Medina, New York
Encyclopedia
Medina is a village in the towns of Shelby
and Ridgeway
in Orleans County
, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census
, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat
. The village was named by its surveyor. It is part of the Rochester
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
It developed from a stopover on the Erie Canal
, which bends as it passes through the village, creating a basin that served as a stopover point. Mills on Oak Orchard Creek provided water power, and the fertile lands around it gave it fruit to export via the canal. At the turn of the 20th century the village was a thriving industrial town.
A branch campus of Genesee Community College
is located in Medina.
, the agent of the Holland Land Company
, once owned land that encompassed part of the village.
Prosperity began around 1825 when the Erie Canal
opened passing through Medina.
The Village of Medina was incorporated in 1832, creating an entity contained within the two towns.
Although the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby have begun merging functions, Medina has determined to remain an incorporated village.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.39%) is water.
Medina lies at the junction of east-west highway NYS Route 31
and north-south highway NYS Route 63
. In addition, Medina marks the location where NYS Route 31E
and NYS Route 31A
split off from NY-31.
of 2000, there were 6,415 people, 2,567 households, and 1,576 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,962.1 people per square mile (757.4/km²). There were 2,796 housing units at an average density of 855.2 per square mile (330.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 87.89% White, 7.56% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.62% from other races
, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.83% of the population.
There were 2,567 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples
living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $30,300, and the median income for a family was $37,857. Males had a median income of $31,857 versus $21,633 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,138. About 13.0% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
In May 2006 New York Governor George Pataki
announced the construction of the first ethanol
plant in the Northeastern United States
. The plant began receiving deliveries of corn in October 2007 and was expected to start production in November 2007. Partial production began shortly thereafter and full production was announced by GreenShift Corporation on Feb, 25, 2008. Since that time, the Western New York Energy, LLC plant has been in production processing significant portions of the local corn crop.
Medina is in Ripley's Believe it or Not for St. John's Episcopal Church which is the "Church in the Middle of the Road" and the Culvert, which is the only place in which a road passes under the Erie Canal
.
Medina is home to the Medina Railroad Museum
, one of the largest railroad and toy train museums in NY.
One of the oldest homes in Medina exists at 224 Eagle Street, a block from the Erie canal, on the north side of town. This home was built in the early 1820s and was purchased by the Burnam family in the 1830s. It stayed in the family's possession until around 1984.
Shelby, New York
Shelby, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 5,420 at the 2000 census.The Town of Shelby is located in southwest corner of Orleans County.- History :...
and Ridgeway
Ridgeway, New York
Ridgeway, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century....
in Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. The village was named by its surveyor. It is part of the Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Rochester, New York metropolitan area
The Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area , as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in Western New York, anchored by the city of Rochester...
.
It developed from a stopover on 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...
, which bends as it passes through the village, creating a basin that served as a stopover point. Mills on Oak Orchard Creek provided water power, and the fertile lands around it gave it fruit to export via the canal. At the turn of the 20th century the village was a thriving industrial town.
A branch campus of Genesee Community College
Genesee Community College
Genesee Community College is a public community college with its main campus in Town of Batavia, New York, USA . It has branch campuses in Albion, Medina, Warsaw, Dansville, Arcade, Lima, and previously Lakeville, New York. Thus, the college covers areas outside of Genesee County...
is located in Medina.
History
Joseph EllicottJoseph Ellicott
Joseph Ellicott was an American surveyor, city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician of the Quaker faith.-Life:He was the son of Joseph Ellicott ....
, the agent of the Holland Land Company
Holland Land Company
The Holland Land Company was a purchaser of the western two-thirds of the western New York land tract known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. This tract was known thereafter as The Holland Purchase...
, once owned land that encompassed part of the village.
Prosperity began around 1825 when 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...
opened passing through Medina.
The Village of Medina was incorporated in 1832, creating an entity contained within the two towns.
Although the towns of Ridgeway and Shelby have begun merging functions, Medina has determined to remain an incorporated village.
Geography
Medina is located at 43°13′11"N 78°23′24"W (43.219808, -78.390101).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 village has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), of which, 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (2.39%) is water.
Medina lies at the junction of east-west highway NYS Route 31
New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
and north-south highway NYS Route 63
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
. In addition, Medina marks the location where NYS Route 31E
New York State Route 31E
New York State Route 31E is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 31 between the village of Middleport in eastern Niagara County and the nearby village of Medina in Orleans County...
and NYS Route 31A
New York State Route 31A
New York State Route 31A is an east–west state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. It serves as a southerly alternate route of NY 31 from the western part of Orleans County to the far western part of Monroe County...
split off from NY-31.
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 6,415 people, 2,567 households, and 1,576 families residing in the village. 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 1,962.1 people per square mile (757.4/km²). There were 2,796 housing units at an average density of 855.2 per square mile (330.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 87.89% White, 7.56% African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.62% 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 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.83% of the population.
There were 2,567 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% 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, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $30,300, and the median income for a family was $37,857. Males had a median income of $31,857 versus $21,633 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 village was $16,138. About 13.0% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Additional Medina facts
Medina is known for its "Medina sandstone" a brown stone used widely in buildings in the region.In May 2006 New York Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
announced the construction of the first ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
plant in the Northeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The plant began receiving deliveries of corn in October 2007 and was expected to start production in November 2007. Partial production began shortly thereafter and full production was announced by GreenShift Corporation on Feb, 25, 2008. Since that time, the Western New York Energy, LLC plant has been in production processing significant portions of the local corn crop.
Medina is in Ripley's Believe it or Not for St. John's Episcopal Church which is the "Church in the Middle of the Road" and the Culvert, which is the only place in which a road passes under 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...
.
Medina is home to the Medina Railroad Museum
Medina Railroad Museum
The Medina Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located at 530 West Avenue in Medina, New York.The museum is housed in one of the largest standing wooden freight depots, built in 1905...
, one of the largest railroad and toy train museums in NY.
One of the oldest homes in Medina exists at 224 Eagle Street, a block from the Erie canal, on the north side of town. This home was built in the early 1820s and was purchased by the Burnam family in the 1830s. It stayed in the family's possession until around 1984.