Portage (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Portage is a town in the southwest corner of Livingston County
, New York
, USA. The town is near the south end of Letchworth State Park
. The name of the town stems from the need to portage (carry) canoes around the falls of the Genesee River
.
Portage was formed from part of the town of Nunda
in 1827.
The "High Bridge at Portage," built in 1853, was once considered an engineering wonder for wood construction. It was destroyed by a fire in 1875. That same year the bridge was rebuilt in iron according to a design by the railroad engineer Octave Chanute
, who later became a pioneer of aviation. The iron bridge still stands today.
and the Genesee River Gorge. The west town line is the border of Wyoming County
, and the south town line is the border of Allegany County
.
New York State Route 436
is an east-west highway across the town, that intersects New York State Route 70
west of the community of Oakland.
and on the north by the town of Mount Morris
. To the south are the towns of Granger
and Grove
in Allegany County. To the west is the town of Genesee Falls
in Wyoming County, on the opposite side of the Genesee River.
Median resident age: 34.6 years, Median household income: $32,500 (year 2000), Median house value: $53,300 (year 2000). Racial breakdown: White Non-Hispanic (96.3%), Two or more races (2.2%), American Indian (1.2%), Hispanic (0.8%).
Ancestries: German (30.8%), English (21.5%), Irish (18.7%), United States (6.8%), Italian (5.7%), Dutch (4.5%).
Livingston County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 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...
, USA. The town is near the south end of Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park is a New York state park located 35 miles southwest of Rochester and 60 miles southeast of Buffalo in Livingston and Wyoming counties. The park is roughly 17 miles long, covering of land along the Genesee River...
. The name of the town stems from the need to portage (carry) canoes around the falls of the Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
.
History
The town was first settled around 1810.Portage was formed from part of the town of Nunda
Nunda (town), New York
Nunda pronounced to the out of towner as "none day", is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 3,017 at the 2000 census...
in 1827.
The "High Bridge at Portage," built in 1853, was once considered an engineering wonder for wood construction. It was destroyed by a fire in 1875. That same year the bridge was rebuilt in iron according to a design by the railroad engineer Octave Chanute
Octave Chanute
Octave Chanute was a French-born American railway engineer and aviation pioneer. He provided the Wright brothers with help and advice, and helped to publicize their flying experiments. At his death he was hailed as the father of aviation and the heavier-than-air flying machine...
, who later became a pioneer of aviation. The iron bridge still stands today.
Geography
The western border of the town is formed by the Genesee RiverGenesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
and the Genesee River Gorge. The west town line is the border of Wyoming County
Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
, and the south town line is the border of Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
.
New York State Route 436
New York State Route 436
New York State Route 436 is an east–west state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 39 in the Pike hamlet of Lamont to a junction with NY 36 in the village of Dansville...
is an east-west highway across the town, that intersects New York State Route 70
New York State Route 70
New York State Route 70 is a short state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It travels through three different counties in just and is the primary road to and from the village of Canaseraga. The northern terminus of the route is at an intersection with...
west of the community of Oakland.
Adjacent towns and areas
Portage is bounded on the east by the town of NundaNunda (town), New York
Nunda pronounced to the out of towner as "none day", is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 3,017 at the 2000 census...
and on the north by the town of Mount Morris
Mount Morris (town), New York
Mount Morris is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 4,567 at the 2000 census. The town and village were named after Robert Morris, the financier of the American Revolution....
. To the south are the towns of Granger
Granger, New York
Granger is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 577 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Francis Granger, Postmaster General....
and Grove
Grove, New York
Grove is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 533 at the 2000 census.The Town of Grove, in the northeast part of Allegany County, is northwest of Hornell, New York.- History :...
in Allegany County. To the west is the town of Genesee Falls
Genesee Falls, New York
Genesee Falls is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 460 at the 2000 census.The Town of Genesee Falls is in the southeastern corner of the county.- History :The Town of Genesee Falls was established in 1846...
in Wyoming County, on the opposite side of the Genesee River.
Demographics
Population (year 2000): 859. Estimated population in July 2005: 849 (-1.2% change), Males: 433 (50.4%), Females: 426 (49.6%).Median resident age: 34.6 years, Median household income: $32,500 (year 2000), Median house value: $53,300 (year 2000). Racial breakdown: White Non-Hispanic (96.3%), Two or more races (2.2%), American Indian (1.2%), Hispanic (0.8%).
Ancestries: German (30.8%), English (21.5%), Irish (18.7%), United States (6.8%), Italian (5.7%), Dutch (4.5%).
Communities and locations in Portage
- Dalton – A hamlet on the east town line.
- Deowesta – A former native town near the portage of the Genesee River.
- Hunt – A hamlet west of Hunt's Hollow on Main Street.
- Hunt's Hollow – A hamlet on NY-70 in the center of the town.
- Keshequa Creek – A stream flowing through the town.
- Oakland – A hamlet in the northern part of the town on Route 436.
- Portage – A hamlet on the western border of the town south of the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls on the Genesee River. The hamlet in located on NY-436 across the river from PortagevillePortageville, New YorkPortageville is a hamlet located in the town of Genesee Falls in Wyoming County, New York, United States. Its name derives from the Native American canoists who would withdraw their craft from the river to avoid going over three waterfalls in the Genesee River gorge...
which is located in Wyoming CountyWyoming County, New YorkWyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
. It was formerly called "Portage Station."