Durham, New York
Encyclopedia
Durham is a town
in Greene County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,725 at the 2010 census. The town was named after Durham
, Connecticut
.
The Town of Durham is in the northwest corner of the county.
. The town was established from part of the Town of Coxsackie
in 1790 as the "Town of Freehold." In the spring of 1800 Freehold became part of the newly formed Greene County. The town's name was changed to "Durham" in 1805, the town having been called informally "New Durham" by the many settlers from Connecticut.
Part of the town was lost to form, in 1803, the new Towns of Cairo
, Greenville
, and Windham. In 1836, the western part of Durham became the Town of Conesville
in Schoharie County.
, the town has a total area of 49.3 square miles (127.7 km²), of which, 49.2 square miles (127.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.04%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Albany County
, New York, and part of the west town line is the border of Schoharie County
, New York.
of 2000, there were 2,592 people, 1,046 households, and 718 families residing in the town. The population density
was 52.6 people per square mile (20.3/km²). There were 1,642 housing units at an average density of 33.3 per square mile (12.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.38% White, 0.08% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 1,046 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% 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 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,282, and the median income for a family was $41,875. Males had a median income of $34,821 versus $22,292 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,705. About 9.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% 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 Greene County
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
, 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 2,725 at the 2010 census. The town was named after Durham
Durham, Connecticut
Durham is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Durham is a former farming village on the Coginchaug River in central Connecticut. The population was 6,627 at the 2000 census. Every autumn, the town hosts the Durham Fair, the largest volunteer agricultural fair in New...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
The Town of Durham is in the northwest corner of the county.
History
The town was first settled around 1782 within Albany CountyAlbany County
Albany County is the name of two jurisdictions in the United States in different states:* Albany County, New York* Albany County, Wyoming...
. The town was established from part of the Town of Coxsackie
Coxsackie (town), New York
Coxsackie is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 8,918 at the 2010 census. The name of the town is said to derived from a Native American term, but it has various translations ....
in 1790 as the "Town of Freehold." In the spring of 1800 Freehold became part of the newly formed Greene County. The town's name was changed to "Durham" in 1805, the town having been called informally "New Durham" by the many settlers from Connecticut.
Part of the town was lost to form, in 1803, the new Towns of Cairo
Cairo (town), New York
Cairo is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 6,610 at the 2010 census. The town is in the south part of the county, partly in the Catskill Park. Cairo is named after Cairo in Egypt, but is pronounced "Care-o" .- History :...
, Greenville
Greenville (town), New York
Greenville is a town on the northern border of Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 3,739 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, and Windham. In 1836, the western part of Durham became the Town of Conesville
Conesville, New York
Conesville is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 726 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Jonathan Cone, an early resident....
in Schoharie County.
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 49.3 square miles (127.7 km²), of which, 49.2 square miles (127.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.04%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
, New York, and part of the west town line is the border of Schoharie County
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
, 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 were 2,592 people, 1,046 households, and 718 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 52.6 people per square mile (20.3/km²). There were 1,642 housing units at an average density of 33.3 per square mile (12.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.38% White, 0.08% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.08% 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 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 1,046 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% 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, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% 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 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,282, and the median income for a family was $41,875. Males had a median income of $34,821 versus $22,292 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 $18,705. About 9.8% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Durham
- Cornwallville — 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...
south of Durham village on Route 20. It is the location of the Moore Road Stone Arch BridgeMoore Road Stone Arch BridgeMoore Road Stone Arch Bridge is a historic stone arch bridge located at Cornwallville in Greene County, New York. It was constructed in 1887.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008....
and Shady Glen Road Stone Arch BridgeShady Glen Road Stone Arch BridgeShady Glen Road Stone Arch Bridge, also known as Elliotts' Bridge, is a historic stone arch bridge located at Cornwallville in Greene County, New York. It was constructed in 1886 and is a single span, dry laid limestone bridge with a round arch. It spans an unnamed tributary of Catskill Creek.It...
, listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2008. - Durso Corner — A hamlet east of East Windham on Route 23.
- Durham — the hamlet of Durham in the north part of the town on Route 145.
- East DurhamEast Durham, New YorkEast Durham is an unincorporated community That is part of The town of Durham, New York located in the U.S. State of New York, approximately above sea level, in Greene County. In the 2000 Census its population was 1041. The village has a total land area area of approximately , and no water...
— A hamlet southeast of Durham village on Route 145. - East Windham — A hamlet at the south town line on Route 23.
- Hervey Street — A hamlet near the south town line. It is the location of the Hervey Street Road Stone Arch BridgeHervey Street Road Stone Arch BridgeHervey Street Road Stone Arch Bridge is a historic stone arch bridge located at Hervey Street in Greene County, New York. It was constructed in 1891 and is a single span, dry laid limestone bridge with a round arch. It is 11 feet wide, with a span of 14 feet. It spans a tributary of Thorp Creek.It...
, listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2008. - Mount Pisgah — An elevation at the west town line.
- Oak HillOak Hill, New YorkOak Hill is a hamlet in Greene County, New York, United States. Its elevation is . In the 2000 Census, the population of the ZCTA for its ZIP Code was 376. It has the ZIP Code 12460 and the area code 518....
— A hamlet northeast of Durham village, located on Route 81. - Sunside — A hamlet in the southeast part of the town.
- South Durham — A hamlet in the southeast part of the town on Route 23.
- West Durham — A hamlet near the west town line on Route 20.
Notable residents
- John AdamsJohn Adams (New York)John Adams was a United States Congressman from New York.-Life:...
, (1778–1854), United States Congressman from New York, taught school and practiced law here. - Blossom DearieBlossom DearieBlossom Dearie was an American jazz singer and pianist, often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her girlish voice.-Early career:...
grew up in East Durham. - Alfred W. NewmanAlfred W. NewmanAlfred William Newman was an American jurist and legislator from Wisconsin.Born in Durham, New York, Newman graduated from Hamilton College in 1857. After studying law he was admitted to the New York Bar. In 1858, he moved to Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, where he was elected judge and then...
, (1834–1898), Wisconsin Supreme CourtWisconsin Supreme CourtThe Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin.-Location:... - Thomas Politopoulos
- Matthew Losey