Savannah, New York
Encyclopedia
Savannah is a town in the southeast portion of Wayne County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,838 at the 2000 census. Savannah is west of Syracuse, New York
. Because of the extensive swamps, the town is a popular location for hunting and fishing.
Like other nearby towns, Savannah was part of the Central New York Military Tract
. Settlers arrived in more modern times around 1808, but Savannah is considered to be the last town in the county that was settled.
The Town of Savannah was created from the Town of Galen
on November 4, 1824.
, the town has a total area of 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), of which, 36 square miles (93.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.53%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Cayuga County
, and the south town line is the border of Seneca County
.
New York State Route 31
, an east-west highway, is partly conjoined with New York State Route 89
, a north-south highway in the town.
This swamp-ridden area north of Cayuga Lake
has several conservation areas, including Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
, located south of the Town of Savannah.
of 2000, there were 1,838 people, 666 households, and 486 families residing in the town. The population density
was 51.1 people per square mile (19.7/km²). There were 714 housing units at an average density of 19.8 per square mile (7.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.59% White, 2.01% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.27% from other races
, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 666 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.2% 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 2.75 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,913, and the median income for a family was $41,466. Males had a median income of $31,364 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,033. About 12.3% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
The Village of Savannah was dissolved on April 25, 1979. All government activities previously managed by the village are now handled by the Town of Savannah.
Wayne County, New York
Wayne County is a county located in the US state of New York. It is part of the Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies on the south shore of Lake Ontario, forming part of the northern border of the United States with Canada. The name honors General Anthony Wayne, an American...
, 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 1,838 at the 2000 census. Savannah is west of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. Because of the extensive swamps, the town is a popular location for hunting and fishing.
History
Fort Hill, located on the highest land in the town, is a historic native village and was the site of a Jesuit mission in the 17th Century, built by the remains of an earlier, "Owasco," village.Like other nearby towns, Savannah was 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....
. Settlers arrived in more modern times around 1808, but Savannah is considered to be the last town in the county that was settled.
The Town of Savannah was created from the Town of Galen
Galen, New York
Galen is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 4,439 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the classical physician Galen.The Town of Galen is on the south border of the county and west of Syracuse, New York....
on November 4, 1824.
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 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), of which, 36 square miles (93.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.53%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Cayuga County
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
, and the south town line is the border of Seneca County
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 State Route 31
New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
, an east-west highway, is partly conjoined with 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...
, a north-south highway in the town.
This swamp-ridden area north of 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...
has several conservation areas, including Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, encompassing part of the Montezuma Swamp at the north end of Cayuga Lake...
, located south of the Town of Savannah.
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 1,838 people, 666 households, and 486 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 51.1 people per square mile (19.7/km²). There were 714 housing units at an average density of 19.8 per square mile (7.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.59% White, 2.01% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.27% 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 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 666 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% 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, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.2% 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 2.75 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,913, and the median income for a family was $41,466. Males had a median income of $31,364 versus $23,125 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 $15,033. About 12.3% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.8% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Savannah
- Crusoe — A location on the south town line west of Evans Corner.
- Crusoe Lake — A 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,...
located north of Savannah hamlet. - Evans Corner — A hamlet on the south town line on NY-89.
- Fort Hill — A hamlet south of Savannah hamlet. It is the highest point in the town.
- May's Point — A historic location in the south part of the town. Widely known for some of the best bass fishing in NY.
- Pangburn Corners — A location at the north town line on County Road 272.
- Montezuma MarshMontezuma MarshMontezuma Marsh is a marsh at the northern end of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Much of the marsh is part of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, which is a major point on the route of many migratory birds, such as Canada geese and mallard ducks.The Cayuga valley is an old...
— An important swampSwampA swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
in the southwest part of the town. - Noble Corner — A hamlet on the west town line.
- Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management AreaMontezuma National Wildlife RefugeMontezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, encompassing part of the Montezuma Swamp at the north end of Cayuga Lake...
— Conservation areas in the center of the town. - Savannah — A hamlet at the junction of NY-31 and NY-89. The community was formerly an incorporated village (1867), but later abandoned that status in 1979.
- Tamarack Swamp — A swamp north of Crusoe Lake.
Village of Savannah
The community of Savannah was established along the old New York Central Railroad in 1854 and incorporated as a village thirteen years later...initially covering roughly 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of Military Lots #64 and #65 within the Town of Savannah (known at that time as Township #27). By 1877, the village had three church societies, a union schoolhouse, a hotel, a steam-stave mill and a number of shops and stores. Unfortunately, in the early morning hours of November 3, 1908, a fire swept throughout Savannah and destroyed most of the village. Twenty-two buildings were consumed by fire and twelve families were left homeless. Many of the buildings on Main Street were left in ruins. The village was eventually rebuilt.The Village of Savannah was dissolved on April 25, 1979. All government activities previously managed by the village are now handled by the Town of Savannah.