Gasport, New York
Encyclopedia
Gasport is a hamlet
(and census-designated place
) located in the Town of Royalton
in Niagara County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,248 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from observed natural gas and the historic Erie Canal
port at that location. It is part of the Buffalo
–Niagara Falls
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Gasport is east of the City of Lockport
.
and physicist Joseph Henry
of the Rensselaerian School (now Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
) through the western part of New York state aboard the canal boat "LaFayette," encountered flammable coal gas
rising from a spring. They named the local community Gasport. On the return voyage, May 26, they passed through the settlement again, and saw that the name was already appearing on signboards.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.05%) is water.
The hamlet of Gasport is located on New York State Route 31
(Rochester Road) and the Erie Canal.
of 2000, there were 1,248 people, 456 households, and 315 families residing in the community. The population density
was 435.1 per square mile (167.9/km²). There were 491 housing units at an average density of 171.2/sq mi (66.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.91% White, 0.64% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.
There were 456 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the settlement the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the community was $39,306, and the median income for a family was $45,313. Males had a median income of $34,167 versus $27,143 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $17,882. About 2.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Hamlet (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...
(and census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
) located in the Town of Royalton
Royalton, New York
Royalton is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 7,660 at the 2010 census.The Town of Royalton is in the southeast corner of the county and is east of the City of Niagara Falls.- History :...
in Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, 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 1,248 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from observed natural gas and the historic Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
port at that location. It is part of the Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
–Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area
The Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area, designated by the United States Census Bureau, encompassing two counties – Erie and Niagara – in Western New York, with a population, as of the 2010 census, of 1,135,509 inhabitants...
.
Gasport is east of the City of Lockport
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
.
History
On May 18, 1826, a geological expedition, led by Amos EatonAmos Eaton
Amos Eaton was a scientist and educator in the Troy, New York area.Eaton attended Williams College; after graduating in 1799 he studied law in New York City and was admitted to the state bar in 1802. He practiced law in Catskill, New York until 1810, when he was jailed on charges of forgery...
and physicist Joseph Henry
Joseph Henry
Joseph Henry was an American scientist who served as the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, as well as a founding member of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science, a precursor of the Smithsonian Institution. During his lifetime, he was highly regarded...
of the Rensselaerian School (now Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
) through the western part of New York state aboard the canal boat "LaFayette," encountered flammable coal gas
Coal gas
Coal gas is a flammable gaseous fuel made by the destructive distillation of coal containing a variety of calorific gases including hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and volatile hydrocarbons together with small quantities of non-calorific gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen...
rising from a spring. They named the local community Gasport. On the return voyage, May 26, they passed through the settlement again, and saw that the name was already appearing on signboards.
Geography
Gasport is located at 43°11′52"N 78°34′21"W (43.197713, -78.572630).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 village has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.05%) is water.
The hamlet of Gasport is located on New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
(Rochester Road) and the Erie Canal.
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 1,248 people, 456 households, and 315 families residing in the community. 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 435.1 per square mile (167.9/km²). There were 491 housing units at an average density of 171.2/sq mi (66.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.91% White, 0.64% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.
There were 456 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the settlement the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the community was $39,306, and the median income for a family was $45,313. Males had a median income of $34,167 versus $27,143 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 CDP was $17,882. About 2.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Warren HullWarren HullJohn Warren Hull was an actor and TV personality, active from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was one of the most popular serial actors in the action-adventure field....
Actor and TV Personality - Benjamin Vandervoort Distinguished US Army Officer in World War II