Machias, New York
Encyclopedia
Machias is a town
in Cattaraugus County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,482 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Machias is an interior town in the northeast quadrant of the county. It is northeast of the city of Salamanca
.
. In 1847, Machias was increased by additional territory from the Town of Yorkshire. Machias received its name from Maine settlers.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 41.1 square miles (106.4 km²), of which, 40.6 square miles (105.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.24%) is water.
New York State Route 16
intersects New York State Route 242
at Machias village.
The Town of Machias straddles the border of the Mississippi River Drainage Basin, with waters flowing out of Lime Lake flowing north and then west to Lake Erie and eventually the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean, and waters of Ischua creek, less than one mile (1.6 km) south of Lime Lake, flowing south towards the Allegheny River and eventually the Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico.
Ischua Creek flows past the south part of Machias village.
and north of the Town of Franklinville
. The towns of Farmersville
and Freedom
are on the east and the towns of Ashford
and Ellicottville
are on the west.
, there were 2,482 people, 906 households, and 654 families residing in the town. The population density
was 61.1 people per square mile (23.6/km²). There were 1,354 housing units at an average density of 33.3 per square mile (12.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.78% White, 0.16% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.32% from other races
, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 906 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,553, and the median income for a family was $39,301. Males had a median income of $30,217 versus $21,652 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,367. About 10.6% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 19.1% 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 Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
, 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 2,482 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Machias is an interior town in the northeast quadrant of the county. It is northeast of the city of Salamanca
Salamanca (city), New York
Salamanca is a city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States, located inside the Allegany Indian Reservation. The population was 6,097 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
History
The Town of Machias was first settled around 1813 and was established in 1827 from the Town of YorkshireYorkshire (town), New York
Yorkshire is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 4,210 at the 2000 census.The Town of Yorkshire is located on the northern edge and the northeast quadrant of the county.- History :...
. In 1847, Machias was increased by additional territory from the Town of Yorkshire. Machias received its name from Maine settlers.
Geography
The town is located at 42°25′10"N 78°29′40"W.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 town has a total area of 41.1 square miles (106.4 km²), of which, 40.6 square miles (105.2 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.24%) is water.
New York State Route 16
New York State Route 16
New York State Route 16 is a state highway in western New York, United States. It runs from the Pennsylvania state line, where it is one of the highest highways in the state in elevation, to downtown Buffalo. NY 16 is a major route through Erie County, despite the construction of the...
intersects New York State Route 242
New York State Route 242
New York State Route 242 is a state highway that runs across Cattaraugus County, New York, in the United States. Although signed as an east–west route, it takes a more northeast–southwest course across the county from NY 394 near the village of Randolph to NY 16 in Machias...
at Machias village.
The Town of Machias straddles the border of the Mississippi River Drainage Basin, with waters flowing out of Lime Lake flowing north and then west to Lake Erie and eventually the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean, and waters of Ischua creek, less than one mile (1.6 km) south of Lime Lake, flowing south towards the Allegheny River and eventually the Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico.
Ischua Creek flows past the south part of Machias village.
Adjacent towns and areas
Machias is south of the Town of YorkshireYorkshire (town), New York
Yorkshire is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 4,210 at the 2000 census.The Town of Yorkshire is located on the northern edge and the northeast quadrant of the county.- History :...
and north of the Town of Franklinville
Franklinville (town), New York
Franklinville is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 3,128 at the 2000 census.The Town of Franklinville is an interior town, located in the northeast quadrant of the county. Franklinville is also the name of a village in the town.- History :The town was first...
. The towns of Farmersville
Farmersville, New York
Farmersville is a town located in the eastern border of Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,028 at the 2000 census.- History :The area was first settled around 1805, but no permanent settlement was made until around 1817...
and Freedom
Freedom, New York
Freedom is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,493 at the 2000 census.The Town of Freedom is in the northeast corner of the Cattaraugus County.- History :The first settlers arrived around 1811....
are on the east and the towns of Ashford
Ashford, New York
Ashford is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 2,223 at the 2000 census.The Town of Ashford is on the county's northern border.- History :...
and Ellicottville
Ellicottville (town), New York
Ellicottville is a town in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,738 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Joseph Ellicott, principal land agent of the Holland Land Company....
are on the west.
Demographics
As of the 2000 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...
, there were 2,482 people, 906 households, and 654 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 61.1 people per square mile (23.6/km²). There were 1,354 housing units at an average density of 33.3 per square mile (12.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.78% White, 0.16% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.32% 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 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 906 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% 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, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,553, and the median income for a family was $39,301. Males had a median income of $30,217 versus $21,652 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 $14,367. About 10.6% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Machias
- Bakerstand – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on NY Route 242New York State Route 242New York State Route 242 is a state highway that runs across Cattaraugus County, New York, in the United States. Although signed as an east–west route, it takes a more northeast–southwest course across the county from NY 394 near the village of Randolph to NY 16 in Machias...
- Bird – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town, north of Bakerstand
- Brewers Corners – A location northwest of Machias village on County Road 20
- Fancy Tract – A location on the west town line
- Frog Pond – A small body of water north of Lime Lake village
- Lime LakeLime Lake-Machias, New YorkLime Lake-Machias is a census-designated place including part of the Town of Machias, in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,422 at the 2000 census....
– The hamletHamlet (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...
was settled around a small lakeLakeA lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
, which itself is called Lime Lake. Lime Lake is on NY Route 16New York State Route 16New York State Route 16 is a state highway in western New York, United States. It runs from the Pennsylvania state line, where it is one of the highest highways in the state in elevation, to downtown Buffalo. NY 16 is a major route through Erie County, despite the construction of the...
in the northeast part of the town, north of Machias village. The lake received its name from the shells found on its bottom. The lake is almost completely surrounded by vacation and year-round cottages. - Lime Lake Outlet – A stream flowing out the north end of Lime Lake to Cattaraugus CreekCattaraugus CreekCattaraugus Creek is a stream, approximately 68 miles long, in western New York in the United States. The creek drains a wooded rural portion of western New York southwest of Buffalo into Lake Erie. In its lower course it flows primarily through the Cattaraugus Reservation of the Seneca tribe...
- MachiasLime Lake-Machias, New YorkLime Lake-Machias is a census-designated place including part of the Town of Machias, in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. The population was 1,422 at the 2000 census....
(earlier "Machias Five Corners" and "Chickasaw") – the principal hamlet and business district is the town on NY Route 16 in the east part of the town. Besides Lime Lake, many other smaller bodies of water surround the village. The village was first settled around 1820. The early name regarding five corners refers to the main intersection in the village where five roads conjoin. - Machias Junction – A hamlet southeast of Machias on County Road 37
- Sucker Pond – A small body of water near Brewers Corners