Waterville, New York
Encyclopedia
Waterville is a village
in Oneida County
, New York
, United States
. According to the 2000 census, its population was 1,721.
The Village of Waterville is on the border of the Town of Marshall
and the Town of Sangerfield
- two subdivisions of Oneida County, New York
.
New York State Route 12
runs north-south through the center of town, where it intersects New York State Route 315
. One mile south of the village, U.S. Route 20
runs east-west and intersects Route 12 in Sangerfield, New York
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land except the Waterville Creek, a tributary to the Mohawk River
that runs through the center of town paralleling Sanger Avenue (Route 12) and Buell Avenue (Route 315). Rolling hills, farmland, and deciduous forests are found in the surrounding area. Other nearby bodies of water include Chittening Pond and the Nine Mile Swamp.
The nearest city, Utica, New York
, lies approximately fifteen miles north of the village. The village is at a higher elevation than Utica, which is located in the Mohawk River
Valley. By Route 20, Waterville is approximately sixty miles east of Syracuse, NY and eighty miles west of Albany, NY.
of 2000, there were 1,721 people, 626 households, and 435 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,297.8 people per square mile (499.6/km²). There were 673 housing units at an average density of 507.5 per square mile (195.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.08% White, 0.46% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 626 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,563, and the median income for a family was $46,761. Males had a median income of $32,009 versus $23,333 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $17,219. About 8.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.
, of the Haudenosaunee, the Waterville area was first settled by European Americans circa 1792 after the United States victory in the American Revolutionary War
. The US forced the Iroquois Confederacy to cede most of its land in New York state. The settlement was known as "The Huddle". In 1808, the settlement formally took the name of Waterville.
Hops
(humulus lupulus) were introduced to the area in about 1820; by 1875, Waterville was considered the "Hops Capital of the World." Several inventions related to the cultivation and curing of hops were developed locally, the most important of which was liquid hop extract. The International Hop Stock Exchange was established in the 1860s.
With the introduction of railway service in 1867, Waterville became a major shipping point for hops-related cargo; "Waterville Hops" and hop extract were shipped to brewers all over the world. The economic prosperity fueled by the hop industry was reflected by merchants building fine Victorian-style
homes. By the 1920s, hop production began to wane, due primarily to poor agricultural technology. By the close of the 1940s, Waterville's working hop farms had all been converted to other uses. Some locals continue to grow hops as a recreational "tip of the hat" to Waterville's past.
The Loomis Gang
, a notorious group of horse thieves, lived and operated in the Waterville area during the mid-nineteenth century. Beyond documented history, there is much folklore associated with the Loomis family, including legends of ghosts that haunt the Nine Mile Swamp area located one mile south of Waterville.
The Waterville Triangle Historic District
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978. The Tower Homestead and Masonic Temple
was listed in 1977.
, North Brookfield
, Oriskany Falls
, and Sangerfield
. The district has two buildings including Memorial Park Elementary School for grades K-6 (located on East Bacon Street), and Waterville Jr.-Sr. High School for grades 7-12 (located on Madison Street).
Colleges within twenty-five miles include Hamilton College, Colgate University
, Utica College
, SUNY IT
, and Mohawk Valley Community College
.
The Waterville Historical Society on East Main Street houses a museum of local history exhibits.
The Waterville Volunteer Fire Department hosts an annual Field Days, typically held on the third weekend of July, featuring a parade, amusement rides and fireworks.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
, 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...
. According to the 2000 census, its population was 1,721.
Geography
Waterville is located at 42°55′54"N 75°22′36"W (42.931591, -75.376538).The Village of Waterville is on the border of the Town of Marshall
Marshall, New York
Marshall is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 2,127 at the 2000 census.The Town of Marshall is in the southeast part of the county...
and the Town of Sangerfield
Sangerfield, New York
Sangerfield is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 2,610 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Jedediah Sanger, an early settler.The Town of Sangerfield is on the county's south border.-Geography:...
- two subdivisions of Oneida County, New York
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
.
