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Dunkirk (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Dunkirk is a town in Chautauqua County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 1,387 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Dunkirk surrounds the City of Dunkirk
, which is a separate entity, not a part of the town.
The Town of Dunkirk was established in 1859. The Village of Dunkirk was incorporated in 1837, becoming a city in 1888.
Of historical interest, the first naval skirmish in the War of 1812
began in Lake Erie near the mouth of the Canadaway Creek, which is now within the boundaries of the town. A small marker commemorating the event sits near the intersection of Route 5
and Temple Street.
, the town has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6.2 square miles (16.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.79%) is water.
The New York State Thruway
(Interstate 90
) and NY Route 5 pass through the town. The Town of Dunkirk is served by the Buffalo-Chicago Main Lines of both CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway.
The Town of Dunkirk is split into an east section and a west section by the City of Dunkirk, which is located in the middle.
)
of 2000, there were 13,131 people, 519 households, and 333 families residing in the town. The population density
was 222.1 people per square mile (85.8/km²). There were 602 housing units at an average density of 96.4 per square mile (37.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.16% White, 2.24% Black or African American
, 0.58% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 1.66% from other races
, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.33% of the population.
There were 519 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 31.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,553, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $32,692 versus $23,194 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,124. About 7.1% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
, 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 1,387 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Dunkirk surrounds the City of Dunkirk
Dunkirk (city), New York
Dunkirk is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the USA. It was officially incorporated in 1880, though it was first settled around 1805. The population was 12,563 at the 2010 census. Dunkirk is bordered on the north by Lake Erie. It shares a border with the Village of Fredonia to the south,...
, which is a separate entity, not a part of the town.
History
The area was first settled around 1808. Development was slow until the New York and Erie Railroad established a station in Dunkirk village in 1851.The Town of Dunkirk was established in 1859. The Village of Dunkirk was incorporated in 1837, becoming a city in 1888.
Of historical interest, the first naval skirmish in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
began in Lake Erie near the mouth of the Canadaway Creek, which is now within the boundaries of the town. A small marker commemorating the event sits near the intersection of Route 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
and Temple Street.
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 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 6.2 square miles (16.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.79%) is water.
The New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
) and NY Route 5 pass through the town. The Town of Dunkirk is served by the Buffalo-Chicago Main Lines of both CSX Transportation and the Norfolk Southern Railway.
The Town of Dunkirk is split into an east section and a west section by the City of Dunkirk, which is located in the middle.
Adjacent towns and areas
(ClockwiseClockwise
Circular motion can occur in two possible directions. A clockwise motion is one that proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back to the top...
)
- Lake ErieLake ErieLake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
- SheridanSheridan, New YorkSheridan is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 2,838 at the 2000 census.The Town of Sheridan is on the county's northern border, east of the City of Dunkirk.- History :The town was first settled around 1804....
- PomfretPomfret, New YorkPomfret is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 14,703 at the 2000 census.The Town of Pomfret lies in the north-central part of the county, south of Dunkirk, New York.- History :...
; FredoniaFredonia, New YorkFredonia is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 11,068 as of 2009.The Village of Fredonia is in the Town of Pomfret south of Lake Erie...
- Lake ErieLake ErieLake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
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 13,131 people, 519 households, and 333 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 222.1 people per square mile (85.8/km²). There were 602 housing units at an average density of 96.4 per square mile (37.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.16% White, 2.24% 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...
, 0.58% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 1.66% 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 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.33% of the population.
There were 519 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 31.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,553, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $32,692 versus $23,194 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 $19,124. About 7.1% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Dunkirk
- Canadaway Creek – The War of 1812 began near the mouth of Canadaway Creek.
- Dunkirk – The City of Dunkirk is located in the middle of the town.