Sharon, New York
Encyclopedia
Sharon 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.
The Town of Sharon is in the northwest corner of the county and is southwest of Amsterdam
.
In 1781 during the American Revolution
, a battle, the Battle of Sharon, was fought in the town between small contingents of Colonial forces and Tories.
Sharon was created in 1797 from the Town of Schoharie
during the early organization of Schoharie County.
The opening of the Erie Canal
in 1825 reduced road traffic on a major east-west turnpike through the town, leading to the decline of several early communities.
Sharon Springs set itself apart from the Town of Sharon in 1871 by incorporating as a village, and absorbed the neighboring community of Rockville during this process.
, the town has a total area of 39.2 square miles (101.5 km²), of which, 39.1 square miles (101.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Montgomery County
and the west town line is the border of Otsego County
.
US Route 20 is an east-west highway in the town. New York State Route 10
, a north-south highway, intersects US-20 at Sharon Springs. New York State Route 145
has its northern terminus at US-20 at Sharon village.
of 2000, there were 1,843 people, 678 households, and 484 families residing in the town. The population density
was 47.2 people per square mile (18.2/km²). There were 838 housing units at an average density of 21.4 per square mile (8.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.21% White, 0.60% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 678 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,413, and the median income for a family was $40,417. Males had a median income of $31,167 versus $25,972 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,639. About 10.8% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% 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 Schoharie County
Schoharie County, New York
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 . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 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 1,843 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a location in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, from where some early settlers came.
The Town of Sharon is in the northwest corner of the county and is southwest of Amsterdam
Amsterdam (city), New York
Amsterdam is a city located in Montgomery County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 18,620. The name is derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands....
.
History
The town was first settled around 1780. It was called "New Dorlach" from a location in Germany known to the early settlers while still in Otsego County.In 1781 during the American Revolution
American 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...
, a battle, the Battle of Sharon, was fought in the town between small contingents of Colonial forces and Tories.
Sharon was created in 1797 from the Town of Schoharie
Schoharie (town), New York
Schoharie 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...
during the early organization of Schoharie County.
The opening of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
in 1825 reduced road traffic on a major east-west turnpike through the town, leading to the decline of several early communities.
Sharon Springs set itself apart from the Town of Sharon in 1871 by incorporating as a village, and absorbed the neighboring community of Rockville during this process.
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 39.2 square miles (101.5 km²), of which, 39.1 square miles (101.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
and the west town line is the border of Otsego County
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. The 2010 population was 62,259. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk word meaning "place of the rock."-History:...
.
US Route 20 is an east-west highway in the town. New York State Route 10
New York State Route 10
New York State Route 10 is a north–south state highway in the Central New York and North Country regions of New York in the United States. It extends for from the Quickway in Deposit, Delaware County to NY 8 at Higgins Bay, a hamlet in the Hamilton County town of Arietta...
, a north-south highway, intersects US-20 at Sharon Springs. New York State Route 145
New York State Route 145
New York State Route 145 is a state highway in eastern New York in the United States. The highway extends for from NY 23 in the Greene County town of Cairo to U.S. Route 20 in the Schoharie County town of Sharon. Along the way, NY 145 intersects NY 30 in Middleburgh and...
has its northern terminus at US-20 at Sharon village.
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 1,843 people, 678 households, and 484 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 47.2 people per square mile (18.2/km²). There were 838 housing units at an average density of 21.4 per square mile (8.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.21% White, 0.60% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.16% 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 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 678 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,413, and the median income for a family was $40,417. Males had a median income of $31,167 versus $25,972 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 $18,639. About 10.8% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Sharon
- Argusville – 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...
northeast of Sharon village, located on County Roads 5A and 5B. - Beekman Corners – A location by the south town line at County Road 5 and NY-10. It was one of the prominent communities in the early history of Sharon.
- Engleville-- A location in the southwest corner of the town, earlier "Engles Mills."
- Engleville Pond – A small lake north of Engleville.
- Gilbert Corners – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town on County Road 34.
- Leesville – A location west of Sharon Springs, located on US-20. It was formerly a major business center in the town.
- Rockville – A former hamlet, now part of Sharon Springs.
- 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...
– The Village of Sharon Springs is on NY-10 north of its intersection with US-20 in the western part of the town. - Sharon – A hamlet near the east town line at the junction of routes US-20 and NY-145. It was once called "Moaks Hollow."
- Sharon Airport (K31) – A general aviation, turf-runway airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
near Sharon Center. - Sharon Center – A hamlet southeast of Sharon Springs located at the junction of US-20 and County Road 34.
- Staleyville – A location north of Sharon Springs on NY-10.