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
runs north-south through the center of town, where it intersects New York State Route 315
New York State Route 315
New York State Route 315 is a state highway in Oneida County, New York, in the United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 12 in the village of Waterville and ends at a junction NY 12B in the hamlet of Deansboro, located in the town of Marshall...
. One mile south of the village, U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
runs east-west and intersects Route 12 in Sangerfield, New York
Sangerfield, New York
Sangerfield is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 2,610 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Jedediah Sanger, an early settler.The Town of Sangerfield is on the county's south border.-Geography:...
.
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 village has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land except the Waterville Creek, a tributary to the Mohawk River
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk flows into the Hudson in the Capital District, a few miles north of the city of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy...
that runs through the center of town paralleling Sanger Avenue (Route 12) and Buell Avenue (Route 315). Rolling hills, farmland, and deciduous forests are found in the surrounding area. Other nearby bodies of water include Chittening Pond and the Nine Mile Swamp.
The nearest city, Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, lies approximately fifteen miles north of the village. The village is at a higher elevation than Utica, which is located in the Mohawk River
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk flows into the Hudson in the Capital District, a few miles north of the city of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy...
Valley. By Route 20, Waterville is approximately sixty miles east of Syracuse, NY and eighty miles west of Albany, NY.
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 1,721 people, 626 households, and 435 families residing in the village. 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 1,297.8 people per square mile (499.6/km²). There were 673 housing units at an average density of 507.5 per square mile (195.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.08% White, 0.46% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.81% of the population.
There were 626 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% 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, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 80.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,563, and the median income for a family was $46,761. Males had a median income of $32,009 versus $23,333 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 village was $17,219. About 8.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
Long the traditional territory of the Iroquoian-speaking OneidaOneida
- Native American/First Nations :* Oneida people, a Native American/First Nations people and one of the five founding nations of the Iroquois Confederacy* Oneida language* Oneida Indian Nation, based in New York...
, of the Haudenosaunee, the Waterville area was first settled by European Americans circa 1792 after the United States victory in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The US forced the Iroquois Confederacy to cede most of its land in New York state. The settlement was known as "The Huddle". In 1808, the settlement formally took the name of Waterville.
Hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
(humulus lupulus) were introduced to the area in about 1820; by 1875, Waterville was considered the "Hops Capital of the World." Several inventions related to the cultivation and curing of hops were developed locally, the most important of which was liquid hop extract. The International Hop Stock Exchange was established in the 1860s.
With the introduction of railway service in 1867, Waterville became a major shipping point for hops-related cargo; "Waterville Hops" and hop extract were shipped to brewers all over the world. The economic prosperity fueled by the hop industry was reflected by merchants building fine Victorian-style
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
homes. By the 1920s, hop production began to wane, due primarily to poor agricultural technology. By the close of the 1940s, Waterville's working hop farms had all been converted to other uses. Some locals continue to grow hops as a recreational "tip of the hat" to Waterville's past.
The Loomis Gang
Loomis Gang
The Loomis Gang was a notorious family of outlaws that operated in central New York during the 19th century.The patriarch of the "Gang," George Washington Loomis, was a descendant of the highly respected Joseph Loomis who arrived in the U.S...
, a notorious group of horse thieves, lived and operated in the Waterville area during the mid-nineteenth century. Beyond documented history, there is much folklore associated with the Loomis family, including legends of ghosts that haunt the Nine Mile Swamp area located one mile south of Waterville.
The Waterville Triangle Historic District
Waterville Triangle Historic District
Waterville Triangle Historic District is a national historic district located at Waterville in Oneida County, New York. The district includes 59 contributing buildings and encompasses the heart of the village where three streets intersect to form a triangle...
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 1978. The Tower Homestead and Masonic Temple
Tower Homestead and Masonic Temple
Tower Homestead and Masonic Temple, also known as Harding Residence and Masonic Temple, is a historic home and Masonic Temple located at Waterville in Oneida County, New York...
was listed in 1977.
