Middlefield, New York
Encyclopedia
Middlefield is a town
in Otsego County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,249 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Middlefield is in the northeast part of the county. It is the largest by area in the county.
During the 18th Century, three patents spanned the town: Godfrey Miller Patent, John Bowers Patent, and the Long Patent. Irish and Scots settlers moved into this area around 1755. The first settlements were made near Middlefield village.
Middlefield was formed from the Town of Cherry Valley
in 1797.
The Phoenix cotton mill was started in 1815, but became a wool mill in 1866.
Brewery Ommegang
, which specializes in Belgian-style ales, opened in the Town of Middlefield in 1997.
, the town has a total area of 65.9 square miles (170.7 km²), of which, 64.4 square miles (166.8 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (2.32%) is water.
New York State Route 166
follows the course of Cherry Valley Creek through the south part of the town. Cherry Valley Creek
and Red Creek, which drain the town, are tributaries of the Susquehanna River
.
The western part of Middlefield borders Otsego Lake.
of 2000, there were 2,249 people, 792 households, and 564 families residing in the town. The population density
was 34.9 people per square mile (13.5/km²). There were 1,058 housing units at an average density of 16.4 per square mile (6.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.31% White, 1.11% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.31% from other races
, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 792 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,625, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $25,795 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,076. About 5.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 6.8% 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 Otsego County
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...
. The population was 2,249 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Middlefield is in the northeast part of the county. It is the largest by area in the county.
History
A location north of Middlefield village, known as "Nis-ka-yu-na," was a meeting location for natives.During the 18th Century, three patents spanned the town: Godfrey Miller Patent, John Bowers Patent, and the Long Patent. Irish and Scots settlers moved into this area around 1755. The first settlements were made near Middlefield village.
Middlefield was formed from the Town of Cherry Valley
Cherry Valley, New York
Cherry Valley, New York is the name of two locations in Otsego County, New York:*Cherry Valley , New York*Cherry Valley , New York...
in 1797.
The Phoenix cotton mill was started in 1815, but became a wool mill in 1866.
Brewery Ommegang
Brewery Ommegang
Brewery Ommegang is a Belgian brewery located near Cooperstown, New York that specializes in Belgian-style ales.-History:Ommegang began brewing Belgian-style ales in 1997...
, which specializes in Belgian-style ales, opened in the Town of Middlefield in 1997.
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 65.9 square miles (170.7 km²), of which, 64.4 square miles (166.8 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (2.32%) is water.
New York State Route 166
New York State Route 166
New York State Route 166 is a north–south state highway in Otsego County, New York, United States. It extends for from NY 28 in the village of Milford to U.S. Route 20 north of the village of Cherry Valley. Much of NY 166's southern portion is near Cooperstown, and various...
follows the course of Cherry Valley Creek through the south part of the town. Cherry Valley Creek
Cherry Valley Creek
Cherry Valley Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River in central New York, USA.Cherry Valley Creek flows southwesterly through the Cherry Valley in Otsego County, through the towns of Cherry Valley, Roseboom, Middlefield, and Milford....
and Red Creek, which drain the town, are tributaries of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
.
The western part of Middlefield borders Otsego Lake.
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 2,249 people, 792 households, and 564 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 34.9 people per square mile (13.5/km²). There were 1,058 housing units at an average density of 16.4 per square mile (6.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.31% White, 1.11% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.31% 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 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 792 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% 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, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,625, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $25,795 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 $21,076. About 5.0% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Middlefield
- Bowerstown – 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...
southeast of Cooperstown on County Route 52. - CooperstownCooperstown, New YorkCooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
– The eastern part of the Village of Cooperstown. - Cooperstown-Westville Airport (K23) – An airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in the south part of Middlefield. - Glimmerglass State ParkGlimmerglass State ParkGlimmerglass State Park is located north of Cooperstown, in Otsego County, New York, USA. Most of the park is located inside the Town of Springfield....
– A small part of the 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...
is at the north town line by County Highway 31. - Hyde Bay – Part of the bay of Otsego Lake is in the northwest part of the town.
- Lentsville – A hamlet in the north part of the town, south of Middlefied Center on County Road 33.
- Middlefield – Formerly known as Clarksville, the hamlet of Middlefield lies on County Road 35 on the east edge of the town. The hamlet was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
- Middlefield Center – A small cluster of houses located on County Route 33.
- Phoenix Mills – A hamlet in the south part of the town.
- Westville – the hamlet of Westville lies on County Route 35 south of the hamlet of Middlefield.
- Whig Corners – A hamlet northeast of Cooperstown on County Route 33.