Centerville, New York
Encyclopedia
Centerville is a town
in Allegany County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 762 at the 2000 census. The town is named after its principal settlement.
The Town of Centerville is in the northwest corner of the Allegany County.
"He was only 18, and came from Otsego Co. Two cents and a few articles of provisions and clothing constituted his wealth. At Pike be took from his feet a pair of new shoes, bartered them for an axe, and pushed on into the wilderness, and in the center of the township near a small stream erected the rudest kind of a hut. For a bed he peeled basswood bark, used some pieces as a floor and others for covering. Not long after he came snow fell six inches deep. He persevered in his labors and passed eight months alone."²
James Ward settled there in the fall of 1808, and a half dozen more families moved there in the following year. Centerville (then spelled "Centreville") was established on January 15, 1819 from part of the Town of Pike
(a town in Wyoming County
, New York).1
In recent years many Amish
farmers have bought up land in the town.
, the town has a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²), of which, 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The west town line is the border of Cattaraugus County
, and the north town line is the border of Wyoming County
.
Sixtown Creek is an important stream in the town.
New York State Route 243
passes through the community of Fairview.
and north of the Town of Rushford
. The west town line is shared with the Town of Freedom
in Cattaraugus County, and the north town line is shared with the Town of Eagle
in Wyoming County.
of 2000, there were 762 people, 253 households, and 195 families residing in the town. The population density
was 21.5 people per square mile (8.3/km²). There were 402 housing units at an average density of 11.4 per square mile (4.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.80% White, 0.13% African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 2.10% from other races
, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.
There were 253 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples
living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 18.2% 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 3.01 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the town the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,487, and the median income for a family was $31,058. Males had a median income of $25,208 versus $20,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,674. About 22.4% of families and 32.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.4% of those under age 18 and 31.7% 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 Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
, 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 762 at the 2000 census. The town is named after its principal settlement.
The Town of Centerville is in the northwest corner of the Allegany County.
History
Centerville was first settled in April 1808 by Joseph Maxson. Minard describes this first settler in his History of Centerville:"He was only 18, and came from Otsego Co. Two cents and a few articles of provisions and clothing constituted his wealth. At Pike be took from his feet a pair of new shoes, bartered them for an axe, and pushed on into the wilderness, and in the center of the township near a small stream erected the rudest kind of a hut. For a bed he peeled basswood bark, used some pieces as a floor and others for covering. Not long after he came snow fell six inches deep. He persevered in his labors and passed eight months alone."²
James Ward settled there in the fall of 1808, and a half dozen more families moved there in the following year. Centerville (then spelled "Centreville") was established on January 15, 1819 from part of the Town of Pike
Pike (town), New York
Pike is a town in Wyoming County, New York, USA. The population was 1,086 at the 2000 census.The Town of Pike is on the south border of the county. Pike is also the name of a hamlet in this town.- History :...
(a town in Wyoming County
Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
, New York).1
In recent years many Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
farmers have bought up land in the town.
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 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²), of which, 35.4 square miles (91.7 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.
The west town line is the border of Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
, and the north town line is the border of Wyoming County
Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
.
Sixtown Creek is an important stream in the town.
New York State Route 243
New York State Route 243
New York State Route 243 is a short east–west state highway in the Southern Tier of Western New York. Despite its minimal length, it is an important route as it provides access to Rushford Lake.-Route description:...
passes through the community of Fairview.
Adjacent towns and areas
Centerville is west of the Town of HumeHume, New York
Hume is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,987 at the 2000 census.The Town of Hume is on the northern border of Allegany County.- History :Roger Mills, the first settler, arrived in 1806...
and north of the Town of Rushford
Rushford, New York
Rushford is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,259 at the 2000 census.The Town of Rushford is in the northwest part of Allegany County and is northeast of Olean, New York....
. The west town line is shared with the Town of Freedom
Freedom, New York
Freedom is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,493 at the 2000 census.The Town of Freedom is in the northeast corner of the Cattaraugus County.- History :The first settlers arrived around 1811....
in Cattaraugus County, and the north town line is shared with the Town of Eagle
Eagle, New York
Eagle is a town in Wyoming County, New York, United States. The population was 1,194 at the 2000 census.The Town of Eagle is on the south border of the county.- History :...
in Wyoming County.
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 762 people, 253 households, and 195 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 21.5 people per square mile (8.3/km²). There were 402 housing units at an average density of 11.4 per square mile (4.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.80% White, 0.13% African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 2.10% 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 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.49% of the population.
There were 253 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% 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, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 18.2% 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 3.01 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the town the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,487, and the median income for a family was $31,058. Males had a median income of $25,208 versus $20,750 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 $11,674. About 22.4% of families and 32.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.4% of those under age 18 and 31.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Centerville
- Centerville – The hamlet of Centerville is near the town center at the junction of Buffalo, Pike and Hill Roads.
- Fairview – A hamlet on the town line in the southwest corner of the town on Route 243.
- Higgins – The hamlet is southeast of Centerville.
- Welsh Settlement – A former designation for the southwest part of the town, settled in the 1840s by many natives of WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.