Schoharie County, New York
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density
was 51 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.06% White
, 2.14% Black
or African American
, 0.30% Native American
, 0.49% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 0.36% from other races
, and 0.93% from two or more races. 1.86% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 20.9% were of German
, 15.6% Irish
, 11.5% American
, 10.8% Italian
and 9.7% English
ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.5% spoke English
, 1.7% Spanish
and 1.0% German
as their first language.
There were 11,991 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples
living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,585, and the median income for a family was $43,118. Males had a median income of $31,725 versus $24,475 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $17,778. About 7.90% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
which is within commuting distance.
Wal-Mart has a distribution center located in the Village of Sharon Springs, and a supercenter in Cobleskill.
There is a small but growing tourist industry regarding the county. Visitors come to visit Howe Caverns
, Secret Caverns, The Carrot Barn, Vroman's Nose
, the Old Blenheim Bridge
, and the Old Stone Fort
.
Census
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 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. 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 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.06% White
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...
, 2.14% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 0.30% Native American
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...
, 0.49% Asian
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...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.36% 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 0.93% from two or more races. 1.86% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race. 20.9% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 15.6% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 11.5% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 10.8% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
and 9.7% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 95.5% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, 1.7% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and 1.0% German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
as their first language.
There were 11,991 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% 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, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.00% under the age of 18, 10.60% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,585, and the median income for a family was $43,118. Males had a median income of $31,725 versus $24,475 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 county was $17,778. About 7.90% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The primary industry of Schoharie County is agriculture. Farms are situated all over the county and farm stands with local produce are located throughout the Schoharie Valley. Many people also have work in the capital regionCapital region
A capital region, also called a national capital region, capital district or capital territory is a common term for the region or district surrounding the capital city of a country or any other administrative division...
which is within commuting distance.
Wal-Mart has a distribution center located in the Village of Sharon Springs, and a supercenter in Cobleskill.
There is a small but growing tourist industry regarding the county. Visitors come to visit Howe Caverns
Howe Caverns
Howe Caverns is a cave in Howes Cave, Schoharie County, New York.-Geology:Geologists believe that the formation of the cave, which lies below ground, began several million years ago...
, Secret Caverns, The Carrot Barn, Vroman's Nose
Vroman's Nose
Vroman's Nose is a prominent geological feature in the town of Fulton , in Schoharie County, New York, United States. It is among the more popular hiking sites in upstate New York and is of significant historical note.-Founding and Naming:...
, the Old Blenheim Bridge
Old Blenheim Bridge
Old Blenheim Bridge was a wooden covered bridge that spanned Schoharie Creek in North Blenheim, New York. With an open span of , it had the longest span of any surviving covered bridge in the world; although the structure's total length, made it second in that respect to the Bridgeport Covered Bridge...
, and the Old Stone Fort
Old Stone Fort (Schoharie, NY)
Located in the village of Schoharie, Schoharie County New York, the Old Stone Fort was originally built as a Reformed Dutch Church in 1772. With the coming of the American Revolutionary War, the church was enclosed by a log stockade in 1777....
.
Towns
- BlenheimBlenheim, New YorkBlenheim is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 330 at the 2000 census. The town was named after a land patent, which itself was named after the Battle of Blenheim....
- BroomeBroome, New York----Broome is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 947 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Broome.The Town of Broome is on the eastern border of the county, southwest of Albany.- History :...
- CarlisleCarlisle, New YorkCarlisle is a town in northern Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,758 at the 2000 census.- History :The town was first settled around 1760.The town of Carlisle was established in 1807 from the towns of Cobleskill and Sharon...
- CobleskillCobleskill (town), New YorkCobleskill is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 6,407 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village, also named Cobleskill, as well as the State University of New York at Cobleskill....
- ConesvilleConesville, New YorkConesville is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 726 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Jonathan Cone, an early resident....
- EsperanceEsperance (town), New YorkEsperance is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 2,043 at the 2000 census. The town was given the name of the principal village, which was named for "hope" in French.The Town of Esperance contains a village called Esperance...
- FultonFulton, Schoharie County, New YorkFulton is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,495 at the 2000 census. Within the town of Fulton are the hamlets of Breakabeen and Fultonham. The town is in the center of the county and is also one of the larger towns in the county...
- GilboaGilboa, New YorkGilboa is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,215 at the 2000 census.The Town of Gilboa is in the south part of the county and is southwest of Albany.- History :The town was first settled around 1760....
- JeffersonJefferson, New York----Jefferson is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census.The Town of Jefferson is on the southwestern border of the county and is east of the City of Oneonta.- History :...
- MiddleburghMiddleburgh (town), New YorkMiddleburgh is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 3,515 at the 2000 census.The Town of Middleburgh contains a village called Middleburgh...
- RichmondvilleRichmondville (town), New YorkRichmondville is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 2,610 at the 2010 census. The town name was adapted from the name of a post office in its territory....
