Amity, New York
Encyclopedia
Amity is a town
in Allegany County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,245 at the 2000 census. The name of the town means "friendship."
The Town of Amity is near the middle of Allegany County and is northeast of Olean
, New York
. The county seat
, Belmont, is in Amity.
and Scio
. In 1856, part of Amity was used to found the Town of Ward
.
, the town has a total area of 34.6 square miles (89.6 km²), of which, 34.5 square miles (89.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (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 Belvider. New York State Route 19
and New York State Route 244
intersect at Belmont.
of 2000, there were 2,245 people, 885 households, and 601 families residing in the town. The population density
was 65.0 people per square mile (25.1/km²). There were 1,120 housing units at an average density of 32.4 per square mile (12.5/km²). 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.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,245 at the 2000 census. The name of the town means "friendship."
The Town of Amity is near the middle of Allegany County and is northeast of Olean
Olean, New York
Olean is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. Olean is the largest city in Cattaraugus County, and serves as the financial, business, transportation and entertainment center of the county. It is one of the principal cities of the Southern Tier region of New York.The city is...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
, Belmont, is in Amity.
History
After being first settled around 1804, Amity was formed in 1830 from parts of the Towns of AngelicaAngelica, New York
Angelica, New York may refer to:*Angelica , New York *Angelica , New York...
and Scio
Scio, New York
Scio is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,914 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southern half of the county and north of the Village of Wellsville.- History :...
. In 1856, part of Amity was used to found the Town of Ward
Ward, New York
Ward is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 390 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Hamilton Ward.The Town of Ward is in the southeast quadrant of the county, north of the Village of Wellsville.- History :...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 34.6 square miles (89.6 km²), of which, 34.5 square miles (89.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.
The Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
flows northward through the town. The Southern Tier Expressway (New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
/Interstate 86
Interstate 86 (east)
Interstate 86 is an Interstate Highway that extends for through northwestern Pennsylvania and southern New York in the United States...
) passes through the northwest corner of the town, north of Belvider. New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
and New York State Route 244
New York State Route 244
New York State Route 244 is a state highway in Allegany County, New York, United States. It runs parallel to and south of the Southern Tier Expressway between the village of Belmont and the town of Alfred and it passes through more rugged and scenic countryside than the superhighway...
intersect at Belmont.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,245 people, 885 households, and 601 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 65.0 people per square mile (25.1/km²). There were 1,120 housing units at an average density of 32.4 per square mile (12.5/km²). 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.34% 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.3% 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $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 Amity
- Amity Lake – A small lake by the eastern town line.
- BelmontBelmont, New YorkBelmont is a village within the Town of Amity which is in Allegany County, New York, USA. Belmont is the county seat of Allegany County. The population was 952 at the 2000 census. The name means beautiful hill....
– 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 Route 19. It was originally called "Hobbyville." The Christ Episcopal ChurchChrist Episcopal Church (Belvidere, New York)Christ Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church in Belvidere, Allegany County, New York. The Gothic Revival style frame church was built in 1860 and features Carpenter Gothic elements. It is a one story board and batten clad rectangular structure with a slate gable roof.It was listed on the...
was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974. - Withey – A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town on Route 244.