Scipio, New York
Encyclopedia
Scipio is a town
in Cayuga County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,713 at the 2010 census. The town name was provided by a clerk with an interest in the classics.
The Town of Scipio is centrally located in the county and is south of Auburn
, New York
. It is the setting of the Kurt Vonnegut
novel Hocus Pocus
. Many details about the town are fictionalized for the novel.
; land reserved for veterans.
The first settler arrived around 1790.
The town of Scipio was formed in 1798 when Cayuga County was formed. In 1823, part of Scipio was used to form the Towns of Springport
and Venice
.
The Howland Cobblestone Store
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1994.
, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
, a faction of the Latter Day Saint movement
. In addition to serving as president of his church, Strang also served as the self-proclaimed king of a now-defunct ecclesiastical monarchy he established on Beaver Island, Michigan
, and also served 1 terms in the Michigan House of Representatives prior to his murder in 1856 at the hands of two disgruntled followers. His Ancient and Modern Michimilimackinac was published by the Smithsonian Institution
, and remained the definitive work of Beaver Island flora and fauna for nearly a century. Strang also served at various times as a postmaster, schoolteacher, temperance lecturer, newspaper correspondent, and lawyer.
Strang did not spend much of his life in Scipio, having left the town with his parents by the time he was three.
, the town has a total area of 39.3 square miles (101.8 km²), of which, 36.7 square miles (95.1 km²) of it is land and 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it (6.76%) is water.
The east town line is marked by Owasco Lake
, one of the Finger Lakes
.
New York State Route 34
, New York State Route 34B
, and New York State Route 38
are north-south highways in Scipio.
of 2000, there were 1,537 people, 571 households, and 424 families residing in the town. The population density
was 41.9 people per square mile (16.2/km²). There were 702 housing units at an average density of 19.1 per square mile (7.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.59% White, 0.20% African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.20% from other races
, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 571 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples
living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% 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 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,491, and the median income for a family was $50,395. Males had a median income of $34,671 versus $22,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,705. About 2.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.7% 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 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 :...
, 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 1,713 at the 2010 census. The town name was provided by a clerk with an interest in the classics.
The Town of Scipio is centrally located in the county and is south of Auburn
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, 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...
. It is the setting of the Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
novel Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus (novel)
Hocus Pocus is a 1990 novel by Kurt Vonnegut which deals with themes of class, race, crime, suicide, and globalization.-Introduction:Like many of Vonnegut's novels, Hocus Pocus is not organized in a traditional linear fashion, and has a plot centered around a major event which is alluded to early,...
. Many details about the town are fictionalized for the novel.
History
Scipio was part of the Central New York Military TractCentral 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 reserved for veterans.
The first settler arrived around 1790.
The town of Scipio was formed in 1798 when Cayuga County was formed. In 1823, part of Scipio was used to form the Towns of Springport
Springport, New York
Springport is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,367 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the local springs and lakeports....
and Venice
Venice, New York
Venice is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,368 at the 2010 census.The Town of Venice is in the south part of Cayuga County and is south of Auburn, New York.- History :...
.
The Howland Cobblestone Store
Howland Cobblestone Store
The Howland Cobblestone Store, also known as the Howland Stone Store Museum, is a 19th century store significant for its cobblestone architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. At the time of its nomination, the owners were in the process of removing the stucco...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1994.
Notable people from Scipio
Scipio was the birthplace of James StrangJames Strang
James Jesse Strang was an American religious leader, politician and self-proclaimed monarch who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , a faction of the Latter Day Saint movement...
, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement with around three hundred members as of 1998...
, a faction of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
. In addition to serving as president of his church, Strang also served as the self-proclaimed king of a now-defunct ecclesiastical monarchy he established on Beaver Island, Michigan
Beaver Island (Lake Michigan)
Beaver Island is the largest island in Lake Michigan and part of the Beaver Island archipelago. Once home to a unique American monarchy, the island is now a popular tourist and vacation destination....
, and also served 1 terms in the Michigan House of Representatives prior to his murder in 1856 at the hands of two disgruntled followers. His Ancient and Modern Michimilimackinac was published by the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, and remained the definitive work of Beaver Island flora and fauna for nearly a century. Strang also served at various times as a postmaster, schoolteacher, temperance lecturer, newspaper correspondent, and lawyer.
Strang did not spend much of his life in Scipio, having left the town with his parents by the time he was three.
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 39.3 square miles (101.8 km²), of which, 36.7 square miles (95.1 km²) of it is land and 2.7 square miles (7 km²) of it (6.76%) is water.
The east town line is marked by Owasco Lake
Owasco Lake
Owasco Lake is the sixth largest and third easternmost of the Finger Lakes of New York in the United States of America . The name Owasco can be roughly translated from a Mohawk and Iroquois term meaning "crossing"....
, one of 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...
.
New York State Route 34
New York State Route 34
New York State Route 34 is a north–south New York state route located in Central New York. Its southern terminus is at the Pennsylvania state line in the village of Waverly, where it connects to Pennsylvania Route 199 and meets NY 17...
, New York State Route 34B
New York State Route 34B
New York State Route 34B is a north–south state highway located within Tompkins and Cayuga Counties in Central New York. Its northern terminus is located at a junction with NY 34 by the hamlet of Fleming within the town of the same name in Cayuga County...
, and New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Owego in Tioga County. The northern terminus is at a junction with NY 104A in the town of...
are north-south highways in Scipio.
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 1,537 people, 571 households, and 424 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 41.9 people per square mile (16.2/km²). There were 702 housing units at an average density of 19.1 per square mile (7.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.59% White, 0.20% African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.20% 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 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 571 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% 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, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% 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 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,491, and the median income for a family was $50,395. Males had a median income of $34,671 versus $22,625 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 $17,705. About 2.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Scipio
- Ashland – A hamlet on Owasco Lake in the southeast part of Scipio by NY-38.
- Bolts Corners – A location in the southwest part of Scipio, east of Sherwood.
- Botsford Corners – A location near the south town line, west of Ashland.
- Casowasco – A hamlet on the shore of Owasco Lake in the southeast part of Scipio.
- Covey Corners – A location near the south town line, west of Ashland.
- Edgewater – A hamlet on Owasco Lake in the southeast part of Scipio.
- Elmwood – A hamlet on Owasco Lake and NY-38 in the northeast part of Scipio.
- Kings Corners – A location near the west town line on NY-34B.
- Merrifield – A hamlet between Scipio Center and Scipioville.
- Number One – A location near the west town line on NY-34B, north of Kings Corners.
- Owasco Lake Station – A hamlet at the northeast corner of Scipio on Owasco Lake.
- Scipio Center – A hamlet located on NY-34 near the town center.
- Scipioville – A hamlet located on NY-34B, west of Scipio Center.
- SherwoodSherwood, New YorkSherwood is a hamlet in Cayuga County, New York, United States.It is the location of four properties or districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places:*Augustus Howland House, 1395 Sherwood Rd., Sherwood...
– A hamlet on NY-34B near the south town line, south of Scipioville.