Leon, New York
Encyclopedia
Leon is a town
in Cattaraugus County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,380 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the former Kingdom of León
in Spain
, though it is pronounced like the American first name, "Lee-on
".
The Town of Leon is on the western border of the county, northwest of the City of Salamanca
.
The Town of Leon was founded in 1832 from a part of the Town of Conewango
.
The former Leon United Methodist Church
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, the town has a total area of 36.3 square miles (94 km²), of which, 36.3 square miles (94 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The west town line is the border of Chautauqua County
, New York
.
The Conewango Creek
crosses the northwest part of the town, and Mud Creek flows through the south part of the town.
US Route 62 is a major north-south highway through the western part of the town.
and north of the Town of Conewango
. To the east is the Town of New Albion
. The west boundary is shared by the Town of Cherry Creek
in Chautauqua County.
of 2000, there were 1,380 people, 378 households, and 289 families residing in the town. The population density
was 38.1 people per square mile (14.7/km²). There were 464 housing units at an average density of 12.8 per square mile (4.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.13% White, 0.07% Native American, 0.14% Asian, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.29% of the population.
There were 378 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.64 and the average family size was 4.30.
In the town the population was spread out with 42.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,333, and the median income for a family was $32,946. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $22,266 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $10,189. About 26.1% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.2% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
An estimated 76% of the population of Leon are members of the Old Order Amish
.
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 Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-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...
. The population was 1,380 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the former Kingdom of León
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, though it is pronounced like the American first name, "Lee-on
Leon (given name)
Leon is a name of Greek origin, derived from the first known Leon, the King of Sparta, Leonidas I . In Greek, Latin, French, and Spanish Leon means "lion". Derived from the Greek λεων meaning "lion", this name was borne by a 5th-century BCE king of Sparta...
".
The Town of Leon is on the western border of the county, northwest of the City of Salamanca
Salamanca (city), New York
Salamanca is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States, located inside the Allegany Indian Reservation. The population was 6,097 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
History
The town was first settled around 1819.The Town of Leon was founded in 1832 from a part of the Town of Conewango
Conewango, New York
Conewango is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,732 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a creek which flows through the town....
.
The former Leon United Methodist Church
Leon United Methodist Church
Leon United Methodist Church, now known as the Leon Historical Society Museum, is a historic United Methodist church building located at Leon in Cattaraugus County, New York. It was constructed in 1836 and is in the Gothic Revival style...
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
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 36.3 square miles (94 km²), of which, 36.3 square miles (94 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The west town line is the border of Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
, 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 Conewango Creek
Conewango Creek
Conewango Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania and western New York in the United States.The creek's drainage covers much of southeastern Chautauqua County, New York and southwestern Cattaraugus County, New York. The creek's most notable tributary is the Chadakoin River,...
crosses the northwest part of the town, and Mud Creek flows through the south part of the town.
US Route 62 is a major north-south highway through the western part of the town.
Adjacent towns and areas
Leon is south of the Town of DaytonDayton, New York
Dayton is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,945 at the 2000 census.The Town of Dayton is on the western border of Cattaraugus County.- History :...
and north of the Town of Conewango
Conewango, New York
Conewango is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,732 at the 2000 census. The town is named after a creek which flows through the town....
. To the east is the Town of New Albion
New Albion, New York
New Albion is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,068 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Albion in Orleans County, New York, the source of some early settlers....
. The west boundary is shared by the Town of Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek (town), New York
Cherry Creek is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 1,152 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from that of a small stream that flows through the town amid many cherry trees....
in Chautauqua County.
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 1,380 people, 378 households, and 289 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 38.1 people per square mile (14.7/km²). There were 464 housing units at an average density of 12.8 per square mile (4.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.13% White, 0.07% Native American, 0.14% Asian, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.29% of the population.
There were 378 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.64 and the average family size was 4.30.
In the town the population was spread out with 42.3% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 16.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,333, and the median income for a family was $32,946. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $22,266 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 $10,189. About 26.1% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.2% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
An estimated 76% of the population of Leon are members of the Old Order Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
.
Communities and locations in Leon
- Conewango CreekConewango CreekConewango Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania and western New York in the United States.The creek's drainage covers much of southeastern Chautauqua County, New York and southwestern Cattaraugus County, New York. The creek's most notable tributary is the Chadakoin River,...
– A stream flowing through the northern part of the town. - East Leon – 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 northeast corner of the town on County Road 5. - Kendall Corners – A location by the eastern town line on County Road 5.
- Leon (or "Leon Center") – The hamlet of Leon, centrally located in the town on County Road 6 and US Route 62.
- Millmans Corners – A location west of Leon village by the east town line on Route 6.
- Meyers Corners – A location at the north town line on Route 62.
- Mud Creek – A stream flowing westward past Leon is a tributary of Conewango Creek. The first settlement was made along Mud Creek.
- Rays Corners – A hamlet near the east town line on County Road 44.
- Thompsonville – A former community in the southeast part of the town.