Seneca, New York
Encyclopedia
Seneca is a town
in Ontario County
, New York
, United States
. United States
. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a group of local natives.
The Town of Seneca is on the south border of the county and is southwest of the City of Geneva.
The Town of West Seneca
in Erie County
added "west" to its name to avoid confusion with the Town of Seneca.
, and the sites of many important villages are in the town or the surrounding area.
The area was part of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase
. Settlement commenced around 1790, the year after the county was formed. A "District of Seneca" was created judicially in 1789 at the time the county was established, but its extent and subdivisions are not clearly known.
The town was finally organized in 1793.
In 1872, the northeast part of the town was used to form the Town of Geneva
, taking with it most of the historic Seneca communities and sites.
, the town has a total area of 50.4 square miles (130.5 km²), all of it land.
The south town line is the border of Yates County
, New York
. The town is located in the Finger Lakes
region and is northwest of Seneca Lake.
Conjoined U.S. Highway 20 and New York State Route 5
pass across the town. New York State Route 14A
is a north-south highway in the town. New York State Route 245
is an east-west highway in the town. NY-14A and NY245 are briefly conjoined near the east town line.
of 2000, there were 2,731 people, 967 households, and 781 families residing in the town. The population density
was 54.1 people per square mile (20.9/km²). There were 1,032 housing units at an average density of 20.5 per square mile (7.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.48% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.48% from other races
, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.
There were 967 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.7% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,007, and the median income for a family was $51,705. Males had a median income of $31,301 versus $27,146 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,165. About 2.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% 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 Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 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...
. United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,731 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a group of local natives.
The Town of Seneca is on the south border of the county and is southwest of the City of Geneva.
The Town of West Seneca
West Seneca, New York
West Seneca is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 44,711 at the 2010 census. West Seneca is a centrally-located interior town of the county, and a suburb of Buffalo...
in Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
added "west" to its name to avoid confusion with the Town of Seneca.
History
The region was the locale of the Seneca tribe, a member of the IroquoisIroquois
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...
, and the sites of many important villages are in the town or the surrounding area.
The area was part of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase
Phelps and Gorham Purchase
The Phelps and Gorham Purchase was the purchase in 1788 of the pre-emptive right to some 6,000,000 acres of land in western New York State for $1,000,000 . This was all land in western New York west of Seneca Lake between Lake Ontario and the Pennsylvania border...
. Settlement commenced around 1790, the year after the county was formed. A "District of Seneca" was created judicially in 1789 at the time the county was established, but its extent and subdivisions are not clearly known.
The town was finally organized in 1793.
In 1872, the northeast part of the town was used to form the Town of Geneva
Geneva (town), New York
Geneva is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 3,289 at the 2000 census. The actual source of the name is ambiguous.The Town of Geneva is in the southeastern part of the county and borders the City of Geneva.- History :...
, taking with it most of the historic Seneca communities and sites.
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 50.4 square miles (130.5 km²), all of it land.
The south town line is the border of Yates County
Yates County, New York
Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
, 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...
. The town is located 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...
region and is northwest of Seneca Lake.
Conjoined U.S. Highway 20 and New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
pass across the town. New York State Route 14A
New York State Route 14A
New York State Route 14A is a north–south state highway located in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 14 in the Schuyler County town of Reading to an intersection with U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 west of the Ontario...
is a north-south highway in the town. New York State Route 245
New York State Route 245
New York State Route 245 is a state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at NY 21 in Naples. The northern terminus is at NY 5, U.S. Route 20 and NY 14A west of Geneva...
is an east-west highway in the town. NY-14A and NY245 are briefly conjoined near the east town line.
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 2,731 people, 967 households, and 781 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 54.1 people per square mile (20.9/km²). There were 1,032 housing units at an average density of 20.5 per square mile (7.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.48% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.48% 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 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.
There were 967 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.7% 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, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,007, and the median income for a family was $51,705. Males had a median income of $31,301 versus $27,146 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 $19,165. About 2.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Seneca
- Flint (formerly "Flint Creek") – A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
on US-20/NY-5 at Flint Creek. - Flint Creek – An important stream in the town.
- HallHall, New YorkHall is a hamlet in Ontario County, New York, United States, near the city of Geneva, along State Route 14A in the Town of Seneca. Located in the Finger Lakes region, Hall has a fire department and a post office with the zip code of 14463. Hall also has a John Deere tractor dealer, a seed...
(formerly "Halls Corners") – A hamlet in the south part of the town on Route NY-14A. - Pierson Corners – A location at the junction of County Roads 4 and 20 at the north town line in the northwest part of the town.
- Seneca – A historical location northeast of Hall.
- Seneca Castle – A hamlet in the northern part of the town on County Road 4. It was formerly known as "Castleton."
- StanleyStanley, New YorkStanley is a hamlet in Ontario County, New York, located along New York State Route 245 in the Town of Seneca. It has a post office with a zip code of 14561. The Town of Seneca justice court is located in Stanley. Stanley was formerly known as Stanleys Corners; the nearby hamlet of Hall was also...
(formerly "Stanleys Corners") – A hamlet on NY-245 near the center of the town.