Westford, New York
Encyclopedia
Westford is a town
in Otsego County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 784 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Westford is southeast of Cooperstown
.
The town was established from part of the Town of Worcester
in 1808.
, the town has a total area of 33.8 square miles (87.5 km²), of which, 33.8 square miles (87.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
Elk Creek drains the town, flowing southward. Cherry Creek in Cherry Creek Valley, flows through the southwest part of Westford.
of 2000, there were 784 people, 306 households, and 215 families residing in the town. The population density
was 23.2 people per square mile (9.0/km²). There were 446 housing units at an average density of 13.2 per square mile (5.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.26% African American, 0.13% Asian, 0.38% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.
There were 306 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,318, and the median income for a family was $38,611. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $22,237 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,351. About 6.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 13.2% 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 784 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Westford is southeast of Cooperstown
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown 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...
.
History
The town was first settled around 1790 by pioneers from Vermont. However, it is claimed that the first settler in Westford was Robert Roseboom from New Jersey, who settled in what is now known at Maple Valley. During the 1790s Westford received an influx of land-hungry settlers from New England who subsequently established the first churches and schools in Westford.The town was established from part of the Town of Worcester
Worcester, New York
Worcester is a town in Otsego County, New York, United States. The population was 2,207 at the 2000 census.Worcester is on the southeast border of the county and is northeast of Oneonta....
in 1808.
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 33.8 square miles (87.5 km²), of which, 33.8 square miles (87.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
Elk Creek drains the town, flowing southward. Cherry Creek in Cherry Creek Valley, flows through the southwest part of Westford.
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 784 people, 306 households, and 215 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 23.2 people per square mile (9.0/km²). There were 446 housing units at an average density of 13.2 per square mile (5.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.26% African American, 0.13% Asian, 0.38% Pacific Islander, 0.13% 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 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.
There were 306 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,318, and the median income for a family was $38,611. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $22,237 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 $16,351. About 6.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Westford
- Bentley Hollow – A former location in Westford.
- Betty and Wilbur Davis State ParkBetty and Wilbur Davis State ParkBetty and Wilbur Davis State Park is a state park located on Otsego County, New York, USA. The park is southeast of Cooperstown and is in the northwest corner of the Town of Westford.The park is named for the New York couple who donated the land...
– The state park is in the northwest part of the town. - Elk Creek – An important stream flowing out the south of the town.
- Hooker Mountain Wildlife Management AreaNew York State Wildlife Management AreasNew York State owns and maintains more than 85 Wildlife Management Areas , with a total area of more than .The Wildlife Management Areas Program is administered by the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources of the Department of Environmental Conservation...
– A conservation area in the southwest part of town. - Hubbard Settlement – A former location in Westford.
- Maple Valley – A hamlet in the north part of Westford on County Road 34.
- Westford – The 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...
of Westford is near the center of the town. - Westville – A hamlet at the junction of County Roads 35 and 42 by the west town line.