Chateaugay (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Chateaugay is a town in Franklin County
, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,036. The name is derived from a location in France, which was applied to a local land grant.
Within the Town of Chateaugay is a village named Chateaugay
. The town is in the northeast corner of the county.
The town was formed in 1799 before Franklin County was established from parts of the Towns of Champlain
and Plattsburgh
. By 1802, Chateaugay comprised most of Franklin County. Subsequently, its territory was reduced to form other towns. The Town of Malone
was set off from Chateaugay in 1805. When Franklin County was established from Clinton County, part of Chateaugay remained in Clinton County. The Town of St. Armand
was taken off in 1822 and placed in Essex County
. The remaining three towns derived from Chateaugay remained in Franklin County: Bellmont
(1833) and Franklin
(taken from Bellmont in 1834), and Burke
(1844), .
Chateaugay was the hometown for Orville H. Gibson. Orville Gibson founded the Gibson Guitar Corporation
in 1902. Gibson died August 21, 1918 in St. Lawrence State Hospital, a psychiatric center in Ogdensburg
, New York.
In 1856, a tornado
demolished more than one hundred structures in the town.
In 1868, the community of Chateaugay set itself off by incorporating as a village.
Since 1934, the McCadam Cheese Cooperative (founded in 1876) has made some of the best cheddar cheese in the world in Chateaugay.
, the town has a total area of 49.8 square miles (128.9 km²), all land.
The northern town line is the international border with Canada
(Quebec
), and the east town line is the border of Clinton County
.
US Route 11 is an east-west highway. New York State Route 374
is a north-south highway intersecting US-11 at Chateaugay village.
The Chateaugay River, a tributary
of the St. Lawrence River flows northward through the town from Lower Chateaugay Lake.
Nicknamed "the frozen hell of New York".
of 2000, there are 2,036 people, 714 households, and 477 families residing in the town. The population density
is 40.9 people per square mile (15.8/km²). There are 865 housing units at an average density of 17.4 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town is 89.69% White, 6.39% Black or African American
, 0.34% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.95% from other races
, and 0.54% from two or more races. 6.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 714 households out of which 30.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% are married couples living together, 9.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% are non-families. 27.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 2.97.
In the town the population is spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 126.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 134.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $32,609, and the median income for a family is $37,639. Males have a median income of $29,716 versus $21,125 for females. The per capita income
for the town is $15,541. 17.5% of the population and 12.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.1% of those under the age of 18 and 14.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Franklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,036. The name is derived from a location in France, which was applied to a local land grant.
Within the Town of Chateaugay is a village named Chateaugay
Chateaugay (village), New York
Chateaugay is a village located in the in Franklin County New York, USA. The population was 798 at the 2000 census. The village and town are named after a village near Lyon in France, which became the name of a land grant in Canada....
. The town is in the northeast corner of the county.
History
The first settlement took place in 1796.The town was formed in 1799 before Franklin County was established from parts of the Towns of Champlain
Champlain (town), New York
Champlain is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 5,754 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Lake Champlain....
and Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (town), New York
Plattsburgh is a town in Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 11,870 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Zephaniah Platt, an early land owner.The Town of Plattsburgh borders the City of Plattsburgh...
. By 1802, Chateaugay comprised most of Franklin County. Subsequently, its territory was reduced to form other towns. The Town of Malone
Malone (town), New York
Malone is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The population was 14,545 at the 2010 census.The Town of Malone contains a village called Malone, which is the county seat. The town is an interior town, centrally located in the county....
was set off from Chateaugay in 1805. When Franklin County was established from Clinton County, part of Chateaugay remained in Clinton County. The Town of St. Armand
St. Armand, New York
St. Armand is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,321 at the 2000 census. The town was named by an early settler for Saint-Armand, Quebec in Canada....
was taken off in 1822 and placed in Essex County
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
. The remaining three towns derived from Chateaugay remained in Franklin County: Bellmont
Bellmont, New York
----Bellmont is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The town is on the east border of the county and is southeast of the village of Malone. The population was 1,423 at the 2000 census...
(1833) and Franklin
Franklin, New York
Franklin, New York may refer to:* Franklin, Franklin County, New York* Franklin , New York, in Delaware County* Franklin , New York, in Delaware County's town of Franklin...
(taken from Bellmont in 1834), and Burke
Burke (town), New York
Burke is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The population was 1,359 at the 2000 census.The Town of Burke is a town in the northeastern part of the county. The town is east of the Village of Malone, the county seat...
(1844), .
Chateaugay was the hometown for Orville H. Gibson. Orville Gibson founded the Gibson Guitar Corporation
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
in 1902. Gibson died August 21, 1918 in St. Lawrence State Hospital, a psychiatric center in Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
, New York.
In 1856, a tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
demolished more than one hundred structures in the town.
In 1868, the community of Chateaugay set itself off by incorporating as a village.
Since 1934, the McCadam Cheese Cooperative (founded in 1876) has made some of the best cheddar cheese in the world in Chateaugay.
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 49.8 square miles (128.9 km²), all land.
The northern town line is the international border with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
), and the east town line is the border of Clinton County
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
.
US Route 11 is an east-west highway. New York State Route 374
New York State Route 374
New York State Route 374 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States. The route follows a generally northwest to southeast progression; however, the portion of the route within Franklin County runs north–south and is signed in the same manner...
is a north-south highway intersecting US-11 at Chateaugay village.
The Chateaugay River, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the St. Lawrence River flows northward through the town from Lower Chateaugay Lake.
Nicknamed "the frozen hell of New York".
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 are 2,036 people, 714 households, and 477 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...
is 40.9 people per square mile (15.8/km²). There are 865 housing units at an average density of 17.4 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town is 89.69% White, 6.39% Black or African American
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...
, 0.34% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.95% 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 0.54% from two or more races. 6.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 714 households out of which 30.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% are married couples living together, 9.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% are non-families. 27.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 2.97.
In the town the population is spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 126.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 134.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $32,609, and the median income for a family is $37,639. Males have a median income of $29,716 versus $21,125 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 is $15,541. 17.5% of the population and 12.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.1% of those under the age of 18 and 14.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Communities and locations in the Town of Chateaugay
- Brayton Hollow – 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...
northwest of Chateaugay village by the west town line on County Road 35. - ChateaugayChateaugay (village), New YorkChateaugay is a village located in the in Franklin County New York, USA. The population was 798 at the 2000 census. The village and town are named after a village near Lyon in France, which became the name of a land grant in Canada....
– The Village of Chateaugay is centrally located within the town on US-11 at NY-374. - Chateaugay Chasm – A location at the west town line.
- Chateaugay River – A tributary of the St. Lawrence River.
- Chateaugay State Fish Hatchery – A fish hatcheryFish hatcheryA fish hatchery is a "place for artificial breeding, hatching and rearing through the early life stages of animals, finfish and shellfish in particular". Hatcheries produce larval and juvenile fish primarily to support the aquaculture industry where they are transferred to on-growing systems...
near the east town line. - Earlville – A hamlet near the east town line on County Road 39.
- High Falls Park – A park southwest of Chateaugay village.
