorial Highway, is a north-south highway in Minerva and is the only road of significant note in 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 796 people, 321 households, and 225 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 5.0 people per square mile (1.9/km²). There were 648 housing units at an average density of 4.1 per square mile (1.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.86% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.13% Asian, and 2.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.
There were 321 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 110.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,903, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $28,523 versus $19,688 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 $15,531. About 11.3% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Minerva
- Alden Lair – A location near the north town line on NY-28N.
- Lake Balfour – A lake south of Alden Lair.
- Camps Baco and Che-Na-Wah-- brother/sister camps located on Lake Balfour in the summer
- Boreas River – A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town on Route 2.
- Chain Lakes – A number of connected lakes at the west town line.
- Hewitt Pond – A lake east of Alden Lair.
- Irishtown – 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...
on County Road 24. - Leonardsville--A hamlet due east of Minerva on the Trout Brook Rd.
- Loch Muller--A hamlet northeast of Minerva.
- Minerva – The hamlet of Minerva is in the south part of the town on NY-28N. It is primarily a resort village for tourists.
- Minerva Lake – A small artificial lake east of Minerva village, formed by damming Jones Brook around 1932.
- Mink Lake – A small lake near the south town line.
- Moose Pond – A small lake in the northwest part of Minerva.
- Moose Pond Club – A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town.
- Morse Corners – A former community in Minerva, near Minerva village.
- Northwoods Club – A hamlet in the southwestern part of the town by Mink Lake.
- OlmstedvilleOlmstedville, New YorkOlmstedville is a hamlet in the town of Minerva in Essex County, New York, United States, in Adirondack Park.Historically, it has been the largest settlement in the town of Minerva. Today, it has its own post office and Minerva Central School is located there. One of two stations of Minerva Fire &...
– A hamlet southeast of Minerva village on County Road 29. Minerva Central School and station of Minerva Fire & Rescue are located there. - Pudding Hollow – A hamlet northwest of Minerva village on NY-28N.
- Stillwater – A hamlet southeast of Moose Pond Club.