Freedom, New York
Encyclopedia
Freedom is a town
in Cattaraugus County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,493 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Freedom is in the northeast corner of the Cattaraugus County.
The Town of Freedom was founded in 1820, composed of land from the "Town of Ischua" (now the Town of Franklinville
). Part of Freedom became the Town of Yorkshire
in 1844.
The Salem Welsh Church
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, the town has a total area of 40.6 square miles (105.2 km²), of which, 40.3 square miles (104.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.64%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Wyoming County
and the east town line is the border of Allegany County
.
New York State Route 98
is a major north-south highway through the town, and New York State Route 243
begins at the southeast town line.
in Allegany County, and to the west are the Towns of Yorkshire
and Machias
. The north town line is formed with the Town of Arcade
in Wyoming County. The Town of Farmersville
is on the south.
of 2000, there were 2,493 people, 871 households, and 680 families residing in the town. The population density
was 61.8 people per square mile (23.9/km²). There were 1,033 housing units at an average density of 25.6 per square mile (9.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.88% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 871 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,654, and the median income for a family was $36,061. Males had a median income of $27,380 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,145. About 12.2% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 18.5% 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 Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
, 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 2,493 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Freedom is in the northeast corner of the Cattaraugus County.
History
The first settlers arrived around 1811.The Town of Freedom was founded in 1820, composed of land from the "Town of Ischua" (now the Town of Franklinville
Franklinville (town), New York
Franklinville is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 3,128 at the 2000 census.The Town of Franklinville is an interior town, located in the northeast quadrant of the county. Franklinville is also the name of a village in the town.- History :The town was first...
). Part of Freedom became the Town of Yorkshire
Yorkshire (town), New York
Yorkshire is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 4,210 at the 2000 census.The Town of Yorkshire is located on the northern edge and the northeast quadrant of the county.- History :...
in 1844.
The Salem Welsh Church
Salem Welsh Church
Salem Welsh Church, or Salem Presbyterian Church, is a historic Presbyterian church located at Freedom in Cattaraugus County, New York. It is a Greek Revival style church building constructed 1854-1855. It was built as the Calvanistic Methodist Church by the Welsh settlers who migrated to this area...
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
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 40.6 square miles (105.2 km²), of which, 40.3 square miles (104.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.64%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Wyoming County
Wyoming County, New York
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the population was 42,155. The county seat is Warsaw. The name is from a modified Delaware Indian word meaning "broad bottom lands"...
and the east town line is the border of Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
.
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
is a major north-south highway through the town, and New York State Route 243
New York State Route 243
New York State Route 243 is a short east–west state highway in the Southern Tier of Western New York. Despite its minimal length, it is an important route as it provides access to Rushford Lake.-Route description:...
begins at the southeast town line.
Adjacent towns and areas
To the east is the Town of CentervilleCenterville, New York
Centerville is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 762 at the 2000 census. The town is named after its principal settlement.The Town of Centerville is in the northwest corner of the Allegany County.- History :...
in Allegany County, and to the west are the Towns of Yorkshire
Yorkshire (town), New York
Yorkshire is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 4,210 at the 2000 census.The Town of Yorkshire is located on the northern edge and the northeast quadrant of the county.- History :...
and Machias
Machias, New York
Machias is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,482 at the 2000 census.The Town of Machias is an interior town in the northeast quadrant of the county. It is northeast of the city of Salamanca.-History:...
. The north town line is formed with the Town of Arcade
Arcade (town), New York
Arcade is a town in Wyoming County, New York, USA. The population was 4,184 at the 2000 census.The Town of Arcade has within its borders a village also called Arcade. Arcade is in the southwest corner of Wyoming County.- History :...
in Wyoming County. The Town of Farmersville
Farmersville, New York
Farmersville is a town located in the eastern border of Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,028 at the 2000 census.- History :The area was first settled around 1805, but no permanent settlement was made until around 1817...
is on the south.
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 2,493 people, 871 households, and 680 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 61.8 people per square mile (23.9/km²). There were 1,033 housing units at an average density of 25.6 per square mile (9.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.88% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% 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 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.
There were 871 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% 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, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,654, and the median income for a family was $36,061. Males had a median income of $27,380 versus $22,188 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 $14,145. About 12.2% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 18.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Freedom
- Camp Scouthaven – A Greater Niagara Frontier Council camp south of Freedom.
- Crystal Lake – A small lake adjacent to NY-98, south of Freedom village.
- Elton – 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...
in the southwest corner of the town. It was previously called "Coles Settlement," after early pioneers. - Elton Station – A location south of Elton village.
- Fairview – A hamlet at the southeast corner of the town by the western terminus of NY Route 243.
- Freedom – The hamlet of Freedom is in the eastern part of town.
- Sandusky – a hamlet on Clear Creek near the northern town line on NY Route 98. The settlement was first occupied around 1824 by the construction of a tavern.