Alabama, New York
Encyclopedia
Alabama is a town in Genesee County
, New York, United States
. The town is in the northwest part of the county. New York State Route 63
and New York State Route 77
intersect in the town. The population was 1,881 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the State of Alabama
.
The town was first settled around 1806 in West Alabama. The Town of Alabama was established in 1826 from a part of the Town of Pembroke
and the Town of Shelby
(Orleans County). The town was originally called the "Town of Gerrysville" after Vice-President Elbridge Gerry
. In 1828 the town assumed its current name.
Some of the water from local sour springs, eight in total, was once bottled for medicinal use.
A thirty-seven room hotel was erected on the property and named "Spring House". The building burned in 1914. The land is now part of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
, the town has a total area of 42.8 square miles (110.9 km²), of which, 42.5 square miles (110.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.49%) is water.
The Tonawanda Creek
flows through south part of the town, and Oak Orchard Creek
flows through the north part.
The north town line is the border of Orleans County
and the west town line is the border of Erie County
and Niagara County
.
of 2000, there were 1,881 people, 663 households, and 483 families residing in the town. The population density
was 44.2 people per square mile (17.1/km²). There were 700 housing units at an average density of 16.5 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.16% White, 0.85% African American, 2.23% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 663 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% were married couples
living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,223, and the median income for a family was $45,947. Males had a median income of $32,454 versus $23,456 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,811. About 4.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Genesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
, New York, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town is in the northwest part of the county. New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
and New York State Route 77
New York State Route 77
New York State Route 77 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway runs for across mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 78 and NY 98 in the Wyoming County town of Java to a junction with NY 31 near the city of...
intersect in the town. The population was 1,881 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the State of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
History
French fur trader William Poudrit set up a trading post in what is now the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. A form of his name, "Poodry," is current among the Native Americans.The town was first settled around 1806 in West Alabama. The Town of Alabama was established in 1826 from a part of the Town of Pembroke
Pembroke, New York
Pembroke is a town in Genesee County, Western New York, United States. The population was 4,530 at the 2000 census. The town is named for a town in west Wales.The town of Pembroke lies on the west border of Genesee County, west of Batavia, NY.- History :...
and the Town of Shelby
Shelby, New York
Shelby, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 5,420 at the 2000 census.The Town of Shelby is located in southwest corner of Orleans County.- History :...
(Orleans County). The town was originally called the "Town of Gerrysville" after Vice-President Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Thomas Gerry was an American statesman and diplomat. As a Democratic-Republican he was selected as the fifth Vice President of the United States , serving under James Madison, until his death a year and a half into his term...
. In 1828 the town assumed its current name.
Some of the water from local sour springs, eight in total, was once bottled for medicinal use.
A thirty-seven room hotel was erected on the property and named "Spring House". The building burned in 1914. The land is now part of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.
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 42.8 square miles (110.9 km²), of which, 42.5 square miles (110.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.49%) is water.
The Tonawanda Creek
Tonawanda Creek
Tonawanda Creek is a small river in Western New York, in the United States. William Bright says the best that can be said of the name is that it is "probably from an Iroquoian source, but of unclear derivation".-Description:...
flows through south part of the town, and Oak Orchard Creek
Oak Orchard River
Oak Orchard Creek is a tributary of Lake Ontario in Orleans County, New York in the United States.Oak Orchard Creek rises south of Oak Orchard Creek Marsh at the border of Orleans and Genesee Counties...
flows through the north part.
The north town line is the border of Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
and the west town line is the border of Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
and Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
.
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 1,881 people, 663 households, and 483 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 44.2 people per square mile (17.1/km²). There were 700 housing units at an average density of 16.5 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.16% White, 0.85% African American, 2.23% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 663 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% 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, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,223, and the median income for a family was $45,947. Males had a median income of $32,454 versus $23,456 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 $14,811. About 4.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Alabama
- Alabama (or Alabama Center) – The hamlet of Alabama is centered on the crossroad of Routes 63New York State Route 63New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
and 77New York State Route 77New York State Route 77 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway runs for across mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 78 and NY 98 in the Wyoming County town of Java to a junction with NY 31 near the city of...
, where there is a restaurant on one corner and a small market on another. - Basom – This hamlet is on NY-77 where Bloomingdale Road runs off to the west. This community had a railroad station at one time. It was named after an Alabama town supervisor.
- Indian Falls (formerly "Tonawanda Falls") – A hamlet at the south town line on NY-77. Tonawanda CreekTonawanda CreekTonawanda Creek is a small river in Western New York, in the United States. William Bright says the best that can be said of the name is that it is "probably from an Iroquoian source, but of unclear derivation".-Description:...
flows through the community and has a spectacular waterfall. Above the falls are rapids which were a source of water power in the early days of the community. - Iroquois National Wildlife RefugeIroquois National Wildlife RefugeThe Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Genesee and Orleans Counties in the western part of New York. The refuge is between the cities of Buffalo and Rochester....
– A federal refuge is partly in the northern part of the town. - Meadeville – A hamlet inside the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, located on Meadeville Road, south of NY-77.
- Oak Orchard Wildlife Management AreaOak Orchard Wildlife Management AreaThe Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area is a conservation area located in western New York, USA. Most of this wildlife area is in the northwest part of Genesee County, but a small northern portion is in Orleans County....
- A conservation area partially in the northern part of the town. - South Alabama – A hamlet on NY-63, near the OakfieldOakfield (town), New YorkOakfield is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 3,203 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from the number of trees, including the oak.The Town of Oakfield is on the northern border of Genesee County...
border and south of Wheatville. The community was formerly called "Smithville." - Tonawanda ReservationTonawanda ReservationThe Tonawanda Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation of the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians located in western New York, USA. The band is a federally recognized tribe and, in the 2000 census, had 543 people living on the reservation...
of the Seneca tribe - A part of the reservation is inside the west border of the town. Bloomingdale Road passes through the reservation, connecting Basom and AkronAkron, New YorkAkron, New York is a village in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was listed as 3,085 in the 2000 census. The name means a high place. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. - Tonawanda Wildlife Management AreaTonawanda Wildlife Management AreaThe Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area is a conservation area located in western New York, USA. Most of the area is in Niagara County and Genesee County, but a small portion is inside Orleans County....
– A New York state conservation area, partially in the northern part of the town. - West Alabama – A former hamlet, now a location in the northwest corner of the town on NY-77.
- Wheatville – A hamlet east of Alabama hamlet by the intersection of Knowlesville and Lockport Roads.
- Wheatville Station – A location south of South Alabama.
- White Memorial Game Farm – A former game farm located south of Alabama hamlet on NY-77. Used primarily for raising pheasants, it has been given over to other recreational use.