Sidney (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Sidney is a town
in Delaware County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 6,109 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Sidney contains a village with the name Sidney
. The town is on the northwest part of the county.
.
On April 7, 1801 the town was named Sidney in honour of British naval officer
Sir Sidney Smith.
is the border of Otsego County
, New York
, and the west town line is the border of Chenango County
, New York
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 50.7 square miles (131.2 km²), of which, 50.3 square miles (130.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (0.75%) is water.
of 2000, there were 6,109 people, 2,565 households, and 1,641 families residing in the town. The population density
was 121.5 people per square mile (46.9/km²). There were 2,987 housing units at an average density of 59.4 per square mile (22.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.35% White, 0.85% Black or African American
, 0.33% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races
, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 2,565 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples
living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,078, and the median income for a family was $35,351. Males had a median income of $28,168 versus $25,014 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,335. About 11.1% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Members of the Sufi Muslim center had contacted and demonstrated to Bob McCarthy that the cemetery was in fact legal (established in 2005 http://www.docstoc.com/docs/55628534/Sidney-Grave-Site) and had the permission of the municipal government to establish a cemetery. In addition, each of the two burials was registered with the town. Supervisor McCarthy has forwarded all inquiries to the Town Attorney Joe Ermeti, who delayed response to the Muslim community until October 14, 2010 - the day of Sidney's town meeting. The statement made by Sidney's lawyer and town board said they would not pursue legal charges against the Sufi cemetery, but would also not recognize its legality. Supervisor McCarthy, keeping with his arrogant personality, refused to apologize to the Sufi community and to the town. The Huffington Post published an article detailing the incident which subsequently gained national and international attention.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-reinbach/tiny-upstate-new-york-tow_b_739832.html
McCarthy still maintains the law is on the side of the Sidney Town Board, while lawyers and Hans Hass, spokesman for the Muslim center, contend otherwise. An official statement was provided by the Muslim center detailing the cemetery issue and legal documentation. http://www.scribd.com/doc/38266701/Osmanli-Naksibendi-Dergahi-Cemetery-Statement
See Associated Press article "NY Muslims say bigotry behind cemetery order" http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjkokHjvuXiveQiMFg6tDf_oqN4gD9IH7II80?docId=D9IH7II80.
Current Sidney Town Board: Robert McCarthy, supervisor; C. Peter Cordes, councilman; Paul J. Hamilton Sr., councilman; Eric T. Wilson, councilman; John Schaeffer, councilman; Joseph A. Ermeti, town attorney
Outrage at McCarthy's handling of the Sufi cemetery issue as well as his (with the collusion of the town board) lack of response to public concerns and secrecy surrounding a proposed natural gas pipeline through the town led to greater political awareness and activism in the town resulting in the defeat of council-members Hamilton and Schaeffer in the off-year elections of November 2011. The election of democrat Gaby Pysnik and independent Walter Goodrich has broken McCarthy's control of the town board.
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 Delaware County
Delaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
, 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 6,109 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Sidney contains a village with the name Sidney
Sidney (village), New York
Sidney is a village in Delaware County, New York, USA. The population was 4,068 at the 2000 census.The Village of Sidney is in west part of the Town of Sidney.-History:The village was named for Admiral Sir Sidney Smith.-Geography:...
. The town is on the northwest part of the county.
History
The town was formed in 1801 from the Town of FranklinFranklin (town), New York
Franklin is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 2,621 at the 2000 census.The Town of Franklin contains a village also called Franklin...
.
On April 7, 1801 the town was named Sidney in honour of British naval officer
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Sir Sidney Smith.
Geography
The north town line, marked by the Susquehanna RiverSusquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
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:...
, 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...
, and the west town line is the border of Chenango County
Chenango County, New York
Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle." Its county seat is Norwich.-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...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 50.7 square miles (131.2 km²), of which, 50.3 square miles (130.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (0.75%) is water.
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 6,109 people, 2,565 households, and 1,641 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 121.5 people per square mile (46.9/km²). There were 2,987 housing units at an average density of 59.4 per square mile (22.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.35% White, 0.85% Black 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...
, 0.33% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% 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 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 2,565 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% 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, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,078, and the median income for a family was $35,351. Males had a median income of $28,168 versus $25,014 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 $16,335. About 11.1% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Recent Controversy
Sidney town supervisor, Robert McCarthy, began an effort to declare a Muslim cemetery of the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Dergahi (a Sufi Muslim center) illegal. He was quoted saying that the town board "will be seeking to have these bodies disinterred and stop future burials." http://thedailystar.com/localnews/x1560863187/Local-Muslim-cemetery-draws-national-attention. When questioned about the legal basis for town action he responded, "I don't know what the exact law is".http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-reinbach/tiny-upstate-new-york-tow_b_739832.html On August 12, 2010, the town board voted unanimously to authorize Town Attorney Joseph A. Ermeti to commence with legal proceedings against the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Dergah. MSNBC’s Keith Olberman brought instant fame to the small town of Sidney when he announced Bob McCarthy as “The Worst Person in the World” http://vimeo.com/15348740 and Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert joked about the residents of Sidney being scared of Muslim vampires.http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/360291/september-28-2010/terror-a-new-oneMembers of the Sufi Muslim center had contacted and demonstrated to Bob McCarthy that the cemetery was in fact legal (established in 2005 http://www.docstoc.com/docs/55628534/Sidney-Grave-Site) and had the permission of the municipal government to establish a cemetery. In addition, each of the two burials was registered with the town. Supervisor McCarthy has forwarded all inquiries to the Town Attorney Joe Ermeti, who delayed response to the Muslim community until October 14, 2010 - the day of Sidney's town meeting. The statement made by Sidney's lawyer and town board said they would not pursue legal charges against the Sufi cemetery, but would also not recognize its legality. Supervisor McCarthy, keeping with his arrogant personality, refused to apologize to the Sufi community and to the town. The Huffington Post published an article detailing the incident which subsequently gained national and international attention.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-reinbach/tiny-upstate-new-york-tow_b_739832.html
McCarthy still maintains the law is on the side of the Sidney Town Board, while lawyers and Hans Hass, spokesman for the Muslim center, contend otherwise. An official statement was provided by the Muslim center detailing the cemetery issue and legal documentation. http://www.scribd.com/doc/38266701/Osmanli-Naksibendi-Dergahi-Cemetery-Statement
See Associated Press article "NY Muslims say bigotry behind cemetery order" http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjkokHjvuXiveQiMFg6tDf_oqN4gD9IH7II80?docId=D9IH7II80.
Current Sidney Town Board: Robert McCarthy, supervisor; C. Peter Cordes, councilman; Paul J. Hamilton Sr., councilman; Eric T. Wilson, councilman; John Schaeffer, councilman; Joseph A. Ermeti, town attorney
Outrage at McCarthy's handling of the Sufi cemetery issue as well as his (with the collusion of the town board) lack of response to public concerns and secrecy surrounding a proposed natural gas pipeline through the town led to greater political awareness and activism in the town resulting in the defeat of council-members Hamilton and Schaeffer in the off-year elections of November 2011. The election of democrat Gaby Pysnik and independent Walter Goodrich has broken McCarthy's control of the town board.
Communities and locations in the Town of Sidney
- East Sidney
- Franklin Depot –
- SidneySidney (village), New YorkSidney is a village in Delaware County, New York, USA. The population was 4,068 at the 2000 census.The Village of Sidney is in west part of the Town of Sidney.-History:The village was named for Admiral Sir Sidney Smith.-Geography:...
– The Village of Sidney. - Sidney Center --
- South Unadilla –
- Youngs --