Penfield, New York
Encyclopedia
Penfield is a town in Monroe County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 36,242 at the 2010 census.
The town was incorporated in 1810 by the proprietor, Daniel Penfield
, who purchased the town lands in 1795 and moved to the area in 1809. Penfield is a suburb
of Rochester, New York. The town's motto is "A Town of Planned Progress".
, the town has a total area of 37.9 square miles (98.2 km²), of which 37.5 square miles (97.1 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (1.11%) is water.
of 2000, there were 34,645 people, 13,144 households, and 9,634 families residing in the town. The population density
was 923.9 people per square mile (356.7/km²). There were 13,673 housing units at an average density of 364.6 per square mile (140.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.48% White, 3.05% Asian, 2.11% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
There were 13,144 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $63,223, and the median income for a family was $74,959. Males had a median income of $52,282 versus $33,365 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $29,576. About 2.3% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
, Nalge Nunc International
, Birds Eye Foods, and Wegman's.
The Penfield Central School District
has 4 public elementary schools, including one (Indian Landing) located in the Town of Brighton
. The grounds of the Charles Finney School are adjacent to the grounds of Penfield High School as the building housing Finney housed the Penfield High School until it was moved to a newer structure during the 1960s.
The District was included by the American Music Conference in its list, the 2006 Best 100 Communities for Music Education.
, a member of the Haudenosaunee tribes. There is no evidence of Seneca settlements within Penfield, but the town does include the place now called "Indian Landing." From this landing on the shores of Irondequoit Bay, trails and water routes went throughout the region and beyond. This included a water route with only two portage
s leading from the Great Lakes
to the Gulf of Mexico
.
Following the American Revolution
the lands that became Penfield were included in the Phelps and Gorham Purchase
. After passing through several hands, Townships 13 and 14 of Range IV of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase were acquired by Daniel Penfield in several transactions during the course of 1795.
The Town of Penfield was established in 1810 and the first Town Meeting was held on 2 April 1811. The town initially consisted of Townships 13 and 14 of Range IV. A portion of the southwest corner went to the Town of Brighton
when it was established in 1814, and Township 14 became the Town of Webster
in 1840. So modern Penfield is, with minor differences, Township 13 of Range IV of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase.
, which connects the caller to the City of Rochester's
Emergency Communications Department Center). For the Town of Penfield, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department
provides primary law enforcement
for the town's residents.
The volunteer Penfield Fire Company provides fire protection, rescue and non-transport emergency medical services to that part of the Town included within the Penfield Fire District. Northern parts of Penfield receive these services from the Webster Fire Department.
The Penfield Volunteer Emergency Ambulance Service (PVEAS) provides Basic Life Support
with trained Emergency Medical Technicians
. Advanced Life Support
services are provided by the Southeast Quadrant Mobile Critical Care Unit (SEQ MCCU).
, former pro wrestler Chyna, professional soccer player Josh Bolton
, plus size fashion model/actress Velvet D'Amour, and Foreigner
frontman Lou Gramm
.
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
, 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 36,242 at the 2010 census.
The town was incorporated in 1810 by the proprietor, Daniel Penfield
Daniel Penfield
Daniel Penfield was an American merchant and Revolutionary War veteran who is best known for founding the town of Penfield, New York.-Biography:...
, who purchased the town lands in 1795 and moved to the area in 1809. Penfield is a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Rochester, New York. The town's motto is "A Town of Planned Progress".
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 37.9 square miles (98.2 km²), of which 37.5 square miles (97.1 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (1.11%) is water.
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 34,645 people, 13,144 households, and 9,634 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 923.9 people per square mile (356.7/km²). There were 13,673 housing units at an average density of 364.6 per square mile (140.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.48% White, 3.05% Asian, 2.11% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% 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 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
There were 13,144 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% 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, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $63,223, and the median income for a family was $74,959. Males had a median income of $52,282 versus $33,365 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 $29,576. About 2.3% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Major companies in Penfield include PaychexPaychex
Paychex, Inc. is a payroll and human resource service company which serves approximately 572,000 businesses in the US. The company is headquartered in Penfield, New York and has more than 100 locations across the country...
, Nalge Nunc International
Nalge Nunc International
Nalge Nunc International is a distributor and manufacturer of plastic laboratory containers that has diversified into the field of containers for outdoor sports and packaging materials...
, Birds Eye Foods, and Wegman's.
Education
Schools in PenfieldThe Penfield Central School District
Penfield Central School District
The Penfield Central School District is a public school district in New York State that serves approximately 4900 students in portions of the towns of Penfield, Brighton, Perinton and Pittsford in Monroe County, and Macedon and Walworth in Wayne County, with over 900 employees and an operating...
has 4 public elementary schools, including one (Indian Landing) located in the Town of Brighton
Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 36,609 at the 2010 census.-History:The Town of Brighton, located on the southeast border of the city of Rochester, was originally settled approximately 1790, and formally established in 1814—earning it recognition as one...
