Kirkwood, New York
Encyclopedia
Kirkwood is a town
in Broome County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 5,651 at the 2000 census. The town is named after James P. Kirkwood
, who was an engineer responsible for constructing the local railroad.
The Town of Kirkwood is in the south-central part of the county, southeast of Binghamton
, New York
.
The Town of Kirkwood was formed from the Town of Conklin
in 1859.
In 2006, parts of the town were damaged when the Susquehanna River
overflowed its banks.
, the town has a total area of 31.4 square miles (81.3 km²), of which, 31 square miles (80.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (1.37%) is water.
The south town line is the state line of Pennsylvania
(Susquehanna County
).
The Susquehanna River
forms the western border. US Route 11 and Interstate 81
pass through the town, following the course of the Susquehanna. New York State Route 17
passes across the north part of the town.
of 2000, there were 5,651 people, 2,247 households, and 1,611 families residing in the town. The population density
was 182.5 people per square mile (70.5/km²). There were 2,469 housing units at an average density of 79.7 per square mile (30.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.75% White, 0.60% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 2,247 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,279, and the median income for a family was $45,993. Males had a median income of $34,543 versus $23,275 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,228. About 4.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% 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 Broome County
Broome County, New York
Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,600. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current...
, 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 5,651 at the 2000 census. The town is named after James P. Kirkwood
James P. Kirkwood
James Pugh Kirkwood was a 19th-century American civil engineer.He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on March 27, 1807...
, who was an engineer responsible for constructing the local railroad.
The Town of Kirkwood is in the south-central part of the county, southeast of Binghamton
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
, 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...
.
History
Around 1781, Jonathan Fitch built a gristmill here, becoming the first pioneer settler.The Town of Kirkwood was formed from the Town of Conklin
Conklin, New York
Conklin is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 5,940 at the 2000 census.The Town of Conklin is on the south border of the county, southeast of Binghamton, New York.- History :The area was first settled around 1788....
in 1859.
In 2006, parts of the town were damaged when the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
overflowed its banks.
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 31.4 square miles (81.3 km²), of which, 31 square miles (80.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (1.37%) is water.
The south town line is the state line of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
(Susquehanna County
Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,238 people, 16,529 households, and 11,785 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 21,829 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
).
The Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
forms the western border. US Route 11 and 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...
pass through the town, following the course of the Susquehanna. New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
passes across the north part of the town.
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 5,651 people, 2,247 households, and 1,611 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 182.5 people per square mile (70.5/km²). There were 2,469 housing units at an average density of 79.7 per square mile (30.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.75% White, 0.60% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% 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 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 2,247 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,279, and the median income for a family was $45,993. Males had a median income of $34,543 versus $23,275 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 $19,228. About 4.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Kirkwood
- Brookvale – A hamlet in the northeast part of Kirkwood is on County Road 52. It was formerly called "Stanley Hollow."
- Five Mile Point – A hamlet north of Kirkwood village by the junction of I-81 and NY-17.
- Kirkwood – The hamlet of Kirkwood is on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, on US-11.
- Kirkwood Center – A hamlet north of Kirkwood village on US-11.
- Langdon – A hamlet north of Kirkwood village on County Road 32.
- Popes Ravine – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town.
- Riverside – A hamlet in the south part of the town on US-11.
Notable residents
- Kenny Brown – Born in 1989, he lives on Zimmer Road. He is a cannabis reform activist who has organized and held a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in favor of PA medical marijuana bills HB 1393 and SB 1350. In the summer of 2010 he spoke in Washington, DC at the 41st Annual DC Smoke-In and in Denver, CO at Cannabis Festival. He has recently spoken at the event, Overgrow the Government Rally, in Washington, DC on April 20, 2011.