Business and industry
The Waterville Knitting Mill produced textiles until the early 1980s. In 1969 the Waterville Knitting Mill built a new building around the corner from their original building. In 2009 the original Knitting Mill was torn down due to dangerous conditions within the building and trespassing. In 1995, C & H Plastics, a custom thermoplastic injection molding facility founded in 1970, bought the newer facility on Conger Avenue and renovated it. It continues to operate to this day. Dairy farming remains an important industry in the greater Waterville area.Community development and renewal
Recent infrastructure development has included a new Municipal Hall (2002), and state-of-the-art Waterville Public Library with formal gardens (2006). During 2005-06 the Village underwent major thoroughfare reconstruction under the auspices of the New York State Department of Transportation. The project included new sidewalks, decorative red brick paving, granite curbing and newly-planted trees along Main Street; Victorian street lamps line Main Street and Sanger Avenue (NYS Rt. 12). A decorative town clock adorns the corner of Main Street and White Street in the center of town. Upgraded sewer lines have helped curb pollution of the Waterville Creek. In 2009-10, funded by private donations, a Victorian-era bandstand was erected in the Village Park.Schools and education
The Waterville Central School District serves several communities in the area including DeansboroDeansboro, New York
Deansboro is a hamlet in Oneida County, New York, United States.The Deansboro Railroad Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.-References:...
, North Brookfield
Brookfield, New York
Brookfield is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 2,403 at the 2000 census.The Town of Brookfield is located in the southeast part of the county...
, Oriskany Falls
Oriskany Falls, New York
Oriskany Falls is a village in Oneida County, New York in the United States. The population was 698 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a waterfall on a nearby stream....
, and Sangerfield
Sangerfield, New York
Sangerfield is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 2,610 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Jedediah Sanger, an early settler.The Town of Sangerfield is on the county's south border.-Geography:...
. The district has two buildings including Memorial Park Elementary School for grades K-6 (located on East Bacon Street), and Waterville Jr.-Sr. High School for grades 7-12 (located on Madison Street).
Colleges within twenty-five miles include Hamilton College, Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
, Utica College
Utica College
Utica College is a private university located in Utica, New York. The history of the college dates back to the 1930s when Syracuse University began offering extension courses in the Utica area. Syracuse University established Utica College as a four-year institution in 1946, and in 1995, UC ...
, SUNY IT
State University of New York Institute of Technology
The State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome is a campus of the State University of New York located just north of Utica in the town of Marcy. Established by the SUNY Board of Trustees on June 14, 1966, SUNYIT is the State of New York's public institute of technology....
, and Mohawk Valley Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College
Mohawk Valley Community College is a two-year college of the State University of New York located in Oneida County, New York in the United States...
.
Local attractions
The Waterville Public Library is a hub of cultural activity, presenting an array of film, music, art and educational events and programs.The Waterville Historical Society on East Main Street houses a museum of local history exhibits.
The Waterville Volunteer Fire Department hosts an annual Field Days, typically held on the third weekend of July, featuring a parade, amusement rides and fireworks.
Notable past residents
- Frank Lusk BabbottFrank Lusk BabbottFrank Lusk Babbott was a multimillionaire jute merchant, art collector, patron, and philanthropist.-Early life:Babbott was born in Waterville, New York, the son of Miller Babbott and Mary Elizabeth Crandall.-Education:...
(1854–1933), jute merchant, art patron/collector, philanthropist. - George EastmanGeorge EastmanGeorge Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
(1854–1932), inventor, philanthropist, founder of Eastman KodakEastman KodakEastman Kodak Company is a multinational imaging and photographic equipment, materials and services company headquarted in Rochester, New York, United States. It was founded by George Eastman in 1892....
. - Aaron Stafford (1787–1885), early settler, farmer, state legislator, last surviving American officer of the War of 1812War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. - Charles C. Terry (1830–1867), pioneer, businessman, early settler of modern-day Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. - Charlemagne TowerCharlemagne TowerCharlemagne Tower, was an American lawyer, soldier, and businessman.-Early life and start of law career:Charlemagne Tower was born on April 18, 1809 in Paris, Oneida County, New York, the eldest of the eight children of Reuben Tower, a New York State Legislator, and Deborah Taylor Pierce...
(1809–1889), lawyer, soldier, industrialist.