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Alma, New York

Alma is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 785 at the 2020 census. The source of the town name is uncertain. One source credits it to Charles Wyvell's interest in the Battle of the Alma, while another attributes it to Stephen O. Alma, first manager of the Newbold Lumber Company of Shongo.

The Town of Alma is on the southern edge of Allegany County and is southwest of the Village of Wellsville.

History
The area was first settled circa 1833. The Town of Alma was established in 1854 from part of the Town of Willing. From 1881 to January 1893, several of the settlements in the Township (most notably Allentown) were on the Wellsville-Eldred Main Line of the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad (BE&C). The BE&C was a 36" narrow-gauge railroad built to serve the Allegany County oil boom. With the end of the boom and loss of the passenger and freight traffic therefrom, the railroad entered receivership (bankruptcy) and was abandoned. Today, the railheads for Alma Township are Wellsville and Friendship.

Remnants of the railroad bed for the BE&C can be seen in the village of West Clarksville between the village and Dodge Creek behind the Clarksville store. James E. Lewis, a resident in West Clarksville from 1936-1950.

Alma's post office, ZIP code 14708, operated from 1850 until 1996.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.5 sqmi, of which 36.5 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (0.25%) is water.

Alma Hill, the wide rise which dominates the southern half of town, is at 2,548 feet (777 m) not only the highest point in Allegany County but the entire western half of the state. The section of Alma Hill Road that runs near the summit is, at approximately 2500 ft, the highest free paved public road in the state outside of the Catskills.

The south town line is the Pennsylvania border.

New York State Route 417 (NY 417) crosses the north part of the town.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 847 people, 322 households and 243 families residing in the town. The population density was 23.2 per square mile (9.0/km2). There were 533 housing units at an average density of 14.6 per square mile (5.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.99% White, 0.12% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races.

There were 322 households, of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.99.

26.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,063 and the median family income was $35,833. Males had a median income of $31,023 compared with $17,778 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,061. About 8.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Alma

 * Alma – The hamlet of Alma at the junction of County Routes 18 (Petrolia Road) and 38 (4 Mile Road) in the southwest corner of the town.
 * Alma Hill – A mountain located northeast of the hamlet of Alma.
 * Allentown – A hamlet by NY 417 (Bolivar-Allentown Road) in the northwest corner of the town. The community was once an oil boom town. It was a station on the Eldred-Bolivar-Wellsville Main Line of the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad 1881-January 1893.
 * Honeoye Creek – A stream flowing through the south part of the town past Alma village.
 * Knight Creek – A stream in the northern part of the town by NY 417 (Bolivar-Allentown Road).
 * Pikeville – A hamlet in the west part of the town on County Route 18 (Petrolia Road).
 * Vosburg – A location on the west town line on NY 417 (Bolivar-Allentown Road).

title: Alma, New York


text:
Amity, Allegany County, New York

Amity is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 2,185 at the 2020 census. The name of the town means "friendship."

The Town of Amity is near the middle of Allegany County and is northeast of Olean. The county seat, Belmont, is in Amity.

History
After being first settled circa 1804, Amity was formed in 1830 from parts of the Towns of Angelica and Scio. In 1856, part of Amity was used to found the Town of Ward.

Notable person

 * Hamilton Ward, Sr., congressman and judge

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.6 sqmi, of which 34.5 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi  (0.23%) is water.

The Genesee River flows northward through the town. The Southern Tier Expressway (New York State Route 17/Interstate 86) passes through the northwest corner of the town, north of Belvidere. New York State Route 19 and New York State Route 244 intersect at Belmont.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,245 people, 885 households, and 601 families residing in the town. The population density was 65.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,120 housing units at an average density of 32.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.68% White, 0.76% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 885 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,153, and the median income for a family was $40,387. Males had a median income of $31,394 versus $21,065 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,304. About 7.8% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Amity

 * Amity Lake – A small lake by the eastern town line.
 * Belmont – The Village of Belmont, the county seat, is in the center of the town.
 * Belvidere – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on State Route 19 (Willets Avenue).  It was originally called "Hobbyville."  The Belvidere Cornerstone, formerly known as Christ Episcopal Church, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
 * Withey – A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town on Route 244 (Mainville Road).
 * Plum Bottom Creek– A creek that flows through the Town of Amity.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Amity, Allegany County, New York


text:
Belfast, New York

Belfast (/ˈbɛl.fæst/ or /bəlˈfɑːst/) is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The town is in what is called the Southern Tier of the state. Its population was 1,656 at the 2020 census. It was named in 1825 after the city of Belfast, Ireland, because it had numerous residents of Scots-Irish ancestry from that area.

History
This territory was for many centuries before European encounter occupied by the Seneca people of the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois Confederacy. They were the westernmost tribe of the Five Nations of the Confederacy which dominated the area south of the Great Lakes in present-day New York and Pennsylvania. (They became the Six Nations after being joined by the Tuscarora, another Iroquoian-speaking people, who migrated from the Carolinas in the early 18th century). These tribes are among Iroquoian languages-speaking peoples who long inhabited areas along the upper St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes.

The first European-American settlers did not arrive in this area until after the American Revolutionary War. As the Seneca had been allies of the defeated British, their lands were among territory ceded to the United States, without consultation with the Iroquois. Most of the Haudenosaunee migrated to Ontario, Canada, where they were given land in compensation by the British Crown. European-American settlers were documented in this area by 1804. David Sanford built a sawmill and grist mill on the Genesee River in 1809. The community was established in 1824 as the Town of Orrinsburgh from part of the Town of Caneadea. In 1825 residents changed the name to Belfast as many new settlers were from northern Ireland, where Belfast was a port. Irish immigrants in upstate worked on the canals and in the developing mills. The hamlet of Belfast was established as a "mill town" with water power from the Genesee River, which runs across the town. In 1831, the size of the town was increased by the state legislature by adding more territory from Caneadea.

The Genesee Valley Canal was completed around 1853 to connect markets from the south of the state to the Great Lakes. It stimulated the growth of the hamlet Belfast, which was later also served by three railroads. Their speed and carrying capacity caused much freight traffic to move to the railroads, causing a decline in canal traffic. The Rail and Titsworth Canal Warehouse in Belfast was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 as an important structure from this time period.

In the mid-19th century, new ethnic English migrants, many from eastern Yankee New York and New England, were resisted by many of the Irish residents. There were longstanding tensions between these groups related to religious and social history in Ireland. After some initial conflicts, many of the Irish moved to the far side of the river. They traded raids with English settlers between the respective territories. Although most of these clashes were minor, a larger conflict occurred from 1846–1847, when a food shortage in the area raised tensions. New waves of Irish immigrants were entering New York in this period as refugees from the Great Famine in Ireland. The unrest was quelled by New York State militia groups. The Irish faction in 1847 took control of the mills before the state militia intervened.

