Ridgeway, New York
Encyclopedia
Ridgeway, New York is a town
in Orleans County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century.
The Town of Ridgeway is on the western border of the county.
.
Since 2002, Shelby and Ridgeway have been seeking ways to merge town functions to conserve funds. They currently have one town court to serve both towns.
, the town has a total area of 50.3 square miles (130.3 km²), of which, 50 square miles (129.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.46%) is water.
The town is bordered by Town of Hartland
to the west in Niagara County
. New York State Route 269
(County Line Road) partly defines this border.
New York State Route 63
(Lyndonville Road) and New York State Route 104
(Ridge Road) intersect in the western part of the town. New York State Route 31E
passes through the southeast part of Ridgeway.
The Oak Orchard River
flows through the town toward Lake Ontario
to the north.
of 2000, there were 6,886 people, 2,627 households, and 1,841 families residing in the town. The population density
was 137.6 people per square mile (53.1/km²). There were 2,872 housing units at an average density of 57.4 per square mile (22.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.93% White, 4.40% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.96% from other races
, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.
There were 2,627 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples
living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,206, and the median income for a family was $41,696. Males had a median income of $33,189 versus $20,881 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,316. About 10.5% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 6.0% 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 Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 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 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century.
The Town of Ridgeway is on the western border of the county.
History
The Town of Ridgeway was formed in 1812. In 1818, part of the town was used to create the new Town of ShelbyShelby, New York
Shelby, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 5,420 at the 2000 census.The Town of Shelby is located in southwest corner of Orleans County.- History :...
.
Since 2002, Shelby and Ridgeway have been seeking ways to merge town functions to conserve funds. They currently have one town court to serve both towns.
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 50.3 square miles (130.3 km²), of which, 50 square miles (129.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.46%) is water.
The town is bordered by Town of Hartland
Hartland, New York
Hartland is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA.The population was 4,117 at the 2010 census.The town is named after Hartland, Vermont, the homeplace of some early settlers.The Town of Hartland is on the eastern border of the county.- History :...
to the west in Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
. New York State Route 269
New York State Route 269
New York State Route 269 is a north–south state highway in located in western New York in the United States. The highway runs for along the Niagara–Orleans county line and is named County Line Road. The southern terminus of NY 269 is at an intersection with NY 104 in the hamlet of...
(County Line Road) partly defines this border.
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
(Lyndonville Road) and New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
(Ridge Road) intersect in the western part of the town. New York State Route 31E
New York State Route 31E
New York State Route 31E is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 31 between the village of Middleport in eastern Niagara County and the nearby village of Medina in Orleans County...
passes through the southeast part of Ridgeway.
The Oak Orchard River
Oak Orchard River
Oak Orchard Creek is a tributary of Lake Ontario in Orleans County, New York in the United States.Oak Orchard Creek rises south of Oak Orchard Creek Marsh at the border of Orleans and Genesee Counties...
flows through the town toward 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...
to the north.
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 6,886 people, 2,627 households, and 1,841 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 137.6 people per square mile (53.1/km²). There were 2,872 housing units at an average density of 57.4 per square mile (22.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.93% White, 4.40% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.96% 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 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.
There were 2,627 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% 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, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,206, and the median income for a family was $41,696. Males had a median income of $33,189 versus $20,881 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 $17,316. About 10.5% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Ridgeway
- Glenwood Lake – A small lake shared with the Village of Medina. It drains into the Oak Orchard River.
- Jeddo – A hamlet by the west town line on NY-104.
- Knowlesville - A small hamlet on the Erie Canal. Named after William Knowles. Home to the Orleans County fairgrounds.
- MedinaMedina, New YorkMedina is a village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat. The village was named by its surveyor...
- The north part of the Village of Medina is in the town. - North Ridgeway – A hamlet at the west town line on NY-269.
- Oak Orchard on-the-RidgeOak Orchard, New YorkOak Orchard, New York, also known as Oak Orchard on-the-Ridge is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, USA.-References:...
– Location on NY-104 on the eastern side of the town, next to the Oak Orchard River. - Oak Orchard RiverOak Orchard RiverOak Orchard Creek is a tributary of Lake Ontario in Orleans County, New York in the United States.Oak Orchard Creek rises south of Oak Orchard Creek Marsh at the border of Orleans and Genesee Counties...
– A stream that flows northward through the town. - Ridgeway – A hamlet at the intersection of Routes NY-63 (Lyndonvile Road) and NY-104 (Ridge Road).
- West Ridgeway – A hamlet west of Ridgeway village on NY-104.