Gorham, New York
Encyclopedia
Gorham is a town
in Ontario County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 3,776 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Nathaniel Gorham
.
The Town of Gorham is at the south border of the county, southeast of Canandaigua, NY
.
. More territory, including the east shore of Canandaigua Lake, was added to Gorham in 1824.
A fire consumed much of Gorham village in 1868.
, the town has a total area of 53.2 square miles (137.8 km²), of which, 48.9 square miles (126.7 km²) of it is land and 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of it (8.10%) is water.
The south town line is the border of Yates County
, and the east town line is marked by Canandaigua Lake
, one of the Finger Lakes
.
New York State Route 245
intersects New York State Route 247
northeast of Rushville. NY-247 and New York State Route 364
are north-south highways in the town, but NY-364 is farther west near Canandaigua Lake.
of 2000, there were 3,776 people, 1,410 households, and 1,036 families residing in the town. The population density
was 77.2 people per square mile (29.8/km²). There were 1,900 housing units at an average density of 38.9 per square mile (15.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.36% White, 0.37% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races
, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.
There were 1,410 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,138, and the median income for a family was $45,917. Males had a median income of $35,658 versus $23,682 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,736. About 4.2% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% 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 Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
, 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,776 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Nathaniel Gorham
Nathaniel Gorham
Nathaniel Gorham was the fourteenth President of the United States in Congress assembled, under the Articles of Confederation...
.
The Town of Gorham is at the south border of the county, southeast of Canandaigua, NY
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
.
History
The town was created at the same time as the county (1789) as the "Town of Easton." The town changed its name to "Lincoln" in 1806, and adopted the current name, the name of an early proprietor, in 1807. Part of Gorham was taken in 1822 to form the Town of HopewellHopewell, New York
Hopewell is a town in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 3,346 at the 2000 census.The Town of Hopewell is in the north central part of the county, east of the City of Canandaigua.-History:...
. More territory, including the east shore of Canandaigua Lake, was added to Gorham in 1824.
A fire consumed much of Gorham village in 1868.
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 53.2 square miles (137.8 km²), of which, 48.9 square miles (126.7 km²) of it is land and 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²) of it (8.10%) is water.
The south town line is the border of Yates County
Yates County, New York
Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
, and the east town line is marked by Canandaigua Lake
Canandaigua Lake
Canandaigua Lake is the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes, in the U.S. state of New York. The city of Canandaigua is located at the northern shore of the lake and the village of Naples is just a few miles south of the southern end...
, one of the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
.
New York State Route 245
New York State Route 245
New York State Route 245 is a state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at NY 21 in Naples. The northern terminus is at NY 5, U.S. Route 20 and NY 14A west of Geneva...
intersects New York State Route 247
New York State Route 247
New York State Route 247 is a north–south state highway located in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 364 in the Yates County town of Potter to a junction with U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 in the Ontario...
northeast of Rushville. NY-247 and New York State Route 364
New York State Route 364
New York State Route 364 is a state highway located in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 14A in Penn Yan to a junction with the concurrent routes of U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 just east of the Canandaigua city...
are north-south highways in the town, but NY-364 is farther west near Canandaigua Lake.
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 3,776 people, 1,410 households, and 1,036 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 77.2 people per square mile (29.8/km²). There were 1,900 housing units at an average density of 38.9 per square mile (15.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.36% White, 0.37% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.21% 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 0.48% of the population.
There were 1,410 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% 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, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,138, and the median income for a family was $45,917. Males had a median income of $35,658 versus $23,682 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 $20,736. About 4.2% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Gorham
- Babbitt Corner – A location in the northeast part of the town.
- Baldwin Corners – A location northeast of Rushville.
- Cottage City – A hamlet on the shore of Canandaigua Lake, south of Crystal Beach on NY-364.
- Crystal Beach – A hamlet on the shore of Canandaigua Lake, south of Greens Landing on NY-364.
- Flint Creek – A stream flowing northward past Gorham village.
- Gorham – The hamlet of Gorham is near the east town line on NY-245. It was previously called "Bethel," but the current name was adopted in 1856 to match the town's name.
- Granger – A location southwest of Gorham village on NY-245.
- Greens Landing – A hamlet on the shore of Canandaigua Lake on NY-364.
- Mead Corner – A location in the northeast part of the town.
- Reed Corner – A location in the north part of the town on NY-247.
- RushvilleRushville, New YorkRushville is a village in Ontario and Yates Counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 621 at the 2000 census.Most of the Village of Rushville is within the Town of Potter in Yates County and a small part is in the Town of Gorham in Ontario County.- History :Elisha Gilbert was the...
– The north part of the Village of Rushville lies within the town and is located on NY-247. - West River – A stream in the south part of the town, passing Rushville, that eventually enters Canandaigua Lake.
- Wilson Corner – A location east of Cottage City at the junction of NY-247 and Lake to Lake Road.