Decatur, New York
Encyclopedia
The Town of Decatur is located on the eastern border of Otsego County
, New York
, United States
. As of the 2000 U.S. census, the town
had a population of 410. It is named for naval hero Stephen Decatur
.
Decatur was formed from part of the Town of Worcester
in 1808. Its surface is
hilly, broken by narrow valleys. The principal streams are Oak and
Parker creeks tributary to the Schenevus. The first settlement was made
in 1790 by Jacob Kinney near the present village of Decatur. The first
merchant in the village was Nahum Thompson, who was member of the
assembly in 1844. The first supervisor was David Tripp, and the first
town clerk was Lemuel Fletcher.
The first school was taught by Samuel Turber about the year 1798.
The first grist mill was erected by John Champion, the grandfather of
S.B. Champion, editor of the Stamford Mirror. James Stewart built the
first carding mill.
Jacob Brown and his son Jacob came from Columbia county in 1787. Nathan and Gardner Boorn were early settlers. Amos, a son of Gardner, was supervisor for six years. The brothers Elisha, John and Samuel
Waterman, came from Norwich, Connecticut, soon after the Revolution.
From Elisha was descended the late Lewi Edson Waterman, the inventor of the "Waterman Ideal Fountain Pen." Mr. Waterman was born in Decatur in the year 1837, and died in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1900.
Other pioneer settlers were John Treat, Charles Treat, Charles Kaple,
Orra Ferris, Amos Crippen, Rober Lansing, Chelsea and Lorenzo Dow Davis and Andrew Sloan.
, fountain pen inventor, was born in Decatur in 1837.
----
Jacob BROWN was a pioneer. He came from Columbia county,
in 1797, and located on land now owned by B. R. Brown, a
grandson. Jacob Brown, Jr., came in with his father, and
remained on the old homestead until his death, which occurred
in 1877. Five children are still living, viz., Henry, Barzilla,
Sandford, Lucy M., and Harriet, the wife of L.E. PRESTON;
all, save Henry, are residents of the town.
----
THOMPSON - The first merchant in the present village was
Nahum THOMPSON, a prominent pioneer, and the first tavern-
keeper. He was a member of assembly in 1844. A son, Julius
R. Thompson, is a practicing attorney in the village of Schenevus.
Another son, Nahum B., resides on the old homestead, and a
daughter is the wife of Josiah EARL, and resides in Worcester.
----
SHELLAND - One of the earliest settlers was J. YOUNGS,
who located on lands now owned by Elisha SHELLAND, a
son-in-law. Mr. Shelland, was born in Montgomery county,
in 1811, and has been a resident of the town half a century.
His son, James E. Shelland, was supervisor of the town in 1877.
----
Nathan and Gardner BOORN were early settlers. Isaac, a son
of Nathan, now resides in the town. He was born in this county
in 1802. Amos Boorn, a son of Gardner, was a prominent
citizen, and officiated as supervisor six years, and town clerk
eleven years.
----
One of the oldest native residents of the town is Chelsea DAVIS,
who was born in 1811, only three years after the organization
of Decatur. Mr. Davis now resides on lands originally settled
by David TRIPP, who was the first supervisor of the town, and,
with the exception of one year, represented Decatur in the
board of supervisors for fifteen consecutive years. L. D. Davis
also ranks among the oldest native residents of the county,
having been born in 1816. He is a present justice of the peace.
--
, the town has a total area of 20.8 square miles (53.9 km²), of which, 20.6 square miles (53.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.87%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Schoharie County
.
of 2000, there were 410 people, 158 households, and 117 families residing in the town. The population density
was 19.9 people per square mile (7.7/km²). There were 281 housing units at an average density of 13.6 per square mile (5.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.78% White, 0.24% African American, 0.24% Asian, 0.49% from other races
, and 0.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.
There were 158 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples
living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 19.6% 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 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.0% 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 115.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,896, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $29,219 versus $21,458 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,541. About 2.6% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. The 2010 population was 62,259. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk word meaning "place of the rock."-History:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 U.S. census, the town
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...
had a population of 410. It is named for naval hero Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur, Jr. , was an American naval officer notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Worcester county, the son of a U.S. Naval Officer who served during the American Revolution. Shortly after attending college Decatur...
.