- SchoharieSchoharie (town), New YorkSchoharie is a town in Schoharie County, New York. The population was 3,299 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a native word for driftwood.The Town of Schoharie has a village, also called Schoharie...
- SewardSeward, New YorkSeward is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,637 at the 2000 census. The town is named after senator, governor, and secretary of state William H...
- SharonSharon, New YorkSharon is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,843 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a location in Connecticut, from where some early settlers came....
- SummitSummit, New YorkSummit is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,123 at the time of the 2000 census. The name is derived from a peak Summit is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,123 at the time of the 2000 census. The name is derived...
- WrightWright, New YorkWright is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,547 at the 2000 census. The town was named after governor Silas Wright.The Town of Wright is on the county's northeastern corner and is west of Albany.- History :...
Villages
- CobleskillCobleskill (village), New YorkCobleskill is a village in the western part of the town of Cobleskill in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 4,533 at the 2000 census.The village is southwest of Amsterdam...
- EsperanceEsperance (village), New YorkEsperance is a village in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 380 at the 2000 census. The village was given the French name for "hope."The Village of Esperance is in eastern part of the Town of Esperance...
- MiddleburghMiddleburgh (village), New YorkMiddleburgh is a village in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census.The Village of Middleburgh is in the southwest part of the Town of Middleburgh and is west of Albany.- History :...
- RichmondvilleRichmondville (village), New YorkRichmondville is a village in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 918 at the 2010 census.The Village of Richmondville is in the center of the Town of Richmondville and is northeast of Oneonta.- History :...
- SchoharieSchoharie (village), New YorkSchoharie is a village in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 1,030 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schoharie County...
- Sharon SpringsSharon Springs, New YorkSharon Springs is a village in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 547 at the 2000 census. Its name derives from the hometown of the first Colonial settlers, Sharon, Connecticut, and the important springs in the village...
Hamlets
- Breakabeen
- Charlotteville, New York
- Eminence, New York
- Fultonham
- Gallupville
- LivingstonvilleLivingstonville, New YorkLivingstonville, New York is a hamlet within the town of Broome, New York. It is inhabited by a small but decreasing population. - Early history :...
- Sloansville, New York
- WarnervilleWarnerville, New YorkWarnerville is a hamlet in Schoharie County, New York, United States. Located along State Route 7 between Cobleskill and Richmondville, it is the site of the Cobleskill/Richmondville High School and has a post office with the ZIP Code of 12187....
- West Middleburgh
TV, movies and pop culture
- In 1983 the book Midnight's LairMidnight's LairMidnight's Lair is a 1988 horror novel by Richard Laymon, originally written under the pseudonym Richard Kelly. It was first published in Great Britain and was not released in the United States until 1993, where it was distributed by St. Martin's Press.-Plot:The novel concerns a group of tourists...
by Richard LaymonRichard LaymonRichard Carl Laymon was an American author of suspense and horror fiction, particularly within the splatterpunk subgenre. He was born in Chicago, Illinois and lived as a child in California...
was about trapped explorers in Howe CavernsHowe CavernsHowe Caverns is a cave in Howes Cave, Schoharie County, New York.-Geology:Geologists believe that the formation of the cave, which lies below ground, began several million years ago...
. - David LettermanDavid LettermanDavid Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
did a parody about the town of SchoharieSchoharie (town), New YorkSchoharie is a town in Schoharie County, New York. The population was 3,299 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a native word for driftwood.The Town of Schoharie has a village, also called Schoharie...
. - In 2006 near-local resident Rachael RayRachael RayRachael Domenica Ray is an American television personality, businesswoman, celebrity chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day...
did a $40/day episode in the town of CobleskillCobleskill (town), New YorkCobleskill is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 6,407 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village, also named Cobleskill, as well as the State University of New York at Cobleskill....
. - In May 2010 the reality series The Fabulous Beekman BoysThe Fabulous Beekman BoysThe Fabulous Beekman Boys was a reality television show produced in the United States by World of Wonder Productions. The series followed Josh Kilmer-Purcell and his partner Brent Ridge as they learned how to become farmers and launched their lifestyle brand, Beekman 1802...
, which is set in Sharon SpringsSharon Springs, New YorkSharon Springs is a village in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 547 at the 2000 census. Its name derives from the hometown of the first Colonial settlers, Sharon, Connecticut, and the important springs in the village...
, aired its first episode. - In August 2010 the series Ghost HuntersGhost HuntersGhost Hunters is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on October 6, 2004, on Syfy . The program features paranormal investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson who investigate places that are reported to be haunted. The two originally worked as plumbers for Roto-Rooter as...
did an episode at the Old Stone Fort which aired December 8, 2010. - A finalist on Tila Tequila took the show to the bowling alley in Cobleskill
See also
- List of counties in New York
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Schoharie County, New York