Greenwood, New York
Encyclopedia
Greenwood is a town
in Steuben County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 849 at the 2000 census.
The first permanent settlers arrived around 1820. Salt production was an early industry.
The main industry today is deer hunting, for which the town claims to be the top deer-take town in New York State.
Greenwood was formed in 1827 from the Towns of Canisteo
and Troupsburg
. Part of Greenwood was used to form the Town of West Union
in 1845, but territory was regained from the Town of Jasper
in 1848.
By the early 20th century, agriculture had established itself as the primary economic activity in the town. Farming has since declined significantly, as in many parts of rural America, and forest cover has largely returned to many areas.
From November 16, 1896, through June 1936 Greenwod was served by the New York & Pennsylvania Railway (and predecessors) as part of its Canisteo NY to Ceres NY (via Greenwood NY, Genesee PA, Oswayo and Shingle House PA) 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 promote the economic withering of the Greenwood area.
, the town has a total area of 41.3 square miles (107 km²), all of it land.
New York State Route 248
(north-south) and New York State Route 417
intersect north of Greenwood village.
Adjacent Towns
The northern border is the Town of Hartsville
and Town of Canisteo
, and the southern border is the Town of West Union
and the Town of Troupsburg
. The west border is the Town of Andover
in Allegany County, and the east border is the Town of Jasper
.
of 2000, there were 849 people, 325 households, and 231 families residing in the town. The population density
was 20.6 people per square mile (7.9/km²). There were 439 housing units at an average density of 10.6 per square mile (4.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.23% White, 0.24% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.35% from other races
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 325 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% 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 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,750, and the median income for a family was $37,841. Males had a median income of $28,250 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,578. About 19.0% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 16.4% 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 Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
, 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 849 at the 2000 census.
History
A pioneer road was cut through the town in the 18th Century, but no settlers remained in the town.The first permanent settlers arrived around 1820. Salt production was an early industry.
The main industry today is deer hunting, for which the town claims to be the top deer-take town in New York State.
Greenwood was formed in 1827 from the Towns of Canisteo
Canisteo, New York
Canisteo may refer to two municipalities in Steuben County, New York in the United States:*Canisteo , New York*Canisteo , New York, located entirely within the town...
and Troupsburg
Troupsburg, New York
Troupsburg is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 1,126 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Robert Troup, an agent of the Pulteney Estate....
. Part of Greenwood was used to form the Town of West Union
West Union, New York
West Union is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 399 at the 2000 census.The Town of West Union is in the southwest corner of the county and south of Hornell, New York.- History :...
in 1845, but territory was regained from the Town of Jasper
Jasper, New York
Jasper is a town located in Steuben County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,270. The name is that of a military hero at Fort Moultrie, William Jasper....
in 1848.
By the early 20th century, agriculture had established itself as the primary economic activity in the town. Farming has since declined significantly, as in many parts of rural America, and forest cover has largely returned to many areas.
From November 16, 1896, through June 1936 Greenwod was served by the New York & Pennsylvania Railway (and predecessors) as part of its Canisteo NY to Ceres NY (via Greenwood NY, Genesee PA, Oswayo and Shingle House PA) 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 promote the economic withering of the Greenwood area.
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 41.3 square miles (107 km²), all of it land.
New York State Route 248
New York State Route 248
New York State Route 248 is a state highway in a remote part of the Southern Tier region of New York in the United States. The route, located close to the Pennsylvania state line, passes through Allegany and Steuben Counties...
(north-south) and New York State Route 417
New York State Route 417
New York State Route 417 is an east–west state highway located in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It begins at exit 20 of the Southern Tier Expressway in the city of Salamanca and ends at a junction with NY 415 in Painted Post, west of the city of Corning...
intersect north of Greenwood village.
Adjacent Towns
The northern border is the Town of Hartsville
Hartsville, New York
----Hartsville is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 585 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a prominent early settler, Reuben Hart....
and Town of Canisteo
Canisteo, New York
Canisteo may refer to two municipalities in Steuben County, New York in the United States:*Canisteo , New York*Canisteo , New York, located entirely within the town...
, and the southern border is the Town of West Union
West Union, New York
West Union is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 399 at the 2000 census.The Town of West Union is in the southwest corner of the county and south of Hornell, New York.- History :...
and the Town of Troupsburg
Troupsburg, New York
Troupsburg is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 1,126 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Robert Troup, an agent of the Pulteney Estate....
. The west border is the Town of Andover
Andover, New York
Andover, New York is a village and a town in Allegany County, New York:*Andover , New York*Andover , New York, incorporated in 1892 in the center of the Town of Andover...
in Allegany County, and the east border is the Town of Jasper
Jasper, New York
Jasper is a town located in Steuben County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,270. The name is that of a military hero at Fort Moultrie, William Jasper....
.
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 849 people, 325 households, and 231 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 20.6 people per square mile (7.9/km²). There were 439 housing units at an average density of 10.6 per square mile (4.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.23% White, 0.24% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.35% 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 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 325 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% 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, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% 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 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,750, and the median income for a family was $37,841. Males had a median income of $28,250 versus $18,750 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 $13,578. About 19.0% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Greenwood
- Bennetts – A hamlet on State Route 248 at the north town line.
- Bennetts Creek – A tributary of the Canisteo RiverCanisteo RiverThe Canisteo River is a tributary of the Tioga River in western New York in the United States. It drains a dissected plateau, a portion of the northern Allegheny Plateau southwest of the Finger Lakes region, in the far northwestern reaches of the watershed of the Susquehanna River.It rises in the...
, flowing northward through the middle of the town. - Greenwood – 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 Greenwood is at the junction of State Routes 417 and 248 in the eastern part of the town. - Rough and Ready – A hamlet south of Greenwood village near the south town line.
- West Greenwood – A hamlet on State Route 417, west of Greenwood village and near the west town line.