History
Early settlers began arriving in the 1790, settling at the present Decatur village.Decatur was formed from part of the Town of Worcester
Worcester, New York
Worcester is a town in Otsego County, New York, United States. The population was 2,207 at the 2000 census.Worcester is on the southeast border of the county and is northeast of Oneonta....
in 1808. Its surface is
hilly, broken by narrow valleys. The principal streams are Oak and
Parker creeks tributary to the Schenevus. The first settlement was made
in 1790 by Jacob Kinney near the present village of Decatur. The first
merchant in the village was Nahum Thompson, who was member of the
assembly in 1844. The first supervisor was David Tripp, and the first
town clerk was Lemuel Fletcher.
The first school was taught by Samuel Turber about the year 1798.
The first grist mill was erected by John Champion, the grandfather of
S.B. Champion, editor of the Stamford Mirror. James Stewart built the
first carding mill.
Jacob Brown and his son Jacob came from Columbia county in 1787. Nathan and Gardner Boorn were early settlers. Amos, a son of Gardner, was supervisor for six years. The brothers Elisha, John and Samuel
Waterman, came from Norwich, Connecticut, soon after the Revolution.
From Elisha was descended the late Lewi Edson Waterman, the inventor of the "Waterman Ideal Fountain Pen." Mr. Waterman was born in Decatur in the year 1837, and died in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1900.
Other pioneer settlers were John Treat, Charles Treat, Charles Kaple,
Orra Ferris, Amos Crippen, Rober Lansing, Chelsea and Lorenzo Dow Davis and Andrew Sloan.
Notable residents
Lewis Edson WatermanLewis Waterman
Lewis Edson Waterman , born in Decatur, New York, was the inventor of the capillary feed fountain pen and the founder of the Waterman pen company....
, fountain pen inventor, was born in Decatur in 1837.
----
Jacob BROWN was a pioneer. He came from Columbia county,
in 1797, and located on land now owned by B. R. Brown, a
grandson. Jacob Brown, Jr., came in with his father, and
remained on the old homestead until his death, which occurred
in 1877. Five children are still living, viz., Henry, Barzilla,
Sandford, Lucy M., and Harriet, the wife of L.E. PRESTON;
all, save Henry, are residents of the town.
----
THOMPSON - The first merchant in the present village was
Nahum THOMPSON, a prominent pioneer, and the first tavern-
keeper. He was a member of assembly in 1844. A son, Julius
R. Thompson, is a practicing attorney in the village of Schenevus.
Another son, Nahum B., resides on the old homestead, and a
daughter is the wife of Josiah EARL, and resides in Worcester.
----
SHELLAND - One of the earliest settlers was J. YOUNGS,
who located on lands now owned by Elisha SHELLAND, a
son-in-law. Mr. Shelland, was born in Montgomery county,
in 1811, and has been a resident of the town half a century.
His son, James E. Shelland, was supervisor of the town in 1877.
----
Nathan and Gardner BOORN were early settlers. Isaac, a son
of Nathan, now resides in the town. He was born in this county
in 1802. Amos Boorn, a son of Gardner, was a prominent
citizen, and officiated as supervisor six years, and town clerk
eleven years.
----
One of the oldest native residents of the town is Chelsea DAVIS,
who was born in 1811, only three years after the organization
of Decatur. Mr. Davis now resides on lands originally settled
by David TRIPP, who was the first supervisor of the town, and,
with the exception of one year, represented Decatur in the
board of supervisors for fifteen consecutive years. L. D. Davis
also ranks among the oldest native residents of the county,
having been born in 1816. He is a present justice of the peace.
--
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 20.8 square miles (53.9 km²), of which, 20.6 square miles (53.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.87%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Schoharie County
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
.
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 410 people, 158 households, and 117 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 19.9 people per square mile (7.7/km²). There were 281 housing units at an average density of 13.6 per square mile (5.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.78% White, 0.24% African American, 0.24% Asian, 0.49% 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 0.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.
There were 158 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% 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, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 19.6% 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 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.0% 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 115.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,896, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $29,219 versus $21,458 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $16,541. About 2.6% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Decatur
- Bear Swamp Pond – A small pondPondA pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
on the north town line. - Decatur – The hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Decator is located at the junction of County Roads 37 and 39 and Decatur Creek. - Furnaceville – A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town.
- Gothicville – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town on County Road 38.