. The grounds of the Charles Finney School are adjacent to the grounds of Penfield High School as the building housing Finney housed the Penfield High School until it was moved to a newer structure during the 1960s.
The District was included by the American Music Conference in its list, the 2006 Best 100 Communities for Music Education.
| School | Type | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Penfield High School Penfield High School Penfield High School is a public high school located in Penfield, New York, a suburb of Rochester, New York. It offers a comprehensive curriculum for students in grades 9-12. The principal is Dr... (PHS) |
Public High School | 9-12 |
| Southeast Christian Academy | Christian School | PK-12 |
| Charles Finney School | Christian School | K-12 |
| Bay Trail Middle School (BTMS) | Public Middle School | 6-8 |
| Harris Hill | Public Elementary School | K-5 |
| Cobbles | Public Elementary School | K-5 |
| Scribner Road | Public Elementary School | K-5 |
| Indian Landing | Public Elementary School | K-5 |
| St. Joseph's | Catholic Elementary School | Pre-School - 6 |
History
The lands that now constitute the Town of Penfield were part of the hunting grounds of the Seneca NationSeneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
, a member of the Haudenosaunee tribes. There is no evidence of Seneca settlements within Penfield, but the town does include the place now called "Indian Landing." From this landing on the shores of Irondequoit Bay, trails and water routes went throughout the region and beyond. This included a water route with only two portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
s leading from 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...
to the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
.
Following the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
the lands that became Penfield were included in the Phelps and Gorham Purchase
Phelps and Gorham Purchase
The Phelps and Gorham Purchase was the purchase in 1788 of the pre-emptive right to some 6,000,000 acres of land in western New York State for $1,000,000 . This was all land in western New York west of Seneca Lake between Lake Ontario and the Pennsylvania border...
. After passing through several hands, Townships 13 and 14 of Range IV of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase were acquired by Daniel Penfield in several transactions during the course of 1795.
The Town of Penfield was established in 1810 and the first Town Meeting was held on 2 April 1811. The town initially consisted of Townships 13 and 14 of Range IV. A portion of the southwest corner went to the Town of Brighton
Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 36,609 at the 2010 census.-History:The Town of Brighton, located on the southeast border of the city of Rochester, was originally settled approximately 1790, and formally established in 1814—earning it recognition as one...
when it was established in 1814, and Township 14 became the Town of Webster
Webster (town), New York
Webster is a town in the northeast corner of Monroe County, New York, United States. The town is named after orator and statesman Daniel Webster. The population was 42,641 at the 2010 census....
in 1840. So modern Penfield is, with minor differences, Township 13 of Range IV of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase.
Emergency Response in Penfield
Access to emergency services is obtained by dialing 9-1-19-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
, which connects the caller to the City of Rochester's
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...
Emergency Communications Department Center). For the Town of Penfield, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department
Monroe County Sheriff's Department
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for Monroe County which is located in Western New York State. The sheriff's office's constitutional authority is to operate the county jail and provide a civil function...
provides primary law enforcement
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
for the town's residents.
The volunteer Penfield Fire Company provides fire protection, rescue and non-transport emergency medical services to that part of the Town included within the Penfield Fire District. Northern parts of Penfield receive these services from the Webster Fire Department.
The Penfield Volunteer Emergency Ambulance Service (PVEAS) provides Basic Life Support
Basic life support
Basic life support is the level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until the patient can be given full medical care at a hospital. It can be provided by trained medical personnel, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and by...
with trained Emergency Medical Technicians
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
. Advanced Life Support
Advanced Life Support
Advanced Life Support is a set of life-saving protocols and skills that extend Basic Life Support to further support the circulation and provide an open airway and adequate ventilation .-Components of ALS:These include:...
services are provided by the Southeast Quadrant Mobile Critical Care Unit (SEQ MCCU).
Famous Penfielders
USFL Football Player Pete Catan, Actor Pete DuelPete Duel
Pete Duel was an American actor, best known for his role in the television series Alias Smith and Jones.-Early life:Peter Ellstrom Deuel was born in Rochester, New York, and grew up in nearby Penfield....
, former pro wrestler Chyna, professional soccer player Josh Bolton
Josh Bolton (soccer)
Josh Bolton is an American soccer player who last played for Charleston Battery in the USL Second Division.-Youth:...
, plus size fashion model/actress Velvet D'Amour, and Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
frontman Lou Gramm
Lou Gramm
Lou Gramm is an American rock vocalist and songwriter best known for his role as the lead vocalist and co-writer of many of the songs for the rock band Foreigner. He also had a successful solo career...
.
External links
- Town of Penfield, NY webpage
- Town of Penfield Historian
- Penfield Community Television (PCTV)
- Penfield Fire Company
- Penfield Volunteer Emergency Ambulance Service (PVEAS)
- Southeast Quadrant Mobile Critical Care Unit
- Penfield Public Library
- Penfield Central Schools
- Penfield Little League Baseball
- American Music Conference- Top 100 Communities for Music Education