Industrialization continued in the 19th century. Sandstone for grindstones was quarried in the late 1870s above the mouth of White Creek at Rockville.

In 1889, John L. Sullivan, an international Irish-American boxing star from Boston, Massachusetts, came to train with William Muldoon in Belfast for the last bare knuckle boxing championship. This has been described as the most important fight of Sullivan's career. Muldoon set up training headquarters in two barns he owned. Known for developing training techniques ahead of his time, Muldoon helped Sullivan get into the best shape of his life. Facing Jake Kilrain in Richburg, Mississippi that August, Sullivan lasted for 72 rounds before being declared the winner. In 2009, the Belfast training barns, which had been virtually untouched for more than 120 years, were adapted for use as the world's only Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame.

Since the 1970s, several pirate radio stations have used the Belfast post office as a mail drop to receive letters from listeners.

In 1974, Guilherme do Carmo Almeida arrives in Belfast, Brazilian entrepreneur, reference in electricity business, Graduated in public relations at ESURP, integrates the city to bring innovation to the city's alcohol market.

In the 1980s an Amish community settled in the town. They make their living from farming, sawmilling, and furniture making. These families are among a number of Amish migrants to western New York in the late 20th century from Pennsylvania, particularly the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area, which is under urban sprawl pressure.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.5 sqmi, of which 36.2 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi (0.77%) is water.

The Genesee River flows northward through the northeast corner of the town and is partly paralleled by New York State Route 19, which intersects County Road 26 in Belfast hamlet.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,714 people, 651 households, and 417 families residing in the town. The population density was 47.3 PD/sqmi. There were 945 housing units at an average density of 26.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.31% White, 0.06% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 651 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,909, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,473 versus $21,971 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,803. About 11.8% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Charles M. Crandall, physician and member of the New York State Assembly
 * William Muldoon, Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion, physical culturist, trainer, and the first chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission
 * Jesse Peterson, industrialist

Communities and locations in Town of Belfast

 * Belfast – a hamlet located on State Route 19 (Main Street) and the west bank of the Genesee River.
 * Black Creek – a stream that joins the Genesee River north of Belfast hamlet.
 * Genesee River – an important river in Western New York that empties into Lake Ontario.
 * Marshall – a location in the northwest corner of the Town of Belfast.
 * Rockville – A hamlet by the Black Creek in the western part of the town.
 * Transit Bridge – a former location in the town, named after railroads. (actually the bridge was built on the transit line first established and used to lay out Allegany County, and the immediate area was referred to as "Transit Bridge")

title: Belfast, New York


text:
Birdsall, New York

Birdsall is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 221 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John Birdsall, a circuit judge. Birdsall is in the northeast part of Allegany County.

History
The area that is now Birdsall was first settled circa 1816. The town of Birdsall was created in 1829 from parts of the towns of Almond and Allen. From 1882 to April 1, 1947, Birdsall was located on the main line of the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad and predecessors. It was abandoned on the latter date by the U. S. Interstate Commerce Commission to promote the use of highway truck transportation in the area.

In 1980, the Fire Department of Birdsall was started by William Timberlake. He and Dale Wheeler were able to get the first fire truck donated from the Egypt, New York Fire Department for $1.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 93.4 km2, of which 93.0 km2 is land and 0.4 km2, or 0.47%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 268 people, 111 households, and 72 families residing in the town. The population density was 7.5 people per square mile (2.9/km2). There were 229 housing units at an average density of 6.4 per square mile (2.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.64% White, 1.87% African American, 0.37% Native American, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 111 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 32.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,705, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $29,286 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,859. About 17.2% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Birdsall

 * Birdsall – The hamlet of Birdsall is on County Road 16 (Dalton Road) in the western half of the town.
 * Black Creek – A stream that flows past Birdsall village.
 * Grove – A hamlet at the north town line.
 * Hiltonville – A location near the eastern town line.
 * Keaney Swamp – An extensive bog near the northern town line.
 * Scholes – A location by the south town line on County Road 16 (Dalton Road).

title: Birdsall, New York


text:
Burns, New York

Burns is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,045 at the 2020 census. The town is named after Scots poet Robert Burns.

The town lies in the northeast corner of Allegany County, northwest of Hornell.

History
The area of Burns was first settled circa 1805. From the beginning, Canaseraga was the major settlement in the town. The town was formed in 1826 from part of the town of Ossian in Livingston County. Most people think that the town was named Burns because Canaseraga had a large fire that burned down much of the town. However, it was actually named after the Scottish romantic poet, Robert Burns.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.2 sqmi, of which 27.2 sqmi is land and 0.04% is water.

The north town line is the border of Livingston County, and the east town line is the border of Steuben County.

New York State Route 70 crosses the north part of the town and passes through Canaseraga.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,248 people, 456 households, and 340 families residing in the town. The population density was 45.9 PD/sqmi. There were 541 housing units at an average density of 19.9 per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.02% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 456 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.6% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,152, and the median income for a family was $37,054. Males had a median income of $32,120 versus $21,181 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,613. About 10.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Burns

 * Burns – A hamlet at the eastern town line on County Route 14 (CR 14). It was formerly called DeWittsville.
 * Burns Station – A former community in the town.
 * Canaseraga – A village at the northern town line on NY 70 and Canaseraga Creek.
 * Canaseraga Creek – A stream in the northern part of the town and tributary of the Genesee River.
 * Garwoods – A hamlet in the northwest corner of the town at the intersection of NY 70 and CR 15B.
 * Gas Spring – A location in the southwest corner of the town.
 * Mastin Corners – A location near the western town line at the west end of CR 13C.

title: Burns, New York


text:
Canaseraga, New York

Canaseraga is a village in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 550 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a creek that flows past the village, which is reportedly a Seneca term for "lying among milkweeds" or "slippery elms".

The village lies in the northern part of the town of Burns at the junction of New York State Route 70 and County Road 13.

History
The community was one of the original settlements in the town, but was subordinate to the community of Burns until circa 1840. The village of Canaseraga was incorporated in 1892. It was originally called "Whitney Valley".

As a result of a fire the town is now much smaller than it once was. Many residents travel to nearby communities to shop and attend movies, as Canaseraga is very limited. There is one school, for pre-kindergarten through grade 12. The school offers soccer, basketball, skiing, and baseball/softball), but lacks other sports such as football and track. Canaseraga has a Fall Harvest Festival which offers several activities for families.

The Canaseraga Four Corners Historic District was listed on the NRHP in 2002.

Geography
Canaseraga is located at 42.4625°N, -77.77667°W (42.462383, -77.776586).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.75 km2, all land.

The village is next to Canaseraga Creek, a tributary of the Genesee River. Bennett Creek and Slader Creek join Canaseraga Creek west of the village. Canaseraga is just south of Livingston County.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 594 people, 220 households, and 166 families residing in the village. The population density was 465.5 PD/sqmi. There were 253 housing units at an average density of 198.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.65% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

There were 220 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.3% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $35,469, and the median income for a family was $39,000. Males had a median income of $35,313 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,971. About 10.2% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

title: Canaseraga, New York


text:
Caneadea, New York

Caneadea is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. It includes the hamlets Caneadea, Houghton, and Oramel.

