Hounsfield, New York
Encyclopedia
Hounsfield is a town
in Jefferson County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 3,466 at the 2010 census. The name of the town is from Ezra Hounsfield, a land agent and land owner.
The Town of Hounsfield is in the western part of the county and is southwest of Watertown
.
The land comprising the town was purchased by Augustus Sackett in 1801 from a foreclosure of two prior landowners. He took an active part in developing the town and increasing its population.
Hounsfield was formed from the Town of Watertown
in 1806. The town and its citizens were deeply involved in the War of 1812
, primarily due to the two battles that took place at Sackets Harbor
.
In 1814, the community of Sackets Harbor, by Black River Bay, set itself off from the town by becoming an incorporated village.
, the town has a total area of 120.4 square miles (311.8 km²), of which, 49.3 square miles (127.7 km²) of it is land and 71.2 square miles (184.4 km²) of it (59.09%) is water.
The northern boundary is the Black River
and the western boundary is Lake Ontario
. Mill Creek enters Black River Bay near Sackets Harbor.
New York State Route 3
is a north-south highway in the western part of Hounsfield. Interstate 81
crosses the southeast part of Hounsfield.
of 2000, there were 3,323 people, 1,350 households, and 908 families residing in the town. The population density
was 67.5 people per square mile (26.0/km²). There were 1,839 housing units at an average density of 37.3 per square mile (14.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.53% White, 0.57% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.18% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 1,350 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,011, and the median income for a family was $47,742. Males had a median income of $32,464 versus $26,406 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,806. About 7.6% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% 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 Jefferson County
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, 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 3,466 at the 2010 census. The name of the town is from Ezra Hounsfield, a land agent and land owner.
The Town of Hounsfield is in the western part of the county and is southwest of Watertown
Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S...
.
History
The first settler within the town arrived around 1800.The land comprising the town was purchased by Augustus Sackett in 1801 from a foreclosure of two prior landowners. He took an active part in developing the town and increasing its population.
Hounsfield was formed from the Town of Watertown
Watertown (town), New York
Watertown is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population is 4,470.The Town of Watertown is located in the southeast part of the county...
in 1806. The town and its citizens were deeply involved in 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...
, primarily due to the two battles that took place at Sackets Harbor
Sackets Harbor, New York
Sackets Harbor is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who founded it in the early 19th century.The Village of Sackets Harbor is within the western part of the...
.
In 1814, the community of Sackets Harbor, by Black River Bay, set itself off from the town by becoming an incorporated village.
Notable people from Hounsfield
- Samuel Guthrie (U.S. physician), one of the discoverers of chloroform, and inventor of the percussion compound for firearms, which superseded flints (1782–1848). See a photo of his house in the Jewettsville section of the town here: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/jefferson/hounsfield/guthriehome.html
- Veranus Alva MooreVeranus Alva MooreVeranus Alva Moore was a U.S. bacteriologist and pathologist.He was born in Hounsfield, New York. A Cornell University graduate and faculty member, Moore served as second dean of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine from 1908 to 1929....
, bacteriologist and pathologist (1859–1931).
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 120.4 square miles (311.8 km²), of which, 49.3 square miles (127.7 km²) of it is land and 71.2 square miles (184.4 km²) of it (59.09%) is water.
The northern boundary is the Black River
Black River (New York)
The Black River is a blackwater river that empties into the eastern end of Lake Ontario on the shore of Jefferson County, New York in the United States of America...
and the western boundary is Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. Mill Creek enters Black River Bay near Sackets Harbor.
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
is a north-south highway in the western part of Hounsfield. Interstate 81
Interstate 81
Interstate 81 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40 in Dandridge, Tennessee; its northern terminus is on Wellesley Island at the Canadian border, where the Thousand Islands Bridge connects it to Highway 401, the main freeway...
crosses the southeast part of Hounsfield.
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 3,323 people, 1,350 households, and 908 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 67.5 people per square mile (26.0/km²). There were 1,839 housing units at an average density of 37.3 per square mile (14.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.53% White, 0.57% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.18% 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 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 1,350 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% 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, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,011, and the median income for a family was $47,742. Males had a median income of $32,464 versus $26,406 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 $19,806. About 7.6% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and inhabited places
- Alverson-- A hamlet north of Sulphur Springs.
- Baggs Corner – A hamlet on NY-3 at County Route 66, east of Sackets Harbor.
- Boulton Beach – A location southwest of Sackets Harbor on the Lake Ontario Shore.
- Blanchard's Corners – A former location in the town.
- Camps Mills – A hamlet east of Sackets Harbor on County Route 62.
- East Hounsfield – A hamlet on NY-3 near the eastern town line.
- Field's Settlement – A hamlet on County Route 63 at the east town line.
- Jewettville – A location on NY-3 west of Baggs Corner. It was a thriving brick-making community in the early history of Hounsfield.
- Maxon Corners – A location on County Route 63 in the southeast part of Hounsfield.
- Paddy Hill – A location on NY-12F at the north town line.
- Price Settlement – A formet location in the town.
- Purpura Corners – A hamlet south of Sackets Harbor on NY-3.
- Sackets HarborSackets Harbor, New YorkSackets Harbor is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census. The village was named after land developer and owner Augustus Sackett, who founded it in the early 19th century.The Village of Sackets Harbor is within the western part of the...
– The Village of Sackets Harbor is on the south shore of Black River Bay in the eastern part of Hounsfield. - Stowell Corners – A location on County Route 63 in the southwest part of Hounsfield.
- Sulphur Springs – A hamlet on County Route 62 in the south central part of the town.
- Watertown Muncicipal Airport or Watertown International (ART) – The airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
is in the northwest part of the town.
Geographical features and other locations
- Bass Island – A small islandIslandAn island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
offshore of the mainland in Lake Ontario. - Black River Bay – A bayBayA bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
of Lake Ontario in the north part of Hounsfield. - Calf Island – A small island southwest of Stony Island.
- Campbell Point – A projection into Lake Ontario by the south town line.
- Galoo Island – A large island, northwest of Stony Island. far from the mainland in Lake Ontario.
- Gull Island – A small islandIslandAn island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
offshore of the mainland in Lake Ontario. - Horse Island – A small islandIslandAn island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
offshore of the mainland in Lake Ontario. - Little Galoo Island – A small island south of Galoo Island.
- Navy Point – A point of land in Black River Bay by Sackets Harbor.
- Stony Island – A large island far from the mainland in Lake Ontario located in the Town of Henderson.
- Stoors Point – The end of a peninsula in the northeast part of Black River Bay.