Castorland, New York
Encyclopedia
Castorland is a village
in the southeast part of the Town of Denmark
in Lewis County
, New York
, United States
; it is north of Lowville
and southeast of Carthage
. The population was 306 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the scientific name for "Beaver
".
, established in 1792 to provide a new home away from the violence in France. The land, 210000 acres (849.8 km²), was originally part of Macomb's Purchase
. It was purchased by La Compagnie de New York. "Castorland" is a literal translation of the old Indian name of the area, Couch-sach-ra-ga. Due to many reverses, including harsh winters, poor planning, loss of livestock and funds, the colony was dissolved in 1814. Many of the original settlers from the Castorland colony returned to Europe or moved to larger communities.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
The village is west of the Black River
, near the point where the Beaver River enters.
The village is located on New York State Route 410
.
of 2000, there were 306 people, 115 households, and 74 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,084.5 people per square mile (422.0/km²). There were 136 housing units at an average density of 482.0 per square mile (187.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.06% White, 0.65% African American, 0.33% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races
, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 115 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples
living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% 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 3.23.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Males had a median income of $35,714 versus $16,806 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $12,101. About 1.4% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 10.0% of those sixty five or over.
Kip P Flint also from the Castorland area on August 20, 2003 applied for a patent on his invention of a railway car mounting block assembly that would allow the communication from railway car to railway car through a housing that would allow a electrical plug and cable. He was awarded his patent on December 25, 2003.
-sized token (jeton) to commemorate the "Franco-American Colony." Since that time numerous restrikes have been made and remain commercially available to collectors. While listed in A Guide Book of United States Coins
, it was actually not intended for circulation.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the southeast part of the Town of Denmark
Denmark, New York
Denmark is a town in Lewis County, New York, United States named after the Kingdom of Denmark, situated in Scandinavia. The population was 2,747 at the 2000 census.The Town of Denmark is on the northwest border of the county and is east of Watertown....
in Lewis County
Lewis County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,944 people, 10,040 households, and 7,309 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 15,134 housing units at an average density of 12 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; it is north of Lowville
Lowville (village), New York
Lowville is a village in Lewis County, New York, United States. The Village is nestled in the Black River Valley, between the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and the Tug Hill Plateau, and is located in the eastern part of the Town of Lowville....
and southeast of Carthage
Carthage, New York
Carthage is a village located in the Town of Wilna in Jefferson County, New York. The population was 3,721 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the historic Carthage in North Africa....
. The population was 306 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the scientific name for "Beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
".
History
The village name means "Land of the Beaver." The name stems from a colony of refugees from the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, established in 1792 to provide a new home away from the violence in France. The land, 210000 acres (849.8 km²), was originally part of Macomb's Purchase
Macomb's Purchase
Macomb's Purchase is a large historical area of northern New York, USA purchased from the state in 1791 by Alexander Macomb, who had become rich as a merchant in the American Revolution.-History and geography:...
. It was purchased by La Compagnie de New York. "Castorland" is a literal translation of the old Indian name of the area, Couch-sach-ra-ga. Due to many reverses, including harsh winters, poor planning, loss of livestock and funds, the colony was dissolved in 1814. Many of the original settlers from the Castorland colony returned to Europe or moved to larger communities.
Geography
Castorland is located at 43°53′15"N 75°30′50"W (43.887379, -75.514002).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 village has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
The village is west of the Black River
Black River (New York)
The Black River is a blackwater river that empties into the eastern end of Lake Ontario on the shore of Jefferson County, New York in the United States of America...
, near the point where the Beaver River enters.
The village is located on New York State Route 410
New York State Route 410
New York State Route 410 is a state highway in Lewis County, New York, United States, that serves as a connector between NY 26, NY 126, and the village of Castorland.-Route description:...
.
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 306 people, 115 households, and 74 families residing in the village. 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 1,084.5 people per square mile (422.0/km²). There were 136 housing units at an average density of 482.0 per square mile (187.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.06% White, 0.65% African American, 0.33% Asian, 0.33% Pacific Islander, 0.65% 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 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.
There were 115 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% 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, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% 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 3.23.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $45,625. Males had a median income of $35,714 versus $16,806 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 village was $12,101. About 1.4% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 10.0% of those sixty five or over.
Businesses
The Castorland area includes many area businesses including Bellers Auto owned by Nevin Beller, Black River Valley Woodwork, Crafts, Common Sense Plastics, Inc. owned by Kent Widrick, D LAUX Properties owned by Donna M. Loucks , Elmer Moser & Sons, GeDeS owned by Virginia Owens, Donna Loucks, and Susan Parker. There is also Mellnitz's Fire Extinguisher Serv. owned by Newton & Patricia Mellnitz ,Nifty Nicks Gift Shop, Northern Remodeling owned by Chet Zehr, Pow-R-Clean owned by Rusty Woods, The Oldmill Woodshop owned by Earl and Lucy Roggie, and Woods Steam Cleaning.Important people
On the 8th of November 1938 Walter W. Camp from the village of Castorland applied for a patent on his invention of a device of applying rubber bands and he was awarded his patent on the 1st of April 1941. His device was to be used for; as explained in his patent application was to operate an easier way of applying rubber bands to articles such as boxes and papers rather than applying them by hand.Kip P Flint also from the Castorland area on August 20, 2003 applied for a patent on his invention of a railway car mounting block assembly that would allow the communication from railway car to railway car through a housing that would allow a electrical plug and cable. He was awarded his patent on December 25, 2003.
The Castorland Medal
In 1796 the Paris Mint struck a half dollarHalf dollar
Half dollar may refer to a half-unit of several currencies that are named "dollar". Normally, $1 is divided into 100 cents, so a half dollar is equal to 50 cents...
-sized token (jeton) to commemorate the "Franco-American Colony." Since that time numerous restrikes have been made and remain commercially available to collectors. While listed in A Guide Book of United States Coins
A Guide Book of United States Coins
A Guide Book of United States Coins , by Richard Yeoman, ISBN 0-7948-2039-5, is a pricing guide for United States coin collectors, and is considered one of the most authoritative coin price sources. The book is the longest running coin price guide; the first edition, dated 1947, went on sale...
, it was actually not intended for circulation.