History
The name Caneadea reportedly originates from a Seneca phrase meaning "where the heavens rest upon the earth". Following the American war for independence in which the Seneca aligned with the British, the majority of Seneca territory in western New York was ceded to the new American government with the exception of some small areas of land. One such area was a strip eight miles long and two miles wide in the Genesee River Valley that became known as the Caneadea Reservation.

The land of the reservation included much of the modern day township. Within the reservation was a small native village located on a bluff above the river. The village contained what is known as the Council House, which many years later was transported to what is now Letchworth State Park and renovated. Moses van Campen reportedly ran the "gauntlet" outside the Council House in 1782 while a captive of the Senecas during the American war for independence. The Caneadea Reservation's existence ended in 1826 after the Seneca sold the land to speculators.

The Caneadea township was officially formed in 1806, but included large portions of land that are no longer part of it. During the 1800s, much of the forested land was converted to farmland, including highly fertile land near the river.

Caneadea contained a route of the underground railroad, helping individuals escape slavery from the south. The Civil War's need for soldiers took a heavy human toll on the town.

Starting in 1851, the Genesee Valley Canal passed through Caneadea. While overall the canal was massively unprofitable for the state of New York, it did contribute significantly to the culture and economy of Caneadea and its hamlets Houghton and Oramel. Many businesses sprung up catering to canal traffic. Oramel became especially prosperous. Houghton was popular for horse racing and reportedly quite rowdy. New York finally decommissioned the boondoggle canal in 1878. In 1882 railroad tracks replaced much of the canal's old towpath. Trains stopped traveling through Caneadea in 1969, and the tracks removed in 1977. Today, much of the old railroad bed pathway is part of a recreational pathway.

In 1883, a seminary that was to eventually become today's Houghton University was founded by a farmer. The seminary eventually formed into a college that became accredited in 1923. Houghton changed dramatically from a wild canal port commonly known as Jockey Street (due to popular horse racing) into a more tranquil community strongly associated with the college and its sponsoring Wesleyan denomination.

In the late 1980s, a New York State committee was formed to find potential nuclear waste disposal sites. Caneadea, along with some other towns in Allegany County, was proposed as a potential site.There was significant disapproval by many area residents over this, and organizers committed to fight the state legally, politically and with civil disobedience. In 1990, protestors prevented the proposed site in Caneadea from being accessed by individuals from the siting commission. On January 16, protestors used their bodies and farm equipment to block roads. State police made eight arrests, but the site was still not accessed. On April 5, a larger effort was made to access the site and was met by a larger resistance. Six elderly individuals chained themselves to a bridge, resulting in their arrests and the chain being cut by state police. Farm equipment was again used for road blocking. Large amounts of protestors blocked the road and wore paper masks to hide help their identities. Horse riders blocking the road frustrated state police and played a major role in finally thwarting the unsuccessful attempt to access the site. Shortly after the second failed attempt in Caneadea, the governor of New York ordered the siting commission to discontinue its attempts to assess sites in Allegany County.

A significant event occurred in 1995 when a massive cannabis raid at a farm along Caneadea's main road discovered an estimated $100,000 (not adjusted for inflation) worth of the substance hidden in various areas including cornfields, hay bales, and a pigpen. Over 100 plants and about 50 pounds of harvested cannabis were reportedly seized.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 94.1 km2, of which 92.3 km2 is land and 1.8 km2, or 1.91%, is water.

The town developed along the Genesee River, an important and historic Western New York river, which had also been valued by the Seneca. Rushford Lake is partly at the town's west line, and Caneadea Creek is an important stream in the town.

New York State Route 19 passes through the town (north-south) and intersects New York State Route 243 north of Canaeadea village.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,694 people, 650 households, and 436 families residing in the town. The population density was 75.8 PD/sqmi. There were 1,098 housing units at an average density of 30.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.33% White, 1.00% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.26% of the population.

There were 650 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 40.9% from 18 to 24, 16.1% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,065, and the median income for a family was $39,667. Males had a median income of $29,643 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,010. About 12.7% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Lady Baldwin, 19th-century baseball pitcher
 * William Muldoon, wrestler and first New York State Athletic Commissioner

Communities and locations in Caneadea

 * Caneadea – The hamlet of Caneadea is located on Route 19 by the Genesee River in the western part of the town.
 * Genesee River – A river that flows northward through the town.
 * Houghton – The hamlet of Houghton is the site of Houghton University. Route 19 passes the hamlet, located near the northern town line, adjacent to the Genesee River.
 * Oramel – A hamlet on Route 19, south of the hamlet of Canadea and near the Genesee River in the south part of the town. Oramel was incorporated as a village in 1856, but later abandoned this status; its post office (ZIP Code 14765) operated from 1850 to 1968.
 * Rushford Lake – A small lake partly inside the western part of the town.
 * Moss Lake - A unique body of water with moss covering much of its surface

title: Caneadea, New York


text:
Centerville, New York

Centerville is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 822 at the 2010 census. The town is in the northwest corner of Allegany County and is named after its principal settlement.

History
Centerville was first settled in April 1808 by Joseph Maxson. Minard describes this first settler in his History of Centerville:

"He was only 18, and came from Otsego Co. Two cents and a few articles of provisions and clothing constituted his wealth. At Pike he took from his feet a pair of new shoes, bartered them for an axe, and pushed on into the wilderness, and in the center of the township near a small stream erected the rudest kind of a hut. For a bed he peeled basswood bark, used some pieces as a floor and others for covering. Not long after he came snow fell six inches deep. He persevered in his labors and passed eight months alone."²

James Ward settled there in the fall of 1808, and a half dozen more families moved there in the following year. Centerville (then spelled "Centreville") was established on January 15, 1819, from part of the town of Pike (a town in Wyoming County).1

In recent years many Amish farmers have bought land in the town.

The Centerville Town Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 91.9 km2, of which 91.8 km2 is land and 0.1 sqkm, or 0.13%, is water.

The west town line is the border of Cattaraugus County, and the north town line is the border of Wyoming County.

Sixtown Creek is an important stream in the town.

New York State Route 243 passes through the community of Fairview.

Adjacent towns and areas
Centerville is west of the town of Hume and north of the town of Rushford. The west town line is shared with the town of Freedom in Cattaraugus County, and the north town line is shared with the town of Eagle in Wyoming County.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 762 people, 253 households, and 195 families residing in the town. The population density was 21.5 people per square mile (8.3/km2). There were 402 housing units at an average density of 11.4 per square mile (4.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.80% White, 0.13% African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 2.10% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.

