Romulus, New York
Encyclopedia
Romulus is a town in Seneca County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,036 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the mythical founder of Rome
, Romulus
, a name assigned by a clerk with an interest in the classics. The current Town Supervisor is David Kaiser http://www.romulustown.com/.
The Town of Romulus is in the central part of the county, northwest of Ithaca
, New York
.
, this area was controlled by both the Cayuga tribe and the Seneca tribe. Jesuit missionaries visited the area in the 17th Century. A punitive action in 1779 destroyed native villages and drove many of the Native Americans away. Romulus contains the area of Kendaia (Apple Town), a former Iroquois
(Cayuga
) village destroyed by the residents in anticipation of the arrival of the Sullivan Expedition
on September 5, 1779.
After the war, this town became part of the Central New York Military Tract
, land for veterans of the Revolution. Returning natives were provided with land at the north end of Cayuga Lake. This reservation was partly in the eastern side of modern Romulus. The first non-native settlers arrived around 1789.
The town was formed while still part of Onondaga County
in 1794. In 1800, part of Romulus was used to make the Town of Fayette
. The north part of Romulus was used to form the Town of Varick
in 1830.
The town also contains the former Seneca Army Depot
(1941 - 1990s), built during World War II
and finally phased out after the Gulf War
. It was a major employer for citizens of Romulus and surrounding parts of Seneca County. The Seneca Army Airfield, located along NY-96A, provided a long runway
for transport aircraft.
Willard State Hospital was converted to a state prison drug treatment center in 1995.
(Portions of a diary written by Henry McLafferty Jr (1819–1859) are available online from the Rochester
Public Library
: Romulus Revisited: Extracts from the Diary of Henry McLafferty, Jr. 1856–1857).
and Seneca Lake at latitude 42° 45' 8" N. and longitude 76° 50' 2" W. at an altitude of 705 ft (214 m).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 51.3 square miles (132.9 km²), of which 37.8 square miles (97.9 km²) is land and 13.5 square miles (35 km²) (26.34%) is water.
Romulus is in the Finger Lakes
District of New York and lies between Cayuga Lake
and Seneca Lake.
New York State Route 89
, New York State Route 96
, New York State Route 96A
, and New York State Route 414
are all north-south highways in the town.
of 2000, there were 2,036 people, 583 households, and 420 families residing in the town. The population density
was 53.9 people per square mile (20.8/km²). There were 812 housing units at an average density of 21.5 per square mile (8.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.88% White, 13.75% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 1.87% from other races
, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.96% of the population.
There were 583 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 124.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,404, and the median income for a family was $45,938. Males had a median income of $39,417 versus $25,938 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,332. About 9.1% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 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 2,036 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the mythical founder of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Romulus
Romulus and Remus
Romulus and Remus are Rome's twin founders in its traditional foundation myth, although the former is sometimes said to be the sole founder...
, a name assigned by a clerk with an interest in the classics. The current Town Supervisor is David Kaiser http://www.romulustown.com/.
The Town of Romulus is in the central part of the county, northwest of Ithaca
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
, 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
Before the American RevolutionAmerican 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...
, this area was controlled by both the Cayuga tribe and the Seneca tribe. Jesuit missionaries visited the area in the 17th Century. A punitive action in 1779 destroyed native villages and drove many of the Native Americans away. Romulus contains the area of Kendaia (Apple Town), a former Iroquois
Iroquois
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...
(Cayuga
Cayuga nation
The Cayuga people was one of the five original constituents of the Haudenosaunee , a confederacy of American Indians in New York. The Cayuga homeland lay in the Finger Lakes region along Cayuga Lake, between their league neighbors, the Onondaga to the east and the Seneca to the west...
) village destroyed by the residents in anticipation of the arrival of 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...
on September 5, 1779.
After the war, this town became part of the Central New York Military Tract
Central New York Military Tract
The Military Tract of Central New York, also called the New Military Tract, consisted of nearly two million acres of bounty land set aside to compensate New York’s soldiers after their participation in the Revolutionary War....
, land for veterans of the Revolution. Returning natives were provided with land at the north end of Cayuga Lake. This reservation was partly in the eastern side of modern Romulus. The first non-native settlers arrived around 1789.
The town was formed while still part of Onondaga County
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in 1794. In 1800, part of Romulus was used to make the Town of Fayette
Fayette, New York
Fayette is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 3,643 at the 2000 census.The Town of Fayette is on the western border of the county and is southeast of Geneva, New York.- History :...
. The north part of Romulus was used to form the Town of Varick
Varick, New York
Varick is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 1,729 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Richard Varick, an officer in the American Revolution, mayor of New York City, and uncle of the first Town Supervisor, Anthony Dey.The Town of Varick is located in the...
in 1830.
