Elmira (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Elmira is a town
in Chemung County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 7,199 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Elmira is in the south-central part of the county, surrounding the City of Elmira
on three sides. The town is in the Southern Tier
of New York. It is part of the Elmira
, New York
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
of 1779 passed through the area and fought the British at the Battle of Newtown
in the south part of the current town.
The Town of Elmira was formed from the Town of Chemung
in 1794 as the Town of Newtown. In 1808, the town changed its name to Elmira.
In 1798, the Town of Catharine
was formed from Elmira (It is now in Schuyler County
). Other towns formed from the Town of Elmira are: Big Flats
(1822), Southport
(1822), and Catlin
(1823).
The community of Elmira set itself off from the town in 1828, becoming the Village of Elmira. The village, absorbing more of the town over the years, became the City of Elmira in 1864.
, the town has a total area of 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²), of which, 22.3 square miles (57.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.24%) is water.
The Chemung River
forms part of the south town line, and Newtown Creek
partly divides the town from the City of Elmira.
The Southern Tier Expressway (NY Route 17
) passes through the town in a north-south direction. New York State Route 352
passes through the south part of the town and into the City of Elmira.
of 2000, there were 7,199 people, 3,019 households, and 2,049 families residing in the town. The population density
was 323.0 people per square mile (124.7/km²). There were 3,183 housing units at an average density of 142.8 per square mile (55.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.31% White, 1.49% Black or African American
, 0.11% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.15% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.
There were 3,019 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,641, and the median income for a family was $56,772. Males had a median income of $37,676 versus $29,473 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $26,335. About 3.1% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 0.7% 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 Chemung County
Chemung County, New York
Chemung County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Chemung County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 88,830. Its name is derived from the name of a Delaware Indian village . Its...
, 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 7,199 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Elmira is in the south-central part of the county, surrounding the City of Elmira
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
on three sides. The town is in the Southern Tier
Southern Tier
The Southern Tier is a geographical term that refers to the counties of New York State west of the Catskill Mountains along the northern border of Pennsylvania. It is a loosely defined term that generally includes the counties that border Pennsylvania west of Delaware County inclusive...
of New York. It is part of the Elmira
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, 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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The Sullivan ExpeditionSullivan Expedition
The Sullivan Expedition, also known as the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, was an American campaign led by Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier General James Clinton against Loyalists and the four nations of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War.The...
of 1779 passed through the area and fought the British at the Battle of Newtown
Battle of Newtown
The Battle of Newtown , also known as the Battle of Chemung, was the only major battle of the Sullivan Expedition, an armed offensive led by General John Sullivan that was ordered by the Continental Congress to end the threat of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American...
in the south part of the current town.
The Town of Elmira was formed from the Town of Chemung
Chemung, New York
Chemung is a town in Chemung County, New York, USA. The population was 2,665 at the 2000 census. The town name is derived from the river flowing through it, which means in the native dialect, "Big Horn."...
in 1794 as the Town of Newtown. In 1808, the town changed its name to Elmira.
In 1798, the Town of Catharine
Catharine, New York
Catharine is a town in Schuyler County, New York. The population was 1,930 at the 2000 census. The town is one of two in the county named after Catherine Montour, despite the variation in spelling of the name...
was formed from Elmira (It is now in Schuyler County
Schuyler County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,224 people, 7,374 households, and 5,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile . There were 9,181 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
). Other towns formed from the Town of Elmira are: Big Flats
Big Flats (town), New York
Big Flats is a town in Chemung County, New York, USA, New York. The population was 7,224 at the 2000 census.The Town of Big Flats is on the west border of the county, west of Elmira, New York...
(1822), Southport
Southport, New York
Southport is a town in Chemung County, New York, United States. The population was 11,185 at the 2000 census.The Town of Southport is located in the southwest corner of Chemung County and is southwest of the City of Elmira...
(1822), and Catlin
Catlin, New York
Catlin is a town in Chemung County, New York, United States. The population was 2,649 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Phineas Catlin, a surveyor and public official....
(1823).
The community of Elmira set itself off from the town in 1828, becoming the Village of Elmira. The village, absorbing more of the town over the years, became the City of Elmira in 1864.
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 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²), of which, 22.3 square miles (57.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.24%) is water.
The Chemung River
Chemung River
The Chemung River is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, approximately long, in south central New York and northern Pennsylvania in the United States. It drains a mountainous region of the northern Allegheny Plateau in the Southern Tier of New York...
forms part of the south town line, and Newtown Creek
Newtown Creek
Newtown Creek is a estuary that forms part of the border between the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, in New York City, New York, United States. It derives its name from New Town , which was the name for the Dutch and British settlement in what is now Elmhurst, Queens...
partly divides the town from the City of Elmira.
The Southern Tier Expressway (NY 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...
) passes through the town in a north-south direction. New York State Route 352
New York State Route 352
New York State Route 352 is a state highway in the Southern Tier of New York, United States. It generally parallels the Southern Tier Expressway from the village of Riverside east through the city of Corning to the city of Elmira...
passes through the south part of the town and into the City of Elmira.
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 7,199 people, 3,019 households, and 2,049 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 323.0 people per square mile (124.7/km²). There were 3,183 housing units at an average density of 142.8 per square mile (55.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.31% White, 1.49% 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...
, 0.11% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.15% 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 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.
There were 3,019 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,641, and the median income for a family was $56,772. Males had a median income of $37,676 versus $29,473 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 $26,335. About 3.1% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 0.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Elmira
- East Elmira – A 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...
in the southeast corner of the town at the junction of County Roads 1 and 2. - ElmiraElmira, New YorkElmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
– The City of Elmira, occupying the southwest part of the town. - Elmira HeightsElmira Heights, New YorkElmira Heights is a village in Chemung County, New York, United States. The population was 4,170 at the 2000 census.The Village of Elmira Heights is primarily within the Town of Elmira, but part of the village is in the Town of Horseheads. The village is a northern suburb of the City of Elmira...
The south part of the Village of Elmira Heights. - Newtown Battlefield Park – An historical park in the southeast part of the town.
- West ElmiraWest Elmira, New YorkWest Elmira is a suburban census-designated place in Chemung County, New York, United States. The population was 5,136 at the 2000 census. The name arises from its location....
– A hamlet southwest of the City of Elmira on NY-352, next to the Chemung River.
External links
- Town of Elmira official external website
- Tri-Counties Genealogy & History: Town & City of Elmira, Chemung County NY
- Chemung County History - Elmira, New York