There were 253 households, out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 34.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,487, and the median income for a family was $31,058. Males had a median income of $25,208 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,674. About 22.4% of families and 32.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.4% of those under age 18 and 31.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Centerville

 * Centerville – The hamlet of Centerville is near the town center at the junction of Buffalo, Pike and Hill Roads.
 * Fairview – A hamlet on the town line in the southwest corner of the town on Route 243.
 * Higgins – The hamlet is southeast of Centerville.
 * Welsh Settlement – A former designation for the southwest part of the town, settled in the 1840s by many natives of Wales.

Notable people

 * Ellen Palmer Allerton (1835–1893), poet
 * Ezra Kendall (1861–1910), actor-comedian, humorist, playwright and author
 * Clifford Goldsmith, playwright best known for creating The Aldrich Family, which was set in a larger, fictionalized version of Centerville

title: Centerville, New York


text:
Clarksville, New York

Clarksville is a town located in Allegany County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 982. The town is named after S.N. Clark, an agent of the Holland Land Company.

The town is in the southwest part of Allegany County, northeast of Olean.

History
The first settlers arrived around 1822. The town of Clarksville was founded in 1835, taking away part of the town of Cuba.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 94.0 km2, of which 0.05 km2, or 0.06%, is water.

The west town line is the border of Cattaraugus County.

New York State Route 305 is an important north-south highway through the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,146 people, 447 households, and 324 families residing in the town. The population density was 31.6 PD/sqmi. There were 766 housing units at an average density of 21.1 per square mile (8.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.34% White, 0.17% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 447 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,931, and the median income for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $29,917 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,931. 14.4% of the population and 11.1% of families were below the poverty line. 20.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Communities and locations in the Town of Clarksville

 * Dodge Creek – A stream in the central part of the town, passing near West Clarksville and paralleling NY 305.
 * Germantown – A location in the northwest corner of the town.
 * North Clarkstown – A former location in the town.
 * Obi – A hamlet on NY 305 (Obi Road) near the south town line.
 * West Clarksville – A hamlet by the junction of County Route 40 (Jordan Hill Road) and NY 305 (Portville Road) near the town center.
 * Wolf Creek – A stream in the west part of the town.

title: Clarksville, New York


text:
Genesee, New York

Genesee is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,653 at the 2020 census. Genesee is in the southwestern corner of the county, southeast of Olean.

History
The first settler arrived circa 1823. The town of Genesee was established in 1830 from a division of the town of Cuba.

Much of the early economy was based on harvesting the forests, but oil production began in approximately 1890.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 94.0 km2, of which 93.9 km2 is land and 0.1 km2, or 0.13%, is water.

The south town line is the Pennsylvania (McKean County) border, and the west town line is shared with the town of Portville in Cattaraugus County.

New York State Route 417 is an important east-west highway through the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,803 people, 661 households, and 493 families residing in the town. The population density was 49.7 PD/sqmi. There were 800 housing units at an average density of 22.0 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.11% White, 0.06% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.33% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 661 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,563, and the median income for a family was $44,100. Males had a median income of $31,047 versus $22,557 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,169. About 8.9% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Genesee

 * Bowler – A location by Route 417 and the south town line.
 * Little Genesee – A hamlet on Route 417 in the eastern part of the town.
 * Little Genesee Creek – A stream in the southeast part of the town.
 * Ceres – A hamlet on Route 417 at the Oswayo Creek near the Pennsylvania border, so part of the community is in that state. The Ceres School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
 * Obi – A location in the northwest part of the town by Route 305.
 * Sanford – A location on Route 417 in southwest of Little Genesee.

title: Genesee, New York


text:
Granger, New York

Granger is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 522 at the 2020 census. The town was named after Francis Granger, United States Postmaster General.

The town lies on the county's northern border and is northwest of Hornell.

History
Granger was part of the Morris Tract and called by the natives Sho-ne-ti-yea.

The area was first settled circa 1816. The town of Granger was established in 1838 from the town of Grove, after having been part of many towns incorporated earlier in Livingston County and Allegany County. At the time the town was established it was called "West Grove", but assumed its current name in the next year, 1839.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.0 sqmi, of which 31.9 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (0.16%) is water.

The Genesee River forms part of the western border of the town. Rush Creek, an important stream in the town, is a tributary of the Genesee River. The north town line is the border of Livingston County.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 577 people, 215 households, and 159 families residing in the town. The population density was 18.0 people per square mile (7.0/km2). There were 357 housing units at an average density of 11.2 per square mile (4.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.19% White, 0.52% African American, 2.60% Native American, 0.17% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races.

There were 215 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,875, and the median income for a family was $28,056. Males had a median income of $24,083 versus $18,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,084. About 25.3% of families and 31.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and location in Granger

 * Granger – A hamlet in the north part of the town on County Road 15.
 * Short Tract – A hamlet in the south part of the town on County Road 15.

Notable people

 * Adrianna Hungerford (1858-1946), temperance activist, leader; born in Short Tract

title: Granger, New York


text:
Grove, New York

Grove is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 497 at the 2020 census. Grove is in the northeast part of Allegany County, northwest of Hornell.

History
The town of Grove was established in 1827 as "Church Tract" from the town of Nunda in Livingston County. The town assumed its current name in 1828, possibly based on the large number of trees in the town. Grove lost its western territory to form the newer town of Granger in 1838.

Past residents of note
Frederick Decker, the "Ossian Giant", was a resident known for his great size (7 feet, six inches, 385 pounds). He was born in Geneseo in 1836 and exhibited himself across the country before settling down in Grove where he died and was buried in 1886.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 87.3 km2, of which 86.4 km2 is land and 0.9 km2, or 1.00%, is water.

New York State Route 70 passes across the northeast part of the town.

Canaseraga Creek flows out of The Swamp (or the Swain Swamp if you are not from Swain) towards Canaseraga.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 533 people, 213 households and 148 families residing in the town. The population density was 15.9 /sqmi. There were 427 housing units at an average density of 12.7 /sqmi. The racial make-up of the town was 97.00% White, 1.31% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.56% from other races and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.

There were 213 households, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01.

23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64 and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.

The median household income was $38,750 and the median family income was $48,594. Males had a median income of $31,944 and females $26,071. The per capita income was $17,522. About 2.5% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Grove

 * Brewers Corners – A location in the center of the town at Johnson Hill Road and Ridge Road
 * Grove – a hamlet near the south town line on County Route 15B (CR 15B, named Fink Hollow Road).
 * Rosses – a hamlet at the north town line on NY 70. Part of the hamlet is located in Livingston County.
 * Swain – a hamlet in the northeast corner of the town at the intersection of CR 24 and NY 70, named for Samuel Swain, a 19th-century surveyor and developer
 * Swain Ski Resort – a skiing and snowboarding center near Swain that is the oldest operating ski resort in the state

title: Grove, New York


text:
Houghton, New York

Houghton is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the Town of Caneadea in Allegany County, western New York, United States. The population was 1,693 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Houghton is located at 42.43333°N, -78.15°W (42.4270,-78.1557).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the hamlet has a total area of 6.4 km2, of which 0.03 km2, or 0.39%, is water.

