Panama, New York
Encyclopedia
Panama is a village
in Chautauqua County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 491 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a large rock formation south of the village, called Panama Rocks. This site has become a tourist attraction, and the owners charge admission at the gate.
The Village of Panama is in the northwest part of the Town of Harmony, New York
. The village is at the junction of Route 474
(Main Street) and Route 33.
The Panama Rocks scenic attraction is south of the village. It has Paleozoic
fossils in an outcrop
.
Among many early settlers was George Hawkins, purchased lot 50 in 1825. He was born in 1802, Oneida County, New York. About 1827 he married Rhoda Powers. She was born 1806. Together they cleared land to make a living. George died in 1883 and Rhoda in 1900. Rhoda's father was Simeon Powers, who established a Baptist church in the area. George's parents are unknown. Both are buried in Panama Union cemetery, Panama New York under one headstone.
The U.S. Post Office at Panama was established in 1826. That was the first, officially recorded, use of the name "Panama". The traditional story that Panama got its name from had been across the Isthmus of Panama, and said local rock formations reminded him of Panama's rocks. It is possible that this person was Mr. Moses Cushman Marsh, who operated a trading company in Panama, and was Panama's first postmaster. He had previously had a business in Cuba, and he may have been across the Isthmus of Panama.
, the village has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.91%) is water.
of 2000, there were 491 people, 191 households, and 135 families residing in the village. The population density
was 226.4 people per square mile (87.4/km²). There were 208 housing units at an average density of 95.9 per square mile (37.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.74% White, 1.02% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.41% from other races
, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.
There were 191 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $31,944 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,410. About 9.6% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 491 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a large rock formation south of the village, called Panama Rocks. This site has become a tourist attraction, and the owners charge admission at the gate.
The Village of Panama is in the northwest part of the Town of Harmony, New York
Harmony, New York
Harmony is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 2,339 at the 2000 census.The Town of Harmony is on the south border of the county and southwest of Jamestown, New York.- History :First settlement began around 1809....
. The village is at the junction of Route 474
New York State Route 474
New York State Route 474 is a state highway located entirely in Chautauqua County, in the westernmost corner of New York in the United States...
(Main Street) and Route 33.
The Panama Rocks scenic attraction is south of the village. It has Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
fossils in an outcrop
Outcrop
An outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. -Features:Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial deposits are covered by a mantle of soil and vegetation and cannot be...
.
History
The Village of Panama was incorporated in 1861.Among many early settlers was George Hawkins, purchased lot 50 in 1825. He was born in 1802, Oneida County, New York. About 1827 he married Rhoda Powers. She was born 1806. Together they cleared land to make a living. George died in 1883 and Rhoda in 1900. Rhoda's father was Simeon Powers, who established a Baptist church in the area. George's parents are unknown. Both are buried in Panama Union cemetery, Panama New York under one headstone.
The U.S. Post Office at Panama was established in 1826. That was the first, officially recorded, use of the name "Panama". The traditional story that Panama got its name from had been across the Isthmus of Panama, and said local rock formations reminded him of Panama's rocks. It is possible that this person was Mr. Moses Cushman Marsh, who operated a trading company in Panama, and was Panama's first postmaster. He had previously had a business in Cuba, and he may have been across the Isthmus of Panama.
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 village has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.91%) is water.
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 491 people, 191 households, and 135 families residing in the village. 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 226.4 people per square mile (87.4/km²). There were 208 housing units at an average density of 95.9 per square mile (37.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.74% White, 1.02% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.41% 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 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.
There were 191 households out of which 31.9% 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, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $31,944 versus $20,833 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 village was $16,410. About 9.6% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.