Fort Covington, New York
Encyclopedia
Fort Covington is a town
in Franklin County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,645 at the 2000 census. The name derives from a War of 1812
fortification.
The Town of Fort Covington is on the county's northern border.
, and the town was settled before 1800.
In July 1813 a blockhouse was built here to shelter wounded soldiers and to provide a winter headquarters. The fort was named after General Leonard Covington
, a casualty of the War of 1812
.
The Town of Fort Covington was formed in 1817 from the Town of Constable
. In 1833, the west part of Fort Covington was made into the Town of Bombay
.
, the town has a total area of 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²), all of it land.
The north town line is the international border of Canada
(Quebec
). The town also borders the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.
New York State Route 37
is an east-west highway.
of 2000, there were 1,645 people, 621 households, and 466 families residing in the town. The population density
was 44.8 people per square mile (17.3/km²). There were 706 housing units at an average density of 19.2 per square mile (7.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.13% White, 0.36% African American, 10.81% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.
There were 621 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,532, and the median income for a family was $39,205. Males had a median income of $26,369 versus $22,011 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,932. About 10.3% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 13.9% 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 Franklin County
Franklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
, 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 1,645 at the 2000 census. The name derives from a 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...
fortification.
The Town of Fort Covington is on the county's northern border.
History
Many of the early settlers were from CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the town was settled before 1800.
In July 1813 a blockhouse was built here to shelter wounded soldiers and to provide a winter headquarters. The fort was named after General Leonard Covington
Leonard Covington
Leonard Wailes Covington was a United States Army Brigadier General and a member of the United States House of Representatives.-Biography:...
, a casualty of 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...
.
The Town of Fort Covington was formed in 1817 from the Town of Constable
Constable, New York
Constable is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The population was 1,428 at the 2000 census. The town is named after William Constable, a member of the syndicate of original land owners....
. In 1833, the west part of Fort Covington was made into the Town of Bombay
Bombay, New York
Bombay is a town in Franklin County, New York, United States. The population was 1,192 at the 2000 census. The town was named after a city in India, now known as Mumbai, by an early landowner whose wife was from Bombay....
.
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 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²), all of it land.
The north town line is the international border of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
). The town also borders the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
is an east-west highway.
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 1,645 people, 621 households, and 466 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 44.8 people per square mile (17.3/km²). There were 706 housing units at an average density of 19.2 per square mile (7.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.13% White, 0.36% African American, 10.81% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.30% 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 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.
There were 621 households out of which 34.0% 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, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,532, and the median income for a family was $39,205. Males had a median income of $26,369 versus $22,011 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 $14,932. About 10.3% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.3% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Fort Covington
- Cooks Corner – A hamlet by the south town line at the junction of County Roads 3 and 32.
- Fort Covington – The hamlet of Fort Covington was once a village within the town, incorporated in 1889, but later abandoned that status in 1976. The community is located at the junction of NY-37 and County Road 42 and is a port of entry.
- Fort Covington Center – A hamlet near the south town line on County Road 42.
- Pike Creek – A stream flowing northward through the town toward the St. Lawrence River.
- Salmon River – A stream flowing through the town.