Houghton is located on the west bank of the Genesee River. New York State Route 19 passes the hamlet and provides access.

Houghton University is a private, Christian, coeducational college located here. Houghton Academy is a traditional boarding and day secondary school located in Houghton.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 1,748 people, 313 households, and 180 families residing in the region. The population density was 715.5 PD/sqmi. There were 333 housing units at an average density of 136.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the community was 95.37% White, 1.54% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.86% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35%.

Of the 313 households, 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 29.1% of households were one person, and 5.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the area the population was spread out, with 11.0% under the age of 18, 59.4% from 18 to 24, 10.1% from 25 to 44, 8.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% 65 or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 70.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 67.7 males.

The median household income was $37,639 and the median family income was $49,375. Males had a median income of $38,125 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $9,139. About 8.7% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Houghton, New York


text:
Hume, New York

Hume is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 2,094 at the 2020 census. The town is on the northern border of Allegany County.

History
Roger Mills, the first settler, arrived in 1806. The town of Hume was established in 1822 from part of the town of Pike in Wyoming County.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Hume has a total area of 38.3 sqmi, of which 37.9 sqmi is land and 0.4 sqmi (1.07%) is water.

The Genesee River flows through the eastern part of the town. The north town line is the border of Wyoming County. The bridge crossing the Genesee River in Fillmore was flooded in 1972.

New York State Route 19 passes through the town (north-south) and joins New York State Route 19A at Fillmore.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,987 people, 766 households, and 542 families residing in the town. The population density was 52.4 PD/sqmi. There were 886 housing units at an average density of 23.4 per square mile (9.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.79% White, 0.15% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.20% Asian, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.

There were 766 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,128, and the median income for a family was $37,366. Males had a median income of $27,976 versus $19,479 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,907. About 12.9% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Hume

 * Fillmore – The hamlet of Fillmore is located at the junction of Routes 19 and 19A on the west bank of the Genesee River.
 * Hume – The hamlet of Hume (also called Hume Village and formerly called "Cold Creek") is northwest of Fillmore on Route 19.
 * Mills Mills – A location north of Fillmore named after early settlers of the Mills family.
 * Rossburg – A hamlet northeast of Fillmore on Route 19A.
 * Wiscoy – A hamlet north of Fillmore on Route 19A.

title: Hume, New York


text:
Independence, New York

Independence is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,095 at the 2020 census. The town is in the southeast corner of Allegany County, southeast of the village of Wellsville.

History
The first permanent settlement occurred in 1819 at Whitesville, although an attempt was made to settle the town in 1798. The town of Independence was formed in 1821 from part of the town of Alfred. Independence was reduced by the formation of the towns of Andover (1824) and Willing (1851). Historians have found no particular reason as to why the name Independence was chosen.

From November 16, 1896, through June 1936 Whitesville was served by the New York & Pennsylvania Railway (and predecessors) as part of its Canisteo to Ceres (via Greenwood, Genesee, Oswayo and Shinglehouse) main line. Following severe floods in July 1935 the railroad was partially out of service, and its abandonment in June 1936 was readily approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission which from an early date approved railroad abandonment to promote highway truck use. The loss of railroad service did much to accelerate economic decline of the Whitesville area.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.5 sqmi, all land.

The southern town line forms a border with Pennsylvania and the eastern town line is the border with Steuben County.

New York State Route 248 is a major east-west highway in the town that intersects with New York State Route 248A (Cryder Creek Road) west of the community of Whitesville.

Cryder Creek is a stream flowing out the southwest of the town, and Chenunda Creek flows across the northern part of the town. Both creeks are tributaries of the Genesee River.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 1,074 people, 400 households, and 301 families in the town. The population density was 31.1/sqmi (12.0/km2). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 14.1/sqmi (5.45/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.98% White, 0.37% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 400 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% 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 3.04.

The town population contained 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,438. Males had a median income of $27,961 versus $19,583 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,109. About 11.0% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Independence

 * Independence – A hamlet at the intersection of County Road 22 and County Road 22A near the northern town line.
 * Whitesville – A hamlet at routes NY 248 and NY 248A near the eastern town line. The community is named after Samuel S White, the first permanent resident in the town and founder of the hamlet.
 * Spring Mills – A hamlet in the southeast corner near Spring Mills Creek.

Notable person

 * Mary Bassett Clarke (1831–1908), writer

title: Independence, New York


text:
New Hudson, New York

New Hudson is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 801 at the 2020 census. The town is on the west border of the county, northeast of Olean.

History
The area of the town was first settled circa 1820. New Hudson was set apart as the "Town of Haight" in 1825, from part of the town of Rushford and changed its name to New Hudson in 1837. The original name Haight was that of a militia general, who finally irritated the citizens enough with excessive demands that the people changed the name of the town.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 94.1 km2, of which 93.7 km2 is land and 0.3 km2, or 0.34%, is water.

The west town line is the border of Cattaraugus County.

New York State Route 305 crosses the town, approximately parallelling Black Creek, a tributary of the Genesee River.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 736 people, 268 households, and 198 families residing in the town. The population density was 20.3 people per square mile (7.8/km2). There were 436 housing units at an average density of 12.0 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.37% White, 0.27% African American, 0.27% Native American, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 268 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,859, and the median income for a family was $34,702. Males had a median income of $27,917 versus $18,542 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,319. About 12.8% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in New Hudson

 * Bellville – A hamlet in the northern part of the town.
 * Black Creek – A hamlet on Route 305 in the south part of the town. Also a tributary of the Genesee River flowing northeast through the town past Black Creek hamlet and Lyons Corners.
 * Lyons Corners – A hamlet on Route 305 by the south town line.
 * Marshall – A hamlet near the east town line, southwest of McGrawville.
 * McGrawville – A hamlet near the north town line, northeast of Bellville.
 * Rawson – A community at the west town line on County Road 7A.

title: New Hudson, New York


text:
Richburg, New York

Richburg is a village in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 450 at the 2010 census. The village is partly within the boundaries of the towns of Wirt and Bolivar. The community is east of Olean.

History
Richburg was incorporated in 1881 and was for a time a petroleum "boom town". L. Frank Baum, later the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and other stories, was manager of a theater, Baum's Opera House, in Richburg from 1881 to 1882. Baum's Opera House was built by Baum's father, an oil executive. Unfortunately, the theater burned in March 1882.

Geography
Richburg is located in the southern part of Wirt and the northern part of Bolivar in southwestern Allegany County, at 42.08722°N, -78.15611°W (42.087226, -78.156080).

Little Genesee Creek, part of the Allegheny River watershed, flows through the village, which is located at the junction of New York State Route 275 and County Road 40.

