Martinsburg, New York
Encyclopedia
Martinsburg is a town
in Lewis County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,249 at the 2000 census. The town is named after founding father, Walter Martin.
The Town of Martinsburg is in the west-central part of the county, south of Lowville
, the county seat.
Martinsburg was established from part of the Town of Turin
in 1803. When it was formed the town name was spelled "Martinsburgh." In 1819, the town was augmented by more of Turin.
The community of Martinsburg in the town was the county seat for Lewis County until 1864, when it moved to Lowville
. The town hall in Martinsburg, built in 1812, is the site of the first county court session, held the same year. In 1839, it was the site of the only execution in the county.
, the town has a total area of 76.1 square miles (197.1 km²), of which, 75.8 square miles (196.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (0.39%) is water.
The east town line is the Black River
. The western part of Martinsburg is on the Tug Hill Plateau
.
New York State Route 12
and New York State Route 26
are north-south highways through the town with NY-12 being the more easterly route.
of 2000, there were 1,249 people, 473 households, and 347 families residing in the town. The population density
was 16.5 people per square mile (6.4/km²). There were 627 housing units at an average density of 8.3 per square mile (3.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.00% White, 0.48% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.24% from other races
, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 473 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,902, and the median income for a family was $35,978. Males had a median income of $26,705 versus $20,682 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,894. About 7.9% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 9.6% 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 Lewis County
Lewis County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,944 people, 10,040 households, and 7,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 15,134 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, 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 1,249 at the 2000 census. The town is named after founding father, Walter Martin.
The Town of Martinsburg is in the west-central part of the county, south of Lowville
Lowville (village), New York
Lowville is a village in Lewis County, New York, United States. The Village is nestled in the Black River Valley, between the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and the Tug Hill Plateau, and is located in the eastern part of the Town of Lowville....
, the county seat.
History
Settlers began arriving around 1801.Martinsburg was established from part of the Town of Turin
Turin (town), New York
Turin is a town in Lewis County, New York, United States. The population was 793 at the 2000 census. Turin has a village, also named Turin. The town is south of Lowville, the county seat, and north of Rome, New York.- History :...
in 1803. When it was formed the town name was spelled "Martinsburgh." In 1819, the town was augmented by more of Turin.
The community of Martinsburg in the town was the county seat for Lewis County until 1864, when it moved to Lowville
Lowville (village), New York
Lowville is a village in Lewis County, New York, United States. The Village is nestled in the Black River Valley, between the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and the Tug Hill Plateau, and is located in the eastern part of the Town of Lowville....
. The town hall in Martinsburg, built in 1812, is the site of the first county court session, held the same year. In 1839, it was the site of the only execution in the county.
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 76.1 square miles (197.1 km²), of which, 75.8 square miles (196.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (0.39%) is water.
The east town line is the Black River
Black River (New York)
The Black River is a blackwater river that empties into the eastern end of Lake Ontario on the shore of Jefferson County, New York in the United States of America...
. The western part of Martinsburg is on the Tug Hill Plateau
Tug Hill Plateau
The Tug Hill Plateau is an upland region in upstate New York in the USA, famous for heavy winter snow. The Tug Hill Region is west of the Adirondack Mountains and is separated from the Adirondacks by the Black River Valley. Although the region is and has traditionally been known as the Tug Hill...
.
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
and New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26 is a north–south state highway that runs for through Central New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is located at the Pennsylvania state line south of the town of Vestal in Broome County, where it becomes Pennsylvania Route 267...
are north-south highways through the town with NY-12 being the more easterly route.
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 1,249 people, 473 households, and 347 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 16.5 people per square mile (6.4/km²). There were 627 housing units at an average density of 8.3 per square mile (3.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.00% White, 0.48% African American, 0.48% Native American, 0.24% 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 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 473 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,902, and the median income for a family was $35,978. Males had a median income of $26,705 versus $20,682 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 $13,894. About 7.9% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Martinsburg
- East Martinsburg – 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...
east of Martinsburg village and located on NY-12. - Glendale – A hamlet south of East Marinsburg.
- Glenfield – A hamlet east of Glendale on the shore of the Black River.
- Graves Corners – A location east of Wetmore.
- Martinsburg – The hamlet of Martinsburg is on NY-26 south of Lowville. It was the first county seat of Lewis County.
- McGraw Corners – A location east of Wetmore.
- Tabolt Corners – A location by the south town line.
- West Martinsburg – A hamlet southwest of Lowville, near the north town line. The Methodist Episcopal Church of West MartinsburgMethodist Episcopal Church of West MartinsburgMethodist Episcopal Church of West Martinsburg, also known as West Martinsburg Methodist Church, is a historic Methodist Episcopal church located at West Martinsburg in Lewis County, New York. It dates to about 1840 and is of frame construction with clapboard siding. It is rectangular in plan with...
was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983. - Wetmore – A hamlet in the south-central part of the town.
- Whetstone Gulf State ParkWhetstone Gulf State ParkWhetstone Gulf State Park is a state park located in Lewis County, New York in the USA. The park is on the border of the towns of Turin and Martinsburg...
– 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...
at the south town line. - Whittaker Falls Park – A park east of Martinsburg village.