The town also contains the former Seneca Army Depot
Seneca Army Depot
The former Seneca Army Depot occupied 10,587 acres between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake in Seneca County, New York. It was used as a munitions storage and disposal facility by the United States Army from 1941 until the 1990s. The Depot was listed in the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
(1941 - 1990s), built during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and finally phased out after the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. It was a major employer for citizens of Romulus and surrounding parts of Seneca County. The Seneca Army Airfield, located along NY-96A, provided a long runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
for transport aircraft.
Willard State Hospital was converted to a state prison drug treatment center in 1995.
(Portions of a diary written by Henry McLafferty Jr (1819–1859) are available online from the Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
Public Library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
: Romulus Revisited: Extracts from the Diary of Henry McLafferty, Jr. 1856–1857).
Geography
The town lies between Cayuga LakeCayuga Lake
Cayuga Lake is the longest of central New York's glacial Finger Lakes, and is the second largest in surface area and second largest in volume. It is just under 40 miles long. Its average width is 1.7 miles , and it is at its widest point near Aurora...
and Seneca Lake at latitude 42° 45' 8" N. and longitude 76° 50' 2" W. at an altitude of 705 ft (214 m).
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 51.3 square miles (132.9 km²), of which 37.8 square miles (97.9 km²) is land and 13.5 square miles (35 km²) (26.34%) is water.
Romulus is in 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...
District of New York and lies between Cayuga Lake
Cayuga Lake
Cayuga Lake is the longest of central New York's glacial Finger Lakes, and is the second largest in surface area and second largest in volume. It is just under 40 miles long. Its average width is 1.7 miles , and it is at its widest point near Aurora...
and Seneca Lake.
New York State Route 89
New York State Route 89
New York State Route 89 is a north–south state highway in central New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 13, NY 34, and NY 96 in the Tompkins County city of Ithaca to an interchange with NY 104 in the Wayne County town of town of Wolcott...
, New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96 is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier village of Owego, Tioga County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with...
, New York State Route 96A
New York State Route 96A
New York State Route 96A is a state highway in Seneca County, New York, in the United States. It is a north–south road between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake, two of the Finger Lakes. NY 96A is two lanes wide for most of its length, with the exception of the long four-lane divided highway...
, and New York State Route 414
New York State Route 414
New York State Route 414 is a north–south state highway in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 352 in the Steuben County city of Corning to a junction with NY 104 in the Wayne County town of Huron...
are all north-south highways 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 2,036 people, 583 households, and 420 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 53.9 people per square mile (20.8/km²). There were 812 housing units at an average density of 21.5 per square mile (8.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 81.88% White, 13.75% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 1.87% 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 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.96% of the population.
There were 583 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 124.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,404, and the median income for a family was $45,938. Males had a median income of $39,417 versus $25,938 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 $16,332. About 9.1% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Romulus
- Elm Beach – A location on the west shore of Lake Cayuga, south of Poplar Beach on NY-89.
- Five Points Correctional FacilityFive Points Correctional FacilityFive Points Correctional Facility is a maximum security men's prison located in Romulus, NY and operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services.- External links :*...
– A state prisonPrisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
in the town. - Hayts Corners – A hamlet in the southeast of Romulus at the junction of County Roads 129 and 130.
- Kendaia – A hamlet located by NY-96A near the state park, built on the site of a former Cayuga village.
- Marsh Corner – A hamlet in the eastern part of the town, east of Romulus village.
- Pontius Point – A projection into Seneca Lake north of the state park.
- Poplar Beach – A hamlet on the shore of Cayuga Lake, on NY-89.
- Romulus – The hamlet of Romulus is by the north town line on NY-96.
- Sampson – A community located in the state park.
- Sampson State ParkSampson State ParkSampson State Park is located in Seneca County, New York in the USA. During World War 2, it became the site of the Sampson Naval Training Station, then, during the Korean War it became the Sampson Air Force Base, again providing basic training. It is also located next to the former Seneca Army...
– 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...
on the east shore of Lake Seneca. The park is on the site of Sampson Naval Base during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Sampson Air Force BaseSampson Air Force BaseSampson Air Force Base is a closed United States military facility, last used by the United States Air Force Air Training Command as a Basic Military Training Center. It was closed in 1956 and put into caretaker status....
during the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. - Seneca Army DepotSeneca Army DepotThe former Seneca Army Depot occupied 10,587 acres between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake in Seneca County, New York. It was used as a munitions storage and disposal facility by the United States Army from 1941 until the 1990s. The Depot was listed in the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
– A south half of the former supply location is in the town. The land is being re-converted to other uses. - Seneca Lake – Deepest of the Finger LakesFinger LakesThe 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...
. - Tannery Corners – A location in the southeast of Romulus, south of Poplar Beach.
- Willard – A hamlet in the southwest corner, on the shore of Seneca Lake and County Road 132.
- Willard Drug Treatment CenterWillard Drug Treatment CenterWillard Drug Treatment Center is a specialized state prison in Seneca County, New York, USA. The prison focuses on treatment of drug-addicted convicts...
– A former state mental hospital that was taken over by the state prison system.