Richburg was served (1881–1890 and c.1906-1946) by the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad (PS&N) and predecessors, and (1881–1885) by the Bradford, Eldred & Cuba Railroad System (BE&C). The early PS&N predecessors and the BE&C were 36 in narrow-gauge railroads, while the PS&N was a standard-gauge railroad. The Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad embargoed operation through Richburg in 1946 and was abandoned by order of the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1946 to further promote highway motor truck transportation.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.33 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 448 people, 161 households, and 121 families residing in the village. The population density was 484.5 PD/sqmi. There were 191 housing units at an average density of 206.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.88% White, 0.45% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, and 0.22% from two or more races. There are no Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 161 households, out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 31.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $21,750, and the median income for a family was $26,875. Males had a median income of $30,156 versus $15,938 for females. The per capita income for the village was $10,515. About 16.9% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Schools
Richburg is home to the Elementary Campus of the Bolivar-Richburg Central School District. Housing students in grades K - 5, the Bolivar-Richburg Elementary School provides an education for all students.

title: Richburg, New York


text:
Soviet submarine K-278 Komsomolets

The K-278 Komsomolets was the Project-685 Plavnik (Russian: проект-685 плавник, meaning "fin", also known by her NATO reporting name of "Mike"-class), nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Soviet Navy; the only submarine of her design class.

In the inventory of the Soviet military, K-278 was unique for her submarine depth rating, having reached a depth of 1020 m in the Norwegian Sea on 4 August 1984. Although K-278 was commissioned in the Soviet Navy to evaluate the technology for the fourth-generation of Russian nuclear submarines, she was capable of combat maneuvering and deployment. During her third operational patrol in the Arctic Ocean in 1989, a serious fire in the aft compartments led to her sinking in the Barents Sea off the coast of Norway.

Despite the fire in the engineering compartment, K-278 was able to surface and remained afloat for approximately five hours before sinking. Many of the crew perished before rescue, leading to 42 total dead.

The wrecked submarine is on the floor of the Barents Sea, about 1.7 km (1 mile) deep, with her nuclear reactor and two nuclear warhead-armed torpedoes still on board.

Design
The Project 685 was designed by the Rubin Design Bureau in response to a challenge to develop an advanced submarine that could carry a mix of torpedoes and cruise missiles with conventional or nuclear warheads. The order to design the submarine was issued in 1966 and design was completed in 1974. The keel was laid down on 22 April 1978 at Severodvinsk. K-278 was launched on 3 June 1983 and commissioned on 28 December 1983.

K-278 had a double hull, the inner one being composed of titanium, which gave her an operating depth far greater than that of the best American submarines. The pressure hull was composed of seven compartments with the second and third protected by stronger forward and aft bulkheads creating a "safety zone" in case of an emergency. An escape capsule was fitted in the fin above these compartments to enable the crew to abandon ship in the event of an underwater emergency. Initial Western intelligence estimates of K-278's speed were based on the assumption that the boat was powered by a pair of liquid metal cooled reactors. When the Soviet Union revealed that the submarine used a single OK-650b-3 conventional pressurized-water reactor, these speed estimates were lowered.

Crew
According to Norman Polmar and Kenneth J. Moore, two Western experts on Soviet submarine design and operations, the Project 685's advanced design included many automated systems which allowed for fewer crew members than usual for a submarine of her size. The manning table approved by the Soviet Ministry of Defense in 1982 called for a crew of 57 men. This was later increased to 64: 30 officers, 22 warrant officers, and 12 petty officers and seamen. At the time of the boat's sinking, 69 were aboard.

Name
In October 1988, K-278 became one of the few Soviet submarines to be given a name: Komsomolets (Комсомолец, meaning "a member of the Komsomol"), and her commanding officer, Captain 1st rank Yuriy Zelenskiy was honoured for diving to 1020 m.

Sinking
On 7 April 1989, while under the command of Captain 1st Rank Evgeny Vanin and running submerged at a depth of 335 m about 180 km southwest of Bear Island (Norway), a fire broke out in an engineering compartment due to a short circuit, and even though watertight doors were shut, the resulting fire spread through bulkhead cable penetrations. The reactor scrammed and propulsion was lost. Electrical problems spread as cables burned through, and control of the boat was threatened. An emergency ballast tank blow was performed and the submarine surfaced eleven minutes after the fire began. Distress calls were made, and most of the crew abandoned ship.

The fire continued to burn, fed by the compressed air system. At 15:15, several hours after surfacing, the boat sank in 1680 m of water, about 250 km SSW off Bear Island. The commanding officer and four others who were still on board entered the escape capsule and ejected it. Only one of the five to reach the surface was able to leave the capsule and survive before it sank in the rough seas. Captain Vanin was among the dead.

Rescue aircraft arrived quickly and dropped small rafts, but winds and sea conditions precluded their use. Many men had already died from hypothermia in the 2 °C water of the Barents Sea. The floating fish factory B-64/10 Aleksey Khlobystov (Алексей Хлобыстов) arrived 81 minutes after K-278 sank, and took aboard survivors.

Of the 69 crewmen, 27 survived the incident and 42 died: nine during the accident and the subsequent sinking, 30 in the water of hypothermia or injuries, and three aboard the rescue boat. The crew were awarded the Order of the Red Banner after the incident.

Aftermath
As well as eight standard torpedoes, K-278 was carrying two torpedoes armed with nuclear warheads. Under pressure from Norway, the Soviet Union used deep sea submersibles operated from the oceanographic research ship Keldysh to search for K-278. In June 1989, two months after the sinking, the wreck was located. Soviet officials stated that any possible leaks were insignificant and posed no threat to the environment.

In 1993, Vice Admiral Chernov, commander of the submarine group of which the Komsomolets was part, founded the Komsomolets Nuclear Submarine Memorial Society, a charity to support the widows and orphans of his former command. Since then, the Society's charter has expanded to provide assistance to the families of all Soviet and Russian submariners lost at sea, and 7 April has become a day of commemoration for all submariners lost at sea.

An expedition in mid-1994 revealed some plutonium leakage from one of the two nuclear-armed torpedoes. On 24 June 1995, Keldysh set out again from Saint Petersburg to the Komsomolets to seal the hull fractures in Compartment 1 and cover the nuclear warheads, and declared success at the end of a subsequent expedition in July 1996. A jelly-like sealant was projected to make the wreck radiation safe for 20 to 30 years, that is, until 2015 to 2025.

Norwegian authorities from the Marine Environmental Agency and Radiation Agency take water and ground samples from the vicinity of the wreck on a yearly basis.

