Montour, New York
Encyclopedia
Montour is a town
in Schuyler County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,446 at the 2000 census. The town is one of two towns in the county named after Catherine Montour.
The Town of Montour is in the south part of the county and is north of Elmira
, New York
.
village of Catherine's Town
("Queanettquaga") was destroyed by the Sullivan Expedition
in 1779.
The town was first settled around 1794 near the current village of Montour Falls, which is named after a waterfall
at the edge of the village, called by the natives "Che-qua-gah," or "roaring water."
The former Chemung Canal
passed through the town, after completion in 1833.
Montour was the last town formed in the county, created from part of the Town of Catharine
in 1860.
, the town has a total area of 18.6 square miles (48.2 km²), of which, 18.6 square miles (48.2 km²) of it is land and 0.05% is water.
The south town line is the border of Chemung County
.
The town is south of Seneca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes
.
New York State Route 14
intersects New York State Route 224
in Montour Falls. NY-14 runs southward through the Catharine Creek Valley, following the same route as the former Chemung Canal.
of 2000, there were 2,446 people, 1,005 households, and 658 families residing in the town. The population density
was 131.3 people per square mile (50.7/km²). There were 1,078 housing units at an average density of 57.9 per square mile (22.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.96% White, 0.74% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.33% of the population.
There were 1,005 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,879, and the median income for a family was $42,303. Males had a median income of $30,774 versus $21,618 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,983. About 8.1% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% 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 Schuyler County
Schuyler County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,224 people, 7,374 households, and 5,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile . There were 9,181 housing units at an average density of 28 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 2,446 at the 2000 census. The town is one of two towns in the county named after Catherine Montour.
The Town of Montour is in the south part of the county and is north of Elmira
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, 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 former IroquoisIroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
village of Catherine's Town
Catherine's Town (Seneca town)
Catherine's Town was an Iroquois town named for the Seneca leader Catherine Montour. It was located at the south end of Seneca Lake, near present-day Watkins Glen...
("Queanettquaga") was destroyed by the Sullivan Expedition
Sullivan Expedition
The Sullivan Expedition, also known as the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, was an American campaign led by Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier General James Clinton against Loyalists and the four nations of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War.The...
in 1779.
The town was first settled around 1794 near the current village of Montour Falls, which is named after a waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
at the edge of the village, called by the natives "Che-qua-gah," or "roaring water."
The former Chemung Canal
Chemung Canal
The Chemung Canal is a former canal in New York, USA. The canal connected Seneca Lake at Watkins Glen to the Chemung River at Elmira, New York. Its larger significance was to connect New York's Erie Canal system with Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River watershed....
passed through the town, after completion in 1833.
Montour was the last town formed in the county, created from part of the Town of Catharine
Catharine, New York
Catharine is a town in Schuyler County, New York. The population was 1,930 at the 2000 census. The town is one of two in the county named after Catherine Montour, despite the variation in spelling of the name...
in 1860.
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 18.6 square miles (48.2 km²), of which, 18.6 square miles (48.2 km²) of it is land and 0.05% is water.
The south town line is the border of Chemung County
Chemung County, New York
Chemung County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Chemung County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 88,830. Its name is derived from the name of a Delaware Indian village . Its...
.
The town is south of Seneca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
.
New York State Route 14
New York State Route 14
New York State Route 14 is a state highway located in western New York in the United States. Along with NY 19, it is one of two routes to transect the state in a north–south fashion between the Pennsylvania border and Lake Ontario...
intersects New York State Route 224
New York State Route 224
New York State Route 224 is a state highway in the Southern Tier of New York, United States. The route is signed as north–south; however, in actuality the highway follows more of an east–west routing across southeastern Schuyler County and northeastern Chemung County...
in Montour Falls. NY-14 runs southward through the Catharine Creek Valley, following the same route as the former Chemung Canal.
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 2,446 people, 1,005 households, and 658 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 131.3 people per square mile (50.7/km²). There were 1,078 housing units at an average density of 57.9 per square mile (22.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.96% White, 0.74% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.33% of the population.
There were 1,005 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% 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, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,879, and the median income for a family was $42,303. Males had a median income of $30,774 versus $21,618 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 $16,983. About 8.1% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Montour
- Catharine Creek – a stream flowing northward to Seneca Lake. It was partially exploited to form the Chemung Canal.
- Catharine Creek 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 in the north part of Montour. - Deckertown – 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...
southeast of Montour Falls. - Montour FallsMontour Falls, New YorkMontour Falls is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 1,797 at the 2000 census. A waterfall in the village gives the village its name...
(formerly "Havana") – Most of the Village of Montour Falls is at the west town line. - Watkins GlenWatkins Glen, New YorkWatkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
– A small eastern part of the Village of Watkins Glen is at the west town line by Seneca Lake.