Ephratah, New York
Encyclopedia
Ephratah is a town
in Fulton County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,693 at the 2000 census. The name is from the Bible
and means "fruitful."
The Town of Ephratah, is in the southwest part of the county and is west of Gloversville
and Johnstown
.
The town name, suggested by earlier inhabitant Anthony Beck, suggests abundance-bearing fruit, in his prophecy of a great city to be built there in the future.
The town was formed in 1827 from the Town of Palatine
in Montgomery County
before the creation of Fulton County. On the formation of Fulton County in 1838, part of Ephratah was returned to Palatine.
, the town has a total area of 39.4 square miles (102 km²), of which, 39.2 square miles (101.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.56%) is water.
The south town line is the border of Montgomery County
. The northern part of Ephrathah is in the Adirondack Park.
New York State Route 10
is a north-south highway that intersects New York State Route 67
, an east-west highway in the south part of the town, at Ephratah village. New York State Route 29
is an east-west highway through the middle of the town.
of 2000, there were 1,693 people, 625 households, and 473 families residing in the town. The population density
was 43.2 people per square mile (16.7/km²). There were 720 housing units at an average density of 18.4 per square mile (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.00% White, 0.35% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.12% of the population.
There were 625 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,810, and the median income for a family was $36,324. Males had a median income of $28,566 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,656. About 10.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 13.3% 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 Fulton County
Fulton County, New York
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,531. Its name is in honor of Robert Fulton, who is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat...
, 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 1,693 at the 2000 census. The name is from the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and means "fruitful."
The Town of Ephratah, is in the southwest part of the county and is west of Gloversville
Gloversville, New York
Gloversville is a city in Fulton County, New York, that was once the hub of America's glovemaking industry with over two hundred manufacturers in Gloversville and Johnstown. In 2000, Gloversville had a population of 15,413. Ten years later, the population had increased to 15,665- History :The...
and Johnstown
Johnstown (town), New York
Johnstown is a town located in Fulton County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town had a population of 7,166. The name of the town is from landowner William Johnson....
.
History
The region was first settled around 1720. The Stone Arabia patent, granted in 1723, comprised much of the south part of Ephratah.The town name, suggested by earlier inhabitant Anthony Beck, suggests abundance-bearing fruit, in his prophecy of a great city to be built there in the future.
The town was formed in 1827 from the Town of Palatine
Palatine, New York
Palatine is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,240 at the 2010 census. The named is derived from the Palatinate in the Rhineland, the homeland of the early settlers of this region....
in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
before the creation of Fulton County. On the formation of Fulton County in 1838, part of Ephratah was returned to Palatine.
Notable residents
- Sir William Johnson, Colonial official, owned a large tract 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 39.4 square miles (102 km²), of which, 39.2 square miles (101.5 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.56%) is water.
The south town line is the border of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
. The northern part of Ephrathah is in the Adirondack Park.
New York State Route 10
New York State Route 10
New York State Route 10 is a north–south state highway in the Central New York and North Country regions of New York in the United States. It extends for from the Quickway in Deposit, Delaware County to NY 8 at Higgins Bay, a hamlet in the Hamilton County town of Arietta...
is a north-south highway that intersects New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in the town of St. Johnsville...
, an east-west highway in the south part of the town, at Ephratah village. New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29 is a state highway extending for across the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 28 and NY 169 in Middleville, Herkimer County. The eastern terminus of the route is at NY 22 just south of Salem,...
is an east-west highway through the middle of the town.
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 1,693 people, 625 households, and 473 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 43.2 people per square mile (16.7/km²). There were 720 housing units at an average density of 18.4 per square mile (7.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.00% White, 0.35% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% 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 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.12% of the population.
There were 625 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,810, and the median income for a family was $36,324. Males had a median income of $28,566 versus $21,607 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 $14,656. About 10.4% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Ephratah
- Dempster Corners – A location in the northwest part of Ephratah on County Road 119.
- Ephratah – The 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...
of Ephratah was founded around 1803 and is on NY-10 by the Garoga Creek. - Fical Corners – A location in the western part of the town, north of Lassellville on County Road 119.
- Garoga – A hamlet in the north part of the town adjacent to Garoga Creek and on NY-29.
- Garoga Creek – A stream running southward through the town from the Town of CarogaCaroga, New YorkCaroga is a town in Fulton County, New York, USA. The population was 1,407 at the 2000 census. The town was named after a local creek.The Town of Caroga is in the northern part of the county and is north of Gloversville and Johnstown....
, north of Ephratah. - Lassellsville – A location in the western part of the town on NY-29.
- Rockwood – A location in the northeast part of the town on Garoga Creek and NY-10. It was called "Pleasant Valley" after being settled around 1800.
- Scotchbush – A hamlet in the western part of the town, northeast of Lassellville.
- Spook Hill – An elevation by Ephratah village where Beck claims to have seen a great city in the future where the current village existed.
- St. Johnsville Reservoir – A small reservoir east of Scotchbush.