Chester (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Chester is a town in Orange County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 12,140 at the 2000 census. The town is named after another city in Great Britain. Chester contains a village, also called Chester
.
Chester is the home of Philadelphia cream cheese, Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
.
The town of Chester was organized in 1845 from parts of the towns of Blooming Grove
, Goshen
, Monroe
, and Warwick
.
The economy of the early town was based on dairy products.
, the town has a total area of 25.2 square miles (65.4 km²), of which, 25.2 square miles (65.2 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (0.24%) is water.
Conjoined NY-17
and US-6 cross the north part of Chester. NY-94
crosses NY-17 south of Chester village.
of 2000, there were 12,140 people, 3,848 households, and 3,016 families residing in the town. The population density
was 482.2 people per square mile (186.2/km²). There were 3,984 housing units at an average density of 158.3 per square mile (61.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.18% White, 6.62% Black or African American
, 0.34% Native American, 2.66% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races
, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.14% of the population.
There were 3,848 households out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 111.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,280, and the median income for a family was $75,222. Males had a median income of $53,528 versus $36,673 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,900. About 2.7% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, 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 12,140 at the 2000 census. The town is named after another city in Great Britain. Chester contains a village, also called Chester
Chester (village), New York
Chester is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,445 at the 2000 census. It was named after the City of Chester in England...
.
Chester is the home of Philadelphia cream cheese, Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Worcestershire sauce , or Worcester sauce is a fermented liquid condiment; primarily used to flavour meat or fish dishes.First made at 60 Broad Street, Worcester, England, by two dispensing chemists, John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins, the Lea & Perrins brand was commercialised in 1837 and...
.
History
The town was first settled around 1721.The town of Chester was organized in 1845 from parts of the towns of Blooming Grove
Blooming Grove, New York
Blooming Grove is a town in Orange County, New York, USA. The population was 17,351 at the 2000 census.The Town of Blooming Grove is in the central part of the county, located southwest of Newburgh.- History :...
, Goshen
Goshen (town), New York
Goshen is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 12,913 at the 2000 census.The Town of Goshen contains a village also called Goshen, the county seat of Orange County. The town is centrally located in the county....
, Monroe
Monroe (town), New York
Monroe is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 31,407 at the 2000 census. The town is named after President James Monroe....
, and Warwick
Warwick, New York
Warwick is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 30,764 at the 2000 census. The 2007 census population estimate is 32,669.The Town of Warwick is located in the southwest part of the county...
.
The economy of the early town was based on dairy products.
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 25.2 square miles (65.4 km²), of which, 25.2 square miles (65.2 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (0.24%) is water.
Conjoined NY-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...
and US-6 cross the north part of Chester. NY-94
New York State Route 94
New York State Route 94 is a state highway entirely within Orange County in southern New York. The western terminus is at the New York-New Jersey state line, where it continues as NJ 94 for another to Columbia, New Jersey. Its eastern terminus is located at U.S. Route 9W in New Windsor....
crosses NY-17 south of Chester village.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 12,140 people, 3,848 households, and 3,016 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 482.2 people per square mile (186.2/km²). There were 3,984 housing units at an average density of 158.3 per square mile (61.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.18% White, 6.62% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.34% Native American, 2.66% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.93% 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 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.14% of the population.
There were 3,848 households out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 111.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,280, and the median income for a family was $75,222. Males had a median income of $53,528 versus $36,673 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 $25,900. About 2.7% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Chester
- ChesterChester (village), New YorkChester is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,445 at the 2000 census. It was named after the City of Chester in England...
– A village located on NY-94. - East Chester – A hamlet southeast of Chester village.
- Greycourt – Now mostly vacant land, located east of Chester village, it was once a major railroad intersection and depot on the Erie Main Line.
- Glenmere LakeGlenmere LakeGlenmere Lake is a colonial mill pond or reservoir located in Orange County, New York, USA. It is New York State's largest and virtually last habitat of the Northern Cricket Frog , listed as endangered by the...
– A reservoir at the west town line - Goose Pond Mountain State ParkGoose Pond Mountain State ParkGoosepond Mountain State Park, also Goose Pond Mountain State Park, is a state park in Orange County, New York. The park is located within the Town of Chester and is administered by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. A small section is accessible to casual hikers via a boardwalk, and there...
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
southeast of Chester village. - Sugar LoafSugar Loaf, New YorkSugar Loaf is a hamlet in Orange County, New York, United States. It is located in the Town of Chester.-History:Sugar Loaf, New York was founded in the 1740s as a waypoint along King's Highway, providing supplies and horses to travelers....
– The oldest community in the town, predating Chester town by more than a century (1738). The hamlet is home to the famous harness racing horse Hambletonian 10Hambletonian 10Hambletonian 10, or Rysdyk's Hambletonian, was an American trotter and a founding sire of the Standardbred horse breed. The stallion was born in Sugar Loaf, NY on 5 May 1849. Hambletonian has been inducted into the Immortals category of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.-Origin and early years...
. - Surrey Meadows – A 1970s subdivision north of Chester village. The elementary school is located in this area.
- Walton ParkWalton Park, New YorkWalton Park is a census-designated place in Orange County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 2,330.Walton Park is on the town line separating the towns of Chester and Monroe.- Geography :...
– A hamlet on the border of Chester and Monroe towns.