Oswegatchie, New York
Encyclopedia
Oswegatchie is a town
in St. Lawrence County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 4,370 at the 2000 census. The name reportedly means "Black water" in the aboriginal language. It is on the northern border of the county and is adjacent to the city of Ogdensburg
.
, the British renamed the former French community of La Gallette as Oswegatchie, the name of the local native tribe. After the end of the American Revolution
, the community became Ogdensburg, named for Samuel Ogden
, who was a member of a group of land speculators and developers who purchased a large tract of land in the region. During the War of 1812
Ogdensburg and much of the town was captured by British forces. In 1817, the community of Ogdensburg set itself apart from the town by incorporating as a village, and became the City of Ogdensburg in 1868. The Town of Morristown
was formed from the western part of Oswegatchie in 1821. Another part was used to make part of the Town of De Peyster
in 1825.
Mater Dei College was opened in 1960 and closed in 2001.
, the town has a total area of 71.4 square miles (184.9 km²), of which, 65.8 square miles (170.4 km²) of it is land and 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²) of it (7.76%) is water.
The Oswegatchie River
flows through the town, defining part of the south town line. The northwest town line is defined by the St. Lawrence River, and is an international border with Canada
.
New York State Route 812
is a north-south highway. New York State Route 37
is a highway on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River. New York State Route 68
is by the northeast town line.
of 2000, there were 4,370 people, 1,508 households, and 1,091 families residing in the town. The population density
was 66.4 people per square mile (25.6/km²). There were 1,896 housing units at an average density of 28.8 per square mile (11.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.49% White, 0.30% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.02% from other races
, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 1,508 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% 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 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,700, and the median income for a family was $39,459. Males had a median income of $31,096 versus $23,365 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,236. About 8.5% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% 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 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...
, 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 4,370 at the 2000 census. The name reportedly means "Black water" in the aboriginal language. It is on the northern border of the county and is adjacent to the city of Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
.
History
The area was first explored by French missionaries during the 17th century. The town was founded in 1802 upon the formation of the county. After the end of the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, the British renamed the former French community of La Gallette as Oswegatchie, the name of the local native tribe. After the end of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the community became Ogdensburg, named for Samuel Ogden
Samuel Ogden
Col. Samuel Ogden was a businessman, developer and land speculator who fought on the side of the patriots during the American Revolutionary War.-Biography:...
, who was a member of a group of land speculators and developers who purchased a large tract of land in the region. 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...
Ogdensburg and much of the town was captured by British forces. In 1817, the community of Ogdensburg set itself apart from the town by incorporating as a village, and became the City of Ogdensburg in 1868. The Town of Morristown
Morristown (town), New York
Morristown is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 2,050 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Gouverneur Morris, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and landowner in New York....
was formed from the western part of Oswegatchie in 1821. Another part was used to make part of the Town of De Peyster
De Peyster, New York
De Peyster is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 936 at the 2000 census. The name is that of one of the land owners of the region, Frederic De Peyster, grandfather of John Watts de Peyster.- History :...
in 1825.
Mater Dei College was opened in 1960 and closed in 2001.
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 71.4 square miles (184.9 km²), of which, 65.8 square miles (170.4 km²) of it is land and 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²) of it (7.76%) is water.
The Oswegatchie River
Oswegatchie River
The Oswegatchie River is a river in northern New York that flows north from the Adirondack Mountains to the Saint Lawrence River at the city of Ogdensburg. The river mouth was the site of a Jesuit mission, Fort de La Présentation, founded in 1749. Also a fur trading post, the village had 3,000...
flows through the town, defining part of the south town line. The northwest town line is defined by the St. Lawrence River, and is an international border with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
New York State Route 812
New York State Route 812
New York State Route 812 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 12 and NY 26 in the Lewis County village of Lowville...
is a north-south highway. New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
is a highway on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River. New York State Route 68
New York State Route 68
New York State Route 68 is an east–west state highway located entirely within St. Lawrence County in the North Country of New York in the United States. The western terminus is at an intersection with NY 37 in Oswegatchie, just west of the Ogdensburg city limits...
is by the northeast town line.
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 4,370 people, 1,508 households, and 1,091 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 66.4 people per square mile (25.6/km²). There were 1,896 housing units at an average density of 28.8 per square mile (11.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.49% White, 0.30% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.02% 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 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.
There were 1,508 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% 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, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% 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 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,700, and the median income for a family was $39,459. Males had a median income of $31,096 versus $23,365 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 $16,236. About 8.5% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Oswegatchie, NY
- Black LakeBlack Lake (New York)Black Lake is a lake in the northern part of New York in the United States and is the largest lake in Saint Lawrence County. The lake is south of the Saint Lawrence River and parallels the river for many miles....
– A long, narrow lakeLakeA lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
partly in the western part of the town, which defines the south town line. - Eel Weir State ParkEel Weir State ParkEel Weir State Park is a state park in New York. The park is located in the St. Lawrence Valley in St. Lawrence County, on the Oswegatchie River approximately 2 mi from Black Lake and approximately 8 mi...
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
southwest of Ogdensburg. - Galilee – A hamlet southwest of Ogdensburg on County Road 6.
- HeuveltonHeuvelton, New YorkHeuvelton is a small rural, incorporated, village located in St. Lawrence County in the state of New York in the United States of America. It is situated about six miles southeast of the city of Ogdensburg, in the Town of Oswegatchie. It is the only village in the town. Route 812 bisects the...
– The Village of Heuvelton is in the south part of the town by the Oswegatchie River and NY-812. - Ivy Ridge – A school for "troubled" teenagers located on the former campus of Mater Dei College, located near the St. Lawrence River west of Ogdensburg.
- Lost Village – A location by Eel Weir State Park on County Road 4.
- Northrup Corners – A location by the north town line on NY-68 and County Road 4.
- OgdensburgOgdensburg, New YorkOgdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
– The City of Ogdensburg is at the northern border of the town on the St. Lawrence River. - Ogdensburg International AirportOgdensburg International AirportOgdensburg International Airport is a public airport located two miles southeast of the central business district of Ogdensburg, a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. It is owned by the Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority. and is situated just outside the city limits on NYS Route...
(OGS) – An airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
south of Ogdenburg. - Wadhams Hall – Formerly "Wadhams Hall Seminary," it is now a retreat and conference center located by the St. Lawrence River, west of Ogdensburg.