Collins, New York
Encyclopedia
Collins is a town in Erie County
, New York
, United States
. The town is on the south border of the county and is considered to be one of the "Southtowns" of Erie County. The population indicated by the 2000 census was 8,307. The population for 2007 is estimated at 7,092, a loss of 1,215 citizens.
, who intended to assist the local Native Americans
. The Town of Collins was formed March 6, 1821 from the Town of Concord
. The town lost land to create the new Towns of Brant
in 1839 and North Collins
in 1852. Because of the concentration of dairy farms, there were once ten cheese
factories in the town.
, the town has a total area of 48.2 square miles (124.8 km²), of which, 48.1 square miles (124.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.08%) is water.
The south town line of Collins, marked by Cattaraugus Creek
, is the county line of Cattaraugus County
.
US Route 62 runs north-south through the town, and New York State Route 39
runs east-west and intersects with north-south New York State Route 75
.
of 2000, there were 8,307 people, 1,754 households, and 1,187 families residing in the town. The population density
was 172.6 people per square mile (66.7/km²). There were 1,884 housing units at an average density of 39.2 per square mile (15.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 66.85% White, 22.62% African American, 3.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 6.16% from other races
, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.94% of the population.
There were 1,754 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 13.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 48.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 273.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 318.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,444, and the median income for a family was $45,647. Males had a median income of $30,215 versus $26,071 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,082. About 6.2% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, 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 town is on the south border of the county and is considered to be one of the "Southtowns" of Erie County. The population indicated by the 2000 census was 8,307. The population for 2007 is estimated at 7,092, a loss of 1,215 citizens.
History
The area was first settled around 1808. Many of the first settlers were QuakersReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
, who intended to assist the local Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. The Town of Collins was formed March 6, 1821 from the Town of Concord
Concord, New York
Concord is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 8,526 at the 2000 census. The town is believed to be named after Concord, Massachusetts by early settlers from New England....
. The town lost land to create the new Towns of Brant
Brant, New York
Brant is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. census, the town had a population of 1,906. The town was named after the Mohawk leader Joseph Brant....
in 1839 and North Collins
North Collins, New York
North Collins is the name of both a town and a village in New York:*North Collins , New York*North Collins , New York...
in 1852. Because of the concentration of dairy farms, there were once ten cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
factories 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 48.2 square miles (124.8 km²), of which, 48.1 square miles (124.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.08%) is water.
The south town line of Collins, marked by Cattaraugus Creek
Cattaraugus Creek
Cattaraugus Creek is a stream, approximately 68 miles long, in western New York in the United States. The creek drains a wooded rural portion of western New York southwest of Buffalo into Lake Erie. In its lower course it flows primarily through the Cattaraugus Reservation of the Seneca tribe...
, is the county line 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:...
.
US Route 62 runs north-south through the town, and New York State Route 39
New York State Route 39
New York State Route 39 is an east–west state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It begins and ends at intersections with U.S. Route 20 apart...
runs east-west and intersects with north-south New York State Route 75
New York State Route 75
New York State Route 75 is a north–south state highway in Erie County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 39 in the Collins hamlet of Collins Center to an interchange with NY 5 in the town of Hamburg...
.
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 8,307 people, 1,754 households, and 1,187 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 172.6 people per square mile (66.7/km²). There were 1,884 housing units at an average density of 39.2 per square mile (15.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 66.85% White, 22.62% African American, 3.47% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 6.16% 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 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.94% of the population.
There were 1,754 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% 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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 13.3% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 48.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 273.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 318.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,444, and the median income for a family was $45,647. Males had a median income of $30,215 versus $26,071 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 $14,082. About 6.2% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Collins
- Babbitch Corners – A hamlet south of Collins and north of Collins Center. The intersection of NY-39 and Quaker Street. Home to the now defunct McGinty's Millery and the Pibbens' pig farm which has been operational since 1902.
- BagdadBagdad, New YorkBagdad, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Collins in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet northeast of Gowanda. - Black Hills – A hamlet named for the abnormally black soil located in the hills.
- Collins CenterCollins Center, New YorkCollins Center, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Collins in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town at the junction of NY-39 and NY-75. - Collins Correctional FacilityCollins Correctional FacilityCollins Correctional Facility is a medium security prison in New York in the USA. The prison is in the Town of Collins in Erie County, New York.- External links :*...
– A NYS Medium Security prisonPrisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
located right next to Gowanda Correctional Facility separated by Middle Road. - GowandaGowanda, New YorkGowanda is a village in New York in the United States and lies partly in Erie County and partly in Cattaraugus County. The population was 2,842 at the 2000 census. The name is a local native term meaning "almost surrounded by hills" or "beautiful place among the hills...
- A village partly located in the southwest part of the town. It is located on NY-62. - Gowanda Correctional FacilityGowanda Correctional FacilityThe Gowanda Correctional Facility is a medium security prison for males located in New York, United States. The prison is located in the south part of Erie County in the Town of Collins. It is co-located with the Collins Correctional Facility, another medium security prison...
– A NYS Medium Security prisonPrisonA prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
located right next to Collins Correctional Facility separated by Middle Road. Middle Road is the border between the town of Collins and the village of Gowanda. - Hutzenlaub Hill – A large hill on the outskirts of town which have had several German immigrant families settle there over multiple generations.
- McIntosh Woods – Woods located between the town of Collins and the village of Gowanda. It was named due to the now wild McIntosh apple trees which were planted for the psychiatric facility patients to enjoy.
- Seneca Heights – A community located at the intersection of Richardson Road and NY-62(Taylor Hollow Road). Seneca Heights is home to Gernatt's Gravel Products.
- Taylor HollowTaylor Hollow, New YorkTaylor Hollow, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Collins in Erie County, New York, USA.-References:...
– A community in the northeast corner of the town on NY-62. - Tubtown – Located near intersection of Rt 62 & Rt 39 - A tub making company named Waltz Watermann Tubs built tubs there between 1899 - 1933. A bar was later named Tubtown in its honor in the 1970s.
- Whites Corners – A location in the northeast corner of the town on NY-75. Named after Ezekiel White's large farm which was located on the intersection.
- ZoarZoar, New YorkZoar, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Collins in Erie County, New York, USA. It is located on the northern side of Zoar Valley.-References:...
– A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town. - Zoar Valley – A scenic valley formed by Cattaraugus Creek.