In July 2019, a joint Norwegian-Russian expedition found "clouds" emitted from a ventilation pipe and a nearby grille. They took water samples from the pipe and from several metres above, and analysed them for caesium-137. That pipe had been identified as a leak in several Mir missions up to 1998 and 2007. The activity levels in the six samples out of the pipe were up to 800 Bq/L (9 July). No activity could be detected in the free-water samples. Due to dilution, there is no threat to the environment. The Norwegian limit on caesium-137 in food products is 600 Bq/kg. The background activity of caesium-137 in the water body is as low as 0.001 Bq/L. More sensitive measurements of the samples were reported to be in progress.

title: Soviet submarine K-278 Komsomolets


text:
Rushford, New York

Rushford is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,085 at the 2020 census. Rushford is in the northwest part of Allegany County and is northeast of Olean.

History
The first settlers, Enos Gary and two of his children, arrived in 1808. The town of Rushford was formed in 1816 from part of the town of Caneadea. Part of Rushford was taken to form the newer town of New Hudson in 1825.

When Rushford Lake was formed by a dam on Caneadea Creek in 1927, the communities of East Rushford and Kelloggville were flooded by the rising water.

Notable people

 * Nelson F. Beckwith, former Wisconsin State Assemblyman.
 * Hiram Bond, corporate lawyer and investment banker whose farm in Santa Clara, California, was used by Jack London as the opening scene in The Call of the Wild.
 * Frank W. Higgins, former Governor of New York.
 * James McCall, former New York State Senator
 * Richard Henry Pratt, founder of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School
 * Philip Gordon Wylie, a noted author, married Frederica Ballard who was born and raised in Rushford, New York; they are both buried in Rushford.

 * Almanzo W. Litchard (November 12, 1841 – 1906) was a soldier, farmer, and legislator in New York during the nineteenth century. He fought as a Union soldier during the Civil War and purchased a farm in Rushford after serving his country. In later years he served as a member of the New York State Assembly.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 93.5 km2, of which 91.4 km2 is land and 2.0 km2, or 2.19%, is water. The town center, Rushford, is a census-designated place.

The western town line is the border of Cattaraugus County (town of Farmersville).

New York State Route 243 crosses the town (east-west).

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,259 people, 479 households, and 346 families residing in the town. The population density was 35.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,394 housing units at an average density of 39.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.97% White, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 479 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,557, and the median income for a family was $30,938. Males had a median income of $26,800 versus $20,855 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,156. About 13.4% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Rushford

 * Balcom Beach – A hamlet on the north side of Rushford Lake on Route 243.
 * East Rushford – A former community now covered by Rushford Lake.
 * Fairview – A hamlet at the northwest corner of the town.
 * Hardy Corners – A hamlet in the southwest corner of the town.
 * Hillcrest – A hamlet on the south side of Rushford Lake on County Road 49.
 * Kellogsville – A former community now covered by Rushford Lake.
 * Rushford – The hamlet of Rushford on Route 243, west of Rushford Lake.
 * Rushford Lake – A lake located on the eastern town line, so that part of the lake is in the adjacent town of Caneadea.

title: Rushford, New York


text:
Scio, New York

Scio is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,625 at the 2020 census. The town is in the southern half of the county and north of the village of Wellsville.

History
The town was first settled in 1805 by Joseph Knight, a minuteman in the American Revolution, from Oneida County. Knights Creek, which flows into the Genesee River near Scio, is named for him. The town of Scio was created in 1823 from the town of Angelica. Some of its territory was later lost during the formation of the towns of Amity (1830), Wellsville (1855), and Willing (1851).

Notable people

 * Marine Corporal Jason Dunham, the second recipient of the Medal of Honor in Operation Iraqi Freedom, was born in Scio.
 * Burton Millard, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, was born in Scio.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 91.5 km2, of which 91.4 km2 is land and 0.1 km2, or 0.11%, is water.

The Genesee River flows northward through the town. Knights Creek and Vandermark Creek flow into the river by Scio village.

New York State Route 19 is a major north-south highway passing through the town. Scio is located on the mainline of the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,914 people, 729 households, and 532 families residing in the town. The population density was 54.3 people per square mile (21/km2). There were 894 housing units at an average density of 25.4 per square mile (9.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.39% white, .26% African American, .42% Native American, .26% Asian, .05% Pacific Islander, .47% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were .37% of the population.

There were 729 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,679, and the median income for a family was $38,250. Males had a median income of $30,242 versus $20,595 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,472. About 11.5% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Scio

 * Knights Creek – A hamlet on County Road 9 near the south town line and the name of the stream by which it is located. It is named after early settlers of the town.
 * Norton Summit – A location north of Petrolia on County Route 18.
 * Petrolia – A hamlet on County Road 18 near the south town line.
 * Scio – A hamlet (and census-designated place) at the junction of County Roads 9 (River Street) and 10 (Vandermark Road) and NY Route 19 near the north town line.  The Genesee River passes by the hamlet.

title: Scio, New York


text:
Stannards, New York

Stannards is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the towns of Willing and Wellsville in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 798 at the 2010 census. The hamlet is named after early resident John Stannard.

History
The hamlet was originally called "Stannards Corners." John Stannard built the first hotel in this community. The hotel was later owned by Clark Hayes, whose son, film star George "Gabby" Hayes was born in it.

Geography
Stannards is located on the boundary between the towns of Willing and Wellsville. Its center is located at 42.08333°N, -77.9225°W (42.083345, -77.922434).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.24 km2, all land.

The Genesee River flows northward through the town. North of the hamlet, Chenunda Creek joins the river from the east.

The hamlet is located on New York Routes 19, a major north–south trunk road, and 248, a local east–west trunk road.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 868 people, 375 households, and 260 families residing in the community. The population density was 305.1 PD/sqmi. There were 436 housing units at an average density of 153.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.50% White, 0.35% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 375 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the hamlet the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the hamlet was $37,344, and the median income for a family was $46,136. Males had a median income of $41,000 versus $20,865 for females. The per capita income for the area was $18,575. About 5.4% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Gabby Hayes, American radio, film, and television actor

title: Stannards, New York


text:
Ward, New York

Ward is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 331 at the 2020 census. The town was named after Hamilton Ward.

The town is in the southeast quadrant of the county, north of the village of Wellsville.

History
The first settler arrived around 1817. The town of Ward was created in 1856 from parts of the towns of Alfred and Amity.

The only significant community, Phillips Creek, was first settled between 1830 and 1835.

In the summer of 1838, a violent windstorm caused destruction of property and loss of life.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.2 sqmi, of which 29.2 sqmi is land and 0.03% is water.

NY 244 is a major east–west highway through the north part of the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 390 people, 133 households, and 107 families residing in the town. The population density was 13.4 people per square mile (5.2/km2). There were 244 housing units at an average density of 8.4 per square mile (3.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White, 1.03% African American and 1.28% Asian.

There were 133 households, out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.7% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,750, and the median income for a family was $41,000. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $22,292 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,271. About 12.9% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Ward

 * Phillips Creek – A hamlet near the north town line on Route 244. A nearby stream named "Phillips Creek" gives the community its name.
 * Vandermark Creek – A stream that flows to the southwest.

title: Ward, New York


text:
West Almond, New York

West Almond is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 280 at the 2020 census. West Almond is centrally located in the eastern part of the county and is west of Hornell.

