Mentz, New York
Encyclopedia
Mentz is a town
in Cayuga County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,378 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Mentz is on the central part of the county, north of Auburn
, New York
.
as the "Town of Jefferson," while still part of Onondaga County
. In 1808, it assumed its current name. The first permanent settlers arrived in 1810, although others had attempted to settle the area previously.
In 1837, the community of Port Byron set itself apart from Mentz by incorporating as a village.
The Erie Canal was moved to include the Seneca River in 1856.
In 1859, part of the town was used to form the Towns of Montezuma
and Throop
.
, the town has a total area of 17.2 square miles (44.5 km²), of which, 17 square miles (44 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.81%) is water.
The north town line is defined by the Erie Canal
(Seneca River
). Port Byron and Centerport were port
s on the canal until it was moved northward.
The New York State Thruway
(interstate 90
) crosses the town, following along the original path of the Erie Canal. New York State Route 31
(east-west) crosses New York State Route 38
at Port Byron.
of 2000, there were 2,446 people, 932 households, and 676 families residing in the town. The population density
was 143.5 people per square mile (55.4/km²). There were 999 housing units at an average density of 58.6 per square mile (22.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.52% White, 0.94% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.65% from other races
, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.64% of the population.
There were 932 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples
living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,398, and the median income for a family was $36,637. Males had a median income of $31,500 versus $20,172 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,494. About 9.4% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 13.5% 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 Cayuga County
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- 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 2,378 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Mentz is on the central part of the county, north of Auburn
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, 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
The town was formed in 1802 from the Town of AureliusAurelius, New York
Aurelius is a town in Cayuga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,792 at the 2010 census. The town was named after the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.The Town of Aurelius is at the western edge of the county and borders the City of Auburn....
as the "Town of Jefferson," while still part of Onondaga County
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. In 1808, it assumed its current name. The first permanent settlers arrived in 1810, although others had attempted to settle the area previously.
In 1837, the community of Port Byron set itself apart from Mentz by incorporating as a village.
The Erie Canal was moved to include the Seneca River in 1856.
In 1859, part of the town was used to form the Towns of Montezuma
Montezuma, New York
Montezuma is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,277 at the 2010 census.The Town of Montezuma is at the west border of Cayuga County and is northwest of Auburn, New York.- History :...
and Throop
Throop, New York
----Throop is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The town is at the north city line of Auburn, New York and is in the Finger Lake District of New York. The population was 1,990 at the 2010 census. The town is named after former New York Governor Enos T...
.
Residents of note
- Isaac SingerIsaac SingerIsaac Merritt Singer was an inventor, actor, and entrepreneur. He made important improvements in the design of the sewing machine and was the founder of the Singer Sewing Machine Company...
, sewing machine manufacturer lived in Mentz. - Henry WellsHenry WellsHenry Wells was an American businessman important in the history of both the American Express Company and Wells Fargo & Company.-Early life:...
, partner in Wells-Fargo, lived here. - Brigham YoungBrigham YoungBrigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, the MormonMormonThe term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
leader lived briefly in the town.
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 17.2 square miles (44.5 km²), of which, 17 square miles (44 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.81%) is water.
The north town line is defined by 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...
(Seneca River
Seneca River (New York)
The Seneca River in central New York flows from west to east, from Seneca Lake, through the Montezuma Marsh at the north end of Cayuga Lake to the Seneca's confluence with the Oneida and Oswego rivers at the Three Rivers area north of Syracuse. Much of the river has been channelized to form part...
). Port Byron and Centerport were port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
s on the canal until it was moved northward.
The New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
) crosses the town, following along the original path of the Erie Canal. New York State 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...
(east-west) crosses New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Owego in Tioga County. The northern terminus is at a junction with NY 104A in the town of...
at Port Byron.
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 2,446 people, 932 households, and 676 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 143.5 people per square mile (55.4/km²). There were 999 housing units at an average density of 58.6 per square mile (22.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.52% White, 0.94% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.65% 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 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.64% of the population.
There were 932 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% 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, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,398, and the median income for a family was $36,637. Males had a median income of $31,500 versus $20,172 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 $15,494. About 9.4% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Mentz
- Centerport – A hamlet on the east town line and NY-31.
- High Bridge – A location in the northwest part of the town, northwest of Port Byron.
- North Port Byron – A hamlet north of Port Byron village on NY Route 38New York State Route 38New York State Route 38 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Owego in Tioga County. The northern terminus is at a junction with NY 104A in the town of...
. - Port ByronPort Byron, New YorkPort Byron is a village in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,297 at the 2000 census. The village is believed to be named after Lord Byron.The Village of Port Byron is in the Town of Mentz and is north of Auburn, New York....
– The Village of Port Byron is at the intersection of NY-31 and NY-38, immediately south of the Thruway. Port Byron grew to prominence as a port on the Erie Canal, but the canal was moved northward during reconstruction.