Clifton, New York
Encyclopedia
Clifton is a town
in St. Lawrence County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 791 at the 2000 census. The town takes its name from a mining company.
The Town of Clifton is in the south part of the county, within the Adirondack Park.
The town was formed in 1868 from the Town of Pierrepont
. The first town meeting was held in the office of the Clifton Iron Mine.
Early inhabitants arrived to work the local mines.
, the town has a total area of 150.4 square miles (389.5 km²), of which, 135.1 square miles (349.9 km²) of it is land and 15.2 square miles (39.4 km²) of it (10.13%) is water.
Part of the south town line is the border of Hamilton County
and Herkimer County
.
The Oswegatchie River
flows through the town. Cranberry Lake
, a large Adirondack
lake
occupies much of the eastern part of the town.
New York State Route 3
crosses the town as a major east-west highway.
of 2000, there were 791 people, 323 households, and 215 families residing in the town. The population density
was 5.9 people per square mile (2.3/km²). There were 775 housing units at an average density of 5.7 per square mile (2.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.08% White, 1.52% Native American, 0.88% from other races
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.
There were 323 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,950, and the median income for a family was $38,875. Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $23,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,619. About 13.1% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 8.5% 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 St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
, 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 791 at the 2000 census. The town takes its name from a mining company.
The Town of Clifton is in the south part of the county, within the Adirondack Park.
History
The first settlers came to work at the Clifton Iron Mine around 1866, which built its first iron furnace the same year.The town was formed in 1868 from the Town of Pierrepont
Pierrepont, New York
Pierrepont is a town and hamlet in St. Lawrence County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,674. It was named after Hezekiah Pierrepont, the early owner of much of the town's territory. The Town of Pierrepont is centrally located in the county and is...
. The first town meeting was held in the office of the Clifton Iron Mine.
Early inhabitants arrived to work the local mines.
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 150.4 square miles (389.5 km²), of which, 135.1 square miles (349.9 km²) of it is land and 15.2 square miles (39.4 km²) of it (10.13%) is water.
Part of the south town line is the border of Hamilton County
Hamilton County, New York
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is named after Alexander Hamilton, the only member of the New York State delegation who signed the United States Constitution in 1787 and later the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. Its county seat is Lake Pleasant...
and Herkimer County
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
.
The Oswegatchie River
Oswegatchie River
The Oswegatchie River is a river in northern New York that flows north from the Adirondack Mountains to the Saint Lawrence River at the city of Ogdensburg. The river mouth was the site of a Jesuit mission, Fort de La Présentation, founded in 1749. Also a fur trading post, the village had 3,000...
flows through the town. Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake
Cranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the United States. It is the third largest lake in the Adirondack Park Cranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the United States. It is the third largest lake in...
, a large Adirondack
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
occupies much of the eastern part of the town.
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
crosses the town as a major east-west highway.
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 791 people, 323 households, and 215 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 5.9 people per square mile (2.3/km²). There were 775 housing units at an average density of 5.7 per square mile (2.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.08% White, 1.52% Native American, 0.88% 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 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.
There were 323 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,950, and the median income for a family was $38,875. Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $23,500 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 $15,619. About 13.1% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Clifton
- Bear Mountain – An elevation southeast of Cranberry Lake village.
- Bensons Mines – A location in the southwest part of the town that was one of the original settlements of the town.
- Buck Island – A small island in Cranberry Lake, southeast of Joe Indian Island.
- Clarksboro – A former hamlet, site of the Clifton ore reduction mill, remains of which are still visible at Twin Falls.
- Cooks Corners – A hamlet near the west town line, northwest of Cranberry Lake village.
- Cranberry LakeCranberry Lake, New YorkCranberry Lake is a hamlet in the eastern part of the town of Clifton in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. It lies along NY-3 on the north shore of Cranberry Lake.-External links:* * * *...
– 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 eastern part of the town, on the north shore of Cranberry LakeCranberry LakeCranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the United States. It is the third largest lake in the Adirondack Park Cranberry Lake is a lake on the Oswegatchie River in the Adirondack Park in New York in the United States. It is the third largest lake in...
. The population is about 850. The community is on NY-3. - Dead Creek Flow – A part of Cranberry lake in the southwest part of Clifton.
- Joe Indian Island – An island of Cranberry Lake.
- Lows Lake – The northwest part of the lake is in the southeast corner of Clifton.
- Newton FallsNewton Falls, New YorkNewton Falls is a hamlet of 400 located within Town of Clifton in Saint Lawrence County, New York in the United States. The hamlet is located within the Adirondack Park. The area is known in part for its ZIP code, which is 13666....
– A hamlet near the western part of the town on County Road 60. - Star LakeStar Lake, New YorkStar Lake is a hamlet in the Adirondack Mountains St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 860 at the 2000 census.Star Lake is in the Town of Clifton, but part of the community is in the Town of Fine....
– A hamlet and resort area in the southwest part of the town on NY-3 and on the eastern shore of a lakeLakeA lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
also called Star Lake.