Lisbon, New York
Encyclopedia
Lisbon is a town
in St. Lawrence County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 4,047 at the 2000 census.
By some accounts, the town is named after the capital of Portugal
. However, the 1810 US Census for the town shows the town's name as Lisburn, which is a city located in Northern Ireland
adjacent to the capital of Belfast. Belfast was the birthplace of Alexander Macomb, the prosperous New York City
merchant of Loyalist
sympathies. Earlier in 1791, he purchased much of Northern New York along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario
, which the state had released for public sale after cession of the land by the Iroquois
. With partners, Macomb sold the land for development.
The Town of Lisbon is in the northern part of the county and is northwest of Canton
.
, preceded by a US embargo against trade with Canada, which damaged the upstate economy; and the construction of the Erie Canal
in 1824, which enabled transportation between areas accessible to the Great Lakes
and New York City
. Development and population flowed west.
The Town of Lisbon was the first town in the county; it was formed in 1801, before the county was established.
The former Lisbon Railroad Depot
, now operated as the town museum, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2000.
, the town has a total area of 113.7 square miles (294.5 km²), of which, 108.2 square miles (280.2 km²) of it is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it (4.78%) is water.
The north town line is marked by the St. Lawrence River, which is the international border with Canada
, the Province of Ontario
. The town borders Ogdensburg
, New York
at its northwest corner.
New York State Route 37
and New York State Route 68
are highways that converge west of the town in Ogdensburg
. NY-37 follows the south bank of St. Lawrence River in a northeasterly direction, and NY-68 runs southeasterly to Canton.
of 2000, there were 4,047 people, 1,468 households, and 1,101 families residing in the town. The population density
was 37.4 people per square mile (14.4/km²). There were 1,719 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.12% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 1,468 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,772, and the median income for a family was $38,384. Males had a median income of $30,558 versus $25,525 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,784. About 7.5% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 4.5% 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 St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
, 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 4,047 at the 2000 census.
By some accounts, the town is named after the capital of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. However, the 1810 US Census for the town shows the town's name as Lisburn, which is a city located in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
adjacent to the capital of Belfast. Belfast was the birthplace of Alexander Macomb, the prosperous New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
merchant of Loyalist
Loyalist
In general, a loyalist is someone who maintains loyalty to an established government, political party, or sovereign, especially during war or revolutionary change. In modern English usage, the most common application is to loyalty to the British Crown....
sympathies. Earlier in 1791, he purchased much of Northern New York along the St. Lawrence River and 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...
, which the state had released for public sale after cession of the land by the Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
. With partners, Macomb sold the land for development.
The Town of Lisbon is in the northern part of the county and is northwest of Canton
Canton (village), New York
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County...
.
History
The first European-American settler arrived around 1799. Many migrants arrived in the area from New England and were eager to buy land. Macomb and his partners believed that upstate New York was strategic for prosperous development, as they were depending on the growing trade with Canada across the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. Two factors worked against this: the War of 1812War 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...
, preceded by a US embargo against trade with Canada, which damaged the upstate economy; and the construction of the 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...
in 1824, which enabled transportation between areas accessible to the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Development and population flowed west.
The Town of Lisbon was the first town in the county; it was formed in 1801, before the county was established.
The former Lisbon Railroad Depot
Lisbon Railroad Depot
Lisbon Railroad Depot is a historic railway station located at Lisbon in St. Lawrence County, New York. It was built in 1930 as the second reconstruction of a railway depot at Lisbon by the Rutland Railway. It is a one story, frame building, measuring 23 feet by 68 feet with a hipped roof and wide...
, now operated as the town museum, was 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...
in 2000.
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 113.7 square miles (294.5 km²), of which, 108.2 square miles (280.2 km²) of it is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it (4.78%) is water.
The north town line is marked by the St. Lawrence River, which is the international border with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The town borders Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
, 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...
at its northwest corner.
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
and New York State Route 68
New York State Route 68
New York State Route 68 is an east–west state highway located entirely within St. Lawrence County in the North Country of New York in the United States. The western terminus is at an intersection with NY 37 in Oswegatchie, just west of the Ogdensburg city limits...
are highways that converge west of the town in Ogdensburg
Ogdensburg, New York
Ogdensburg is a city in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 11,128 at the 2010 census. In the late 18th century, European-American settlers named the community after American land owner and developer Samuel Ogden....
. NY-37 follows the south bank of St. Lawrence River in a northeasterly direction, and NY-68 runs southeasterly to Canton.
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 4,047 people, 1,468 households, and 1,101 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 37.4 people per square mile (14.4/km²). There were 1,719 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.12% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.07% 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 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 1,468 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.4% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,772, and the median income for a family was $38,384. Males had a median income of $30,558 versus $25,525 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 $15,784. About 7.5% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Lisbon
- Benedict Island – An 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...
in the St. Lawrence River between Galop Island and the mainland. - Chimney Island – A small island in the St. Lawerence River north of Chimney Point.
- Chimney Point – A projection into the St. Lawrence River and the location of the Ogdensburg Prescott International Bridge.
- Flackville – A hamlet in the western part of the town on NY-68 at County Road 10.
- Galop Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River, formerly called Isle au Gallaup.
- Galop Island State Park – A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
on Galop Island. - Gregory Corners – A location east of Lisbon village at the junction of County Roads 27 and 30.
- Hague Crossing – A hamlet near the northeast town line on County Road 30.
- Lisbon – The hamlet of Lisbon is on County Road 10 (Lisbon Road) at the junction of County Road 27 (Morley-Lisbon Road) near the center of the town.
- North Corners – A location north of Lisbon village at County Roads 27 and 28.
- Ogdensburg Correctional FacilityOgdensburg Correctional FacilityOgdensburg Correctional Facility is a medium-security state prison for male prisoners, located in the northern part of St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The prison is located in the northwest corner of the Town of Lisbon near the St. Lawrence River...
– A state prison in the northwest part of the town. - Pine Grove – A hamlet near the northeast town line on County Road 28 at County Road 11.
- Red Mills – A hamlet near the St. Lawrence River on NY-37, formerly known as Galloupville.
- Sparrowhawk Point – A location on the south bank of the St. Lawrence River.
External links
- Town of Lisbon, NY
- Lisbon Town Historian's site
- Lisbon Town Recreation Website
- Summer sunset at Lisbon Beach
- Lisbon Depot Museum photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885525@N00/287775674/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885525@N00/287775681/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/35885525@N00/287775667/
- Lights on the River - Holiday Light Display @ the Lisbon Beach & Campgrounds