Benton, New York
Encyclopedia
Benton is a town
in Yates County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,640 at the 2000 census. The town is named after an early resident.
The Town of Benton is located in the northeast part of the county. Benton is on the west side of Seneca Lake, north of Penn Yan
, New York
.
The region became part of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase
.
The town was formed in 1803 from the Town of Jerusalem
before the formation of Yates County. Originally called the "Town of Vernon," the name was changed to "Snell" to avoid confusion with another "Vernon." Finally, the name was changed to "Benton," after Levi Benton, thought to be the first settler in the town.
In 1818, the town was reduced in size by the founding of the Town of Milo
. A further loss of territory came about in 1851 when the Town of Torrey
was created.
, the town has a total area of 44.4 square miles (115 km²), of which, 41.5 square miles (107.5 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it (6.66%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Ontario County
, and part of the east town line, marked by Seneca Lake, is the border of Seneca County
.
Benton is in the Finger Lakes
region of New York.
New York State Route 14
is a north-south highway along the edge of Seneca Lake, while New York State Route 14A
is a north-south highway in the western part of the town. New York State Route 364
crosses the southwest corner of Benton.
of 2000, there were 2,640 people, 864 households, and 642 families residing in the town. The population density
was 63.6 people per square mile (24.6/km²). There were 956 housing units at an average density of 23.0 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.86% White, 0.42% African American, 0.15% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 864 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $43,988. Males had a median income of $26,951 versus $23,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,843. About 7.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 7.3% 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 Yates County
Yates County, New York
Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
, 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 2,640 at the 2000 census. The town is named after an early resident.
The Town of Benton is located in the northeast part of the county. Benton is on the west side of Seneca Lake, north of Penn Yan
Penn Yan, New York
Penn Yan is a village in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yates County and lies at the north end of the east branch of Keuka Lake, one of the Finger Lakes....
, 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...
.
History
Kashanquash, a village of the Seneca tribe, was located in the northeast part of Benton as late as 1779.The region became part of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase
Phelps and Gorham Purchase
The Phelps and Gorham Purchase was the purchase in 1788 of the pre-emptive right to some 6,000,000 acres of land in western New York State for $1,000,000 . This was all land in western New York west of Seneca Lake between Lake Ontario and the Pennsylvania border...
.
The town was formed in 1803 from the Town of Jerusalem
Jerusalem, New York
Jerusalem is a town in Yates County, New York in the United States. The population was 4,525 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city of Jerusalem in the Middle East....
before the formation of Yates County. Originally called the "Town of Vernon," the name was changed to "Snell" to avoid confusion with another "Vernon." Finally, the name was changed to "Benton," after Levi Benton, thought to be the first settler in the town.
In 1818, the town was reduced in size by the founding of the Town of Milo
Milo, New York
Milo is a town in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 7,026 at the 2000 census.The Town of Milo is on the east border of the county and borders Penn Yan, New York.- History :...
. A further loss of territory came about in 1851 when the Town of Torrey
Torrey, New York
Torrey is a town in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 1,307 at the 2000 census. The name is that of early county political leader Henry Torrey.The Town of Torrey is in the northeast part of the county and is south of Geneva, New York....
was created.
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 44.4 square miles (115 km²), of which, 41.5 square miles (107.5 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) of it (6.66%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
, and part of the east town line, marked by Seneca Lake, is the border of Seneca County
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
.
Benton is in the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region of New York.
New York State Route 14
New York State Route 14
New York State Route 14 is a state highway located in western New York in the United States. Along with NY 19, it is one of two routes to transect the state in a north–south fashion between the Pennsylvania border and Lake Ontario...
is a north-south highway along the edge of Seneca Lake, while New York State Route 14A
New York State Route 14A
New York State Route 14A is a north–south state highway located in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 14 in the Schuyler County town of Reading to an intersection with U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 west of the Ontario...
is a north-south highway in the western part of the town. New York State Route 364
New York State Route 364
New York State Route 364 is a state highway located in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 14A in Penn Yan to a junction with the concurrent routes of U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 just east of the Canandaigua city...
crosses the southwest corner of Benton.
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 2,640 people, 864 households, and 642 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 63.6 people per square mile (24.6/km²). There were 956 housing units at an average density of 23.0 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.86% White, 0.42% African American, 0.15% Asian, 0.08% 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 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 864 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $43,988. Males had a median income of $26,951 versus $23,250 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 $16,843. About 7.5% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Benton
- Angus – 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...
in the southeast corner of Benton by Seneca Lake on NY Route 14. - Bellona – A hamlet near the north town line on County Road 15 (Pre-Emption Road).
- Bellona Station – A location southwest of Bellona, on Bellona Station Road. Known in the early 1900s as Gage and once home to a United States Post Office, Bellona Station was the location of a Pennsylvania Railroad freight and passenger station until the late 1940s or early 1950s, when the station was destroyed by fire.
- Benton – The hamlet of Benton is on NY-14.
- Benton Center – A location west of Benton hamlet on County Road 14 at the junction of NY-14A.
- Ferguson Corners – A location in the northwest corner of the town on County Road 2.
- Havens Corners – A hamlet northwest of Penn Yan village and east of Benton Center on County Road 14.
- Kashong Point – A projection into Seneca Lake, partly in the northeast of Benton.
- Penn YanPenn Yan, New YorkPenn Yan is a village in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yates County and lies at the north end of the east branch of Keuka Lake, one of the Finger Lakes....
– A small part of the Village of Penn Yan is in the south part of the town on NY-14A.