Ossian, New York
Encyclopedia
Ossian is a town
in Livingston County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 751 at the 2000 census. Ossian
is a figure in Celtic mythology
.
The Town of Ossian is the southernmost town in Livingston County and is in the southeast part of the county.
, while part of Allegany County
. Ossian became part of Livingston County in 1856.
, the town has a total area of 39.7 square miles (102.8 km²), of which, 39.6 square miles (102.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.10%) is water.
Part of the west town line and the south town line are the border of Allegany County
, New York. Part of the east town line is the border of Steuben County
, New York.
New York State Route 436
is a highway across the north part of the town.
of 2000, there were 751 people, 272 households, and 212 families residing in the town. The population density
was 18.9 people per square mile (7.3/km²). There were 310 housing units at an average density of 7.8 per square mile (3.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.93% White, 0.13% African American, 0.13% Native American, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.
There were 272 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% were married couples
living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 18.0% 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 2.75 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,563, and the median income for a family was $50,938. Males had a median income of $32,313 versus $23,977 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,252. About 3.2% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 9.4% 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 Livingston County
Livingston County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
, 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 751 at the 2000 census. Ossian
Ossian
Ossian is the narrator and supposed author of a cycle of poems which the Scottish poet James Macpherson claimed to have translated from ancient sources in the Scots Gaelic. He is based on Oisín, son of Finn or Fionn mac Cumhaill, anglicised to Finn McCool, a character from Irish mythology...
is a figure in Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology
Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure...
.
The Town of Ossian is the southernmost town in Livingston County and is in the southeast part of the county.
History
The area was first settled around 1804 near Ossian Center. The Town of Ossian was formed from the Town of AngelicaAngelica, New York
Angelica, New York may refer to:*Angelica , New York *Angelica , New York...
, while part of Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
. Ossian became part of Livingston County in 1856.
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 39.7 square miles (102.8 km²), of which, 39.6 square miles (102.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.10%) is water.
Part of the west town line and the south town line are the border of Allegany County
Allegany County, New York
Allegany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,946. Its name derives from a Delaware Indian word, applied by settlers of Western New York State to a trail that followed the Allegheny River. Its county seat is...
, New York. Part of the east town line is the border of Steuben County
Steuben County, New York
Steuben County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 98,990. Its name is in honor of Baron von Steuben, a German general who fought on the American side in the American Revolutionary War, though it is not pronounced the same...
, New York.
New York State Route 436
New York State Route 436
New York State Route 436 is an east–west state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 39 in the Pike hamlet of Lamont to a junction with NY 36 in the village of Dansville...
is a highway 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 751 people, 272 households, and 212 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 18.9 people per square mile (7.3/km²). There were 310 housing units at an average density of 7.8 per square mile (3.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.93% White, 0.13% African American, 0.13% Native American, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.13% of the population.
There were 272 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.2% 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, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 18.0% 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 2.75 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,563, and the median income for a family was $50,938. Males had a median income of $32,313 versus $23,977 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 $20,252. About 3.2% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Ossian
- Ossian Center – A 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...
near the town center. - Westview – A hamlet in the northwest corner of the town on Route 436.
- Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management AreaNew York State Wildlife Management AreasNew York State owns and maintains more than 85 Wildlife Management Areas , with a total area of more than .The Wildlife Management Areas Program is administered by the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources of the Department of Environmental Conservation...
– A state conservation area in the western part of the town.