De Kalb, New York
Encyclopedia
De Kalb is a town
in St. Lawrence County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 2,213 at the 2000 census. The town is named after American general Baron de Kalb, a German
officer serving under George Washington
.
The Town of De Kalb is in the southwest part of the county and is southwest of the Village of Canton
.
The town was organized in 1806. De Kalb was one of the original ten towns of the county. In 1825, the part of De Kalb North West of Beaver Creek was taken to be part of the Town of De Peyster
. In 1830, the Southeastern corner of De Kalb was made part of the Town of Hermon
.
, the town has a total area of 83.2 square miles (215.5 km²), of which, 82.5 square miles (213.7 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (0.82%) is water.
The Oswegatchie River
flows through the western part of the town. Beaver Creek defines the northwest town line.
US Route 11 is a northeast-southwest highway in the south part of the town. New York State Route 812
intersects US-11 south of De Kalb village.
of 2000, there were 2,213 people, 792 households, and 582 families residing in the town. The population density
was 26.8 people per square mile (10.4/km²). There were 889 housing units at an average density of 10.8 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.19% White, 0.27% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.32% from other races
, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.27% of the population.
There were 792 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,173, and the median income for a family was $37,463. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $23,050 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,742. About 11.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 9.8% 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,213 at the 2000 census. The town is named after American general Baron de Kalb, a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
officer serving under George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
The Town of De Kalb is in the southwest part of the county and is southwest of the Village of Canton
Canton (village), New York
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County...
.
History
Settlement began in June 1803 when the first settlement party arrived, led by Judge William Cooper of Cooperstown, NY.The town was organized in 1806. De Kalb was one of the original ten towns of the county. In 1825, the part of De Kalb North West of Beaver Creek was taken to be part of the Town of De Peyster
De Peyster, New York
De Peyster is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 936 at the 2000 census. The name is that of one of the land owners of the region, Frederic De Peyster, grandfather of John Watts de Peyster.- History :...
. In 1830, the Southeastern corner of De Kalb was made part of the Town of Hermon
Hermon (town), New York
Hermon is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 1,069 at the 2000 census.The Town of Hermon contains a village also called Hermon...
.
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 83.2 square miles (215.5 km²), of which, 82.5 square miles (213.7 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (0.82%) is water.
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 western part of the town. Beaver Creek defines the northwest town line.
US Route 11 is a northeast-southwest highway in the south part of the town. New York State Route 812
New York State Route 812
New York State Route 812 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 12 and NY 26 in the Lewis County village of Lowville...
intersects US-11 south of De Kalb village.
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 2,213 people, 792 households, and 582 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 26.8 people per square mile (10.4/km²). There were 889 housing units at an average density of 10.8 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.19% White, 0.27% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.32% 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 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.27% of the population.
There were 792 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% 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 26.4% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,173, and the median income for a family was $37,463. Males had a median income of $29,000 versus $23,050 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 $13,742. About 11.4% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in De Kalb
- Bigelow – 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...
east of Richville on County Road 20. - Cooper Falls – A hamlet north of De Kalb village on NY-812.
- De Kalb – The hamlet of De Kalb in the north part of the town on NY-812. The original name was Coopers Village or Williamstown, after Judge William Cooper the father of James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
, who organized the settlement of the town. The community was founded in 1803. - De Kalb Junction – A former railroad center in the town, located northeast of East De Kalb on US-11 at the intersection of County Road 17. Community growth began in 1862 with the establishment of a spur rail line to Ogdensburg.
- East De Kalb – A hamlet southeast of De Kalb village, located on US-11. Was the economic center of this portion of the town before the establishment of De Kalb Junction.
- Huckleberry Mountain – An elevation by the west town line.
- Kendrew Corners – A location north of Cooper Falls on NY-812 on the west side of the Oswegatchie River. Named for Thomas Kendrew.
- Osbornville – A hamlet in the North west corner of the township on County Route 11.
- RichvilleRichville, New YorkRichville is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 274 at the 2000 census. The name is from an early settler....
– The Village of Richville is in the southwest part of the town, located on US-11. - Snowshoe Island – A location in the Oswegatchie River north of Richville.
- Spooner Flat – A location in the southwest part of De Kalb, northwest of Richville.
- Stellaville – A hamlet at the eastern corner of De Kalb on County Road 17.