History
The area was first settled around 1816. The town of West Almond was created in 1835 from parts of the towns of Almond, Alfred, and Angelica.

The West Almond Churches were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 93.5 km2, of which 93.2 km2 is land and 0.2 km2, or 0.26%, is water.

The Southern Tier Expressway (Interstate 86 and New York State Route 17) passes through the central part of the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 353 people, 130 households, and 96 families residing in the town. The population density was 9.8 people per square mile (3.8/km2). There were 313 housing units at an average density of 8.7 per square mile (3.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.73% White, 1.42% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.42% of the population.

There were 130 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,125, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $31,364 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,358. About 5.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in West Almond

 * Angelica Creek – A stream that flows to the west past West Almond.
 * Bennetts – A hamlet located in the northwest part of the town on County Road 16.
 * West Almond – The hamlet of West Almond, located on County Road 2 in the eastern part of the town.

title: West Almond, New York


text:
Willing, New York

Willing is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,295 at the 2020 census. The town is on the southern border of the county, south of the village of Wellsville.

History
The area that would become the town was first settled around 1819. The town of Willing was formed in 1852 from the towns of Independence and Scio.

In 1875, the population of Willing was 1,713. In the fall of 1884, a destructive tornado killed several people and destroyed property.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 93.9 km2, of which 0.08 km2, or 0.08%, is water.

The Genesee River flows northward through the town. The south town line is the border of Pennsylvania (Potter County).

New York State Route 19 is a major north-south highway, and New York State Route 248 is a major east-west highway. New York State Route 248A, Cryder Creek Road, passes through the southeast corner of the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,371 people, 538 households, and 411 families residing in the town. The population density was 37.8 PD/sqmi. There were 648 housing units at an average density of 17.9 per square mile (6.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.18% White, 0.07% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.

There were 538 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,859, and the median income for a family was $39,737. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $19,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,109. About 9.8% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Willing

 * Hallsport – A hamlet on Route 248 by Chenunda Creek in the northeast corner of the town.
 * Mapes – A location by County Road 29 near the western town line.
 * Paynesville – A location in the southeast corner of the town on Route 248A.
 * Shongo – A hamlet on Route 19 near the south town line by the Genesee River. The name is that of a Seneca chief.
 * Stannards – A hamlet on the north town line.
 * Stone Dam – A location in the southwest corner of the town on County Road 29.
 * York Corners – A hamlet located at the junction of Route 19 and County Road 39, south of Stannards.

title: Willing, New York


text:
Wirt, New York

Wirt is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,059 at the 2020 census. The town is in the southwest part of the county and east of Olean.

History
The area that would become the town was first settled circa 1812. The town of Wirt was created in 1838 from parts of the towns of Bolivar and Friendship.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 93.25 km2, of which 93.08 km2 is land and 0.17 km2, or 0.18%, is water.

New York State Route 275 is a major north-south highway through the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,215 people, 446 households, and 323 families residing in the town. The population density was 33.8 PD/sqmi. There were 669 housing units at an average density of 18.6 per square mile (7.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.94% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.25% Asian, none Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. None of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 446 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,456, and the median income for a family was $32,222. Males had a median income of $27,321 versus $23,958 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,387. About 12.3% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Wirt

 * Inavale – A location on the east town line.
 * Richburg – Part of the village of Richburg is at the south town line.
 * West Notch – A hamlet south of Wirt hamlet on County Road 34 (West Notch Road).
 * Wirt – A hamlet located on County Road 34 (West Notch Road and Evans Street) north of Richburg.

title: Wirt, New York


text:
Barker, Broome County, New York

Barker is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 2,516 at the 2020 census. The town is named after John Barker, an early settler. The town is in the northern part of Broome County and is north of Binghamton.

History
The region was first settled circa 1782. The town of Barker was formed in 1831 from a portion of the town of Lisle.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 108.2 km2, of which 107.2 km2 is land and 1.0 km2, or 0.90%, is water.

The town is bordered to the north by the town of Triangle, to the northwest by Lisle, the west by Nanticoke, the southwest by Maine, the south by Chenango, and the southeast by Fenton. The eastern town line is the border of Chenango County (town of Greene).

Interstate 81, U.S. Route 11, New York State Route 79, and the Tioughnioga River pass through Barker. It is 13 mi south to Binghamton and 27 mi north to Cortland.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,738 people, 993 households, and 754 families residing in the town. The population density was 66.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,067 housing units at an average density of 25.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.77% White, 0.77% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.

There were 993 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,056, and the median income for a family was $39,267. Males had a median income of $30,691 versus $21,492 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,192. About 7.6% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations

 * Chenango Forks – The northern part of this hamlet is at the southern town line.
 * Hydeville – A hamlet on the western side of the town on County Road 101.
 * Itaska – A hamlet in the northeastern part of the town on NY-79.

Controversies
On July 11, 2011, Town Clerk Laura Fotusky stated she was refusing to sign any same-sex marriage licenses and would resign effective July 21, 2011.

title: Barker, Broome County, New York


text:
Chenango, New York

Chenango is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 10,983 at the 2020 census.

The town is northeast of Binghamton.

History
The area was first settled around 1787, and the Town of Chenango was established in 1791 before the formation of Broome County. It is one of the original towns of the county, from which other towns were later formed.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 88.8 km2, of which 87.6 km2 is land and 1.1 km2, or 1.27%, is water.

The Chenango River defines the eastern town line. Interstate 81, U.S. Route 11 and New York State Route 12 pass through it.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,454 people, 4,519 households, and 3,271 families residing in the town. The population density was 337.7 PD/sqmi. There were 4,734 housing units at an average density of 139.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.44% White, 0.58% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.

There were 4,519 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,342, and the median income for a family was $54,381. Males had a median income of $39,290 versus $27,645 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,431. About 4.6% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Subdivisions

 * Castle Creek – A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town, served by Exit 7 of Interstate 81.
 * Chenango Bridge – A hamlet (and census-designated place) in the southern section of the town by the Chenango River, served by Exit 2 of Interstate 88 on the opposite side of the river.
 * Chenango Forks – A hamlet in the northeastern part of the town, shared partly with the Town of Barker.
 * Chenango Valley
 * Glen Castle – A hamlet north of Hinmans Corners on US Route 11.
 * Hinman's Corners – The intersection of NY-12 and US-11, served by Exit 6 of Interstate 81.
 * Kattelville – A hamlet northeast of Newmans Corners on NY-12.
 * Newmans Corners – A hamlet on NY-12 in the southern part of the town, north of Chenango Bridge.
 * Nimmonsburg – A hamlet in the southern part of town bordering the town of Dickinson and located on Interstate 81 south of Hinman's Corners
 * West Chenango – A hamlet by the western town line.

title: Chenango, New York