Norway, New York
Encyclopedia
Norway is a town
in Herkimer County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 711 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Norway is located in the east-central part of the county and is northeast of Utica
.
The town borders the Adirondack Park.
Norway was formed in 1792 immediately after the creation of Herkimer County. Norway was originally a very large town, and it was subsequently broken up, directly or indirectly, into about thirty-six new towns in several counties. In Herkimer County, the Towns of Fairfield
(1796), Russia
(1806), Ohio
(1823), Wilmurt (now defunct), and Webb
(1836) were made by dividing Norway. Part of Newport
was taken from Norway in 1806. The creation of Oneida County
, Lewis County
, Clinton County
, Hamilton County
, and St. Lawrence County
from Herkimer County accounts for the remaining towns derived from Norway.
In 1825, the town's population was 1,168.
Because of poor soil conditions, early farmers eventually turned to raising dairy herds. By 1887, there were six cheese factories in Norway.
, the town has a total area of 35.9 square miles (93 km²), of which, 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.72%) is water.
New York State Route 8
crosses the northwest part of Norway.
of 2000, there were 711 people, 247 households, and 185 families residing in the town. The population density
was 20.0 people per square mile (7.7/km²). There were 311 housing units at an average density of 8.7 per square mile (3.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White, 0.14% Asian, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 247 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 116.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,719, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $23,846 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,396. About 6.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% 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 Herkimer County
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
, 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 711 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Norway is located in the east-central part of the county and is northeast of Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
.
The town borders the Adirondack Park.
History
The town was permanently settled around 1787 after an abandoned effort in 1786.Norway was formed in 1792 immediately after the creation of Herkimer County. Norway was originally a very large town, and it was subsequently broken up, directly or indirectly, into about thirty-six new towns in several counties. In Herkimer County, the Towns of Fairfield
Fairfield, New York
Fairfield is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,607 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Fairfield, Connecticut.The Town of Fairfield is north of the Village of Herkimer and east of Utica...
(1796), Russia
Russia, New York
Russia is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 2,487 at the 2000 census.The Town of Russia is located in the northwest part of the county...
(1806), Ohio
Ohio, New York
Ohio is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 922 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the state of Ohio. The town is in the northwest part of the county and northeast of Utica. Part of Ohio is within the Adirondack Park....
(1823), Wilmurt (now defunct), and Webb
Webb, New York
Webb is a the northernmost town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The town is named after William Seward Webb, President of the Raquette Lake Transportation Company, the Fulton Chain Railway Company, Fulton Navigation Company, and the Mohawk and Malone Railway; his railroads were...
(1836) were made by dividing Norway. Part of Newport
Newport (town), New York
Newport is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 2,192 at the 2000 census.The Town of Newport, located on the western edge of the county, contains the village called Newport...
was taken from Norway in 1806. The creation of Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
, Lewis County
Lewis County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,944 people, 10,040 households, and 7,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 15,134 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, Clinton County
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
, 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 St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
from Herkimer County accounts for the remaining towns derived from Norway.
In 1825, the town's population was 1,168.
Because of poor soil conditions, early farmers eventually turned to raising dairy herds. By 1887, there were six cheese factories in Norway.
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 35.9 square miles (93 km²), of which, 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.72%) is water.
New York State Route 8
New York State Route 8
New York State Route 8 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It runs in a southwest-to-northeast direction from the Southern Tier to the northern part of Lake George. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the town of...
crosses the northwest part of Norway.
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 711 people, 247 households, and 185 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 20.0 people per square mile (7.7/km²). There were 311 housing units at an average density of 8.7 per square mile (3.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White, 0.14% Asian, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 247 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 116.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,719, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $23,846 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 $15,396. About 6.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Norway, NY
- Black Creek Reservoir – A reservoir in the north part of the town.
- Dairy Hill – An elevation in the southeast part of the town.
- Gray – 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...
near the north town line on County Road 48. - Hurricane – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on NY-8.
- Norway – The hamlet of Norway is near the center of the town.