Berkshire, New York
Encyclopedia
Berkshire is a town
in Tioga County
, New York
, USA
. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,366. The town is named after Berkshire County
, Massachusetts
.
The Town of Berkshire is in the northeast part of the county and is northwest of Binghamton, NY
.
, by the Treaty of Hartford
in 1786. (New York retained the right to govern the land.) Massachusetts sold these rights to private individuals in 1788.
The first settlers arrived around 1791. It was originally called "Browns Settlement."
The Town of Berkshire was established in 1808 from the Town of Union
while in Broome County
. In 1822, Berkshire was made part of Tioga County. The Town of Newark Valley
, as the "Town of Westfield," was created from part of Berkshire in 1828. An additional part of Berkshire was lost in 1831, to found the Town of Richford
, then called "Arlington."
, the town has a total area of 30.2 square miles (78.2 km²), of which, 30.2 square miles (78.2 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The east town line of Berkshire is the border of Broome County
, and part of the west town line is the border of Tompkins County
.
New York State Route 38
is a north-south highway in the town.
of 2000, there were 1,366 people, 506 households, and 384 families residing in the town. The population density
was 45.2 people per square mile (17.5/km²). There were 561 housing units at an average density of 18.6 per square mile (7.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.76% White, 0.37% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.07% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 506 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,625, and the median income for a family was $43,676. Males had a median income of $29,620 versus $22,865 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,735. About 6.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 7.0% 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 Tioga County
Tioga County, New York
As of the census of 2010, there were 51,125 people residing in the county, with 22,203 housing units, of these 20,350 occupied, 1,853 vacant. The population density was 98 people 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,366. The town is named after Berkshire County
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
The Town of Berkshire is in the northeast part of the county and is northwest of Binghamton, NY
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
.
History
Purchase rights to the Native American lands in the area were awarded to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as part of the Boston Ten TownshipsBoston Ten Townships
The Boston Ten Townships refers to an area of 230,400 acres in Tioga County and Broome County, New York State,between the Chenango River and Tioughnioga River and the west branch of Owego Creek , from the Susquehanna River about twenty-five miles northwards; it includes the northern...
, by the Treaty of Hartford
Treaty of Hartford
The term Treaty of Hartford applies to three historic agreements negotiated at Hartford, Connecticut. The 1638 treaty divided the spoils of the Pequot War. The 1650 treaty defined a border between the Dutch Nieuw Amsterdam and English settlers in Connecticut...
in 1786. (New York retained the right to govern the land.) Massachusetts sold these rights to private individuals in 1788.
The first settlers arrived around 1791. It was originally called "Browns Settlement."
The Town of Berkshire was established in 1808 from the Town of Union
Union, New York
Union is a town in Broome County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,298. The name derives from the town having served as a rendezvous for the Sullivan Expedition....
while in Broome County
Broome County, New York
Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,600. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current...
. In 1822, Berkshire was made part of Tioga County. The Town of Newark Valley
Newark Valley, New York
Newark Valley may refer to:* Newark Valley , New York* Newark Valley , New York* Newark Valley...
, as the "Town of Westfield," was created from part of Berkshire in 1828. An additional part of Berkshire was lost in 1831, to found the Town of Richford
Richford, New York
Richford is a town in Tioga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,170 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Ezekial Rich, an early settler and benefactor of the town....
, then called "Arlington."
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 30.2 square miles (78.2 km²), of which, 30.2 square miles (78.2 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The east town line of Berkshire is the border of Broome County
Broome County, New York
Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,600. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current...
, and part of the west town line is the border of Tompkins County
Tompkins County, New York
Tompkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and comprises the whole of the Ithaca metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,564. The county seat is Ithaca, and the county is home to Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community...
.
New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Owego in Tioga County. The northern terminus is at a junction with NY 104A in the town of...
is a north-south highway in the town.
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 1,366 people, 506 households, and 384 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 45.2 people per square mile (17.5/km²). There were 561 housing units at an average density of 18.6 per square mile (7.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.76% White, 0.37% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.07% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 506 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% 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, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,625, and the median income for a family was $43,676. Males had a median income of $29,620 versus $22,865 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 $16,735. About 6.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Berkshire
- Berkshire – 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 Berkshire is located where County Roads 8, 10, and NY-38 converge. The community is in the center of the town and was first settled around 1795. - East Berkshire – A hamlet east of Berkshire village on County Road 10.
- Wilson Creek – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town and the name of a stream that flows past the community.