Penn Yan, New York
Encyclopedia
Penn Yan is a village
in Yates County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Yates County
and lies at the north end of the east branch of Keuka Lake
, one of the Finger Lakes
.
The Village of Penn Yan is primarily in the Town of Milo
, but a small section is in the Town of Benton
. A smaller section is in the Town of Jerusalem
.
Penn Yan Airport
is south of the village.
The name "Penn Yan" is an invention of the early settlers for their community. It is derived from the shortening of "Pennsylvania Yankee". It houses the Penn Yan Central School District
.
WYLF
-AM 850 broadcasts from Penn Yan and provides local news and weathers, as well as "Timeless Favorites".
The first frame dwelling at Penn Yan was built in 1799. The village became the county seat
in 1823, when Yates county was created, and was incorporated in 1833.
The first settlers were chiefly followers of Jemima Wilkinson
(1753–1819), a religious enthusiast, born in Cumberland Township
, Providence County, Rhode Island
, who asserted that she had received a divine commission. Wilkinson preached in Rhode Island
, Connecticut
, Massachusetts
, and Pennsylvania
. Obtaining a large tract (which was called Jerusalem in 1789) in the present Yates county, she founded in 1788 the village of Hopeton on the outlet of Keuka Lake
about a mile from Seneca Lake. Many followers settled there, and she herself lived there after 1790. Some of her followers left her before 1800, and then the community gradually broke up.
The name of the village is said to have been contrived from the first syllables of " Pennsylvania " and " Yankee," as most of the early settlers were Pennsylvanians and New England
ers (or Yankees).
Many Amish
and Mennonite
families are recent arrivals to the area. Beginning in 1974, many Mennonite families moved to Yates County from Lancaster County, PA, seeking cheaper farmland.
The village was the western terminus of the former Crooked Lake Canal
.
In 1921 the Penn Yan Boat Company
was founded by German immigrant Charles A. Herrman; it produced wooden and glass-fiber boats until 2001.
of 2000, there were 5,219 people, 2,141 households, and 1,261 families residing in the village. The population density
was 2,299.7 people per square mile (887.7/km2). There were 2,299 housing units at an average density of 1,013.1 per square mile (391.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.15% White, 0.67% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races
, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 2,141 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples
living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,278, and the median income for a family was $39,087. Males had a median income of $30,692 versus $19,263 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $15,848. About 9.7% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Yates County
Yates County, New York
Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
, 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,219 at the 2000 census. It is 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....
of Yates County
Yates County, New York
Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
and lies at the north end of the east branch of Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake is an unusual member of New York's Finger Lakes because it is Y-shaped, instead of long and narrow. Because of its shape, it was referred to in the past as Crooked Lake...
, one of the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
.
The Village of Penn Yan is primarily in the Town of Milo
Milo, New York
Milo is a town in Yates County, New York, USA. The population was 7,026 at the 2000 census.The Town of Milo is on the east border of the county and borders Penn Yan, New York.- History :...
, but a small section is in the Town of Benton
Benton, New York
Benton is a town in Yates County, New York, United States. The population was 2,640 at the 2000 census. The town is named after an early resident.The Town of Benton is located in the northeast part of the county...
. A smaller section is in the Town of Jerusalem
Jerusalem, New York
Jerusalem is a town in Yates County, New York in the United States. The population was 4,525 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city of Jerusalem in the Middle East....
.
Penn Yan Airport
Penn Yan Airport
Penn Yan Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located one nautical mile south of the central business district of the Penn Yan, a village in Yates County, New York, United States. It is also known as Penn Yan - Yates County Airport....
is south of the village.
The name "Penn Yan" is an invention of the early settlers for their community. It is derived from the shortening of "Pennsylvania Yankee". It houses the Penn Yan Central School District
Penn Yan Central School District
Penn Yan Central School District is a school district in Penn Yan, New York, United States. The superintendent is Ann Orman. The district operates three schools: Penn Yan Academy, Penn Yan Middle School, and Penn Yan Elementary School.-Administration:...
.
WYLF
WYLF
WYLF is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format. Located near Penn Yan, New York, USA, the station serves the Rochester area. The station is currently owned by M B Communications, Inc.-History:...
-AM 850 broadcasts from Penn Yan and provides local news and weathers, as well as "Timeless Favorites".
History
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....
in 1823, when Yates county was created, and was incorporated in 1833.
The first settlers were chiefly followers of Jemima Wilkinson
Jemima Wilkinson
Jemima Wilkinson was a charismatic American evangelist who preached total sexual abstinence and the Ten Commandments to her congregation of "Universal Friends." Her family were strict Quakers, most of her views were from her upbringing in the Quaker religion.As a young woman, she was plagued by a...
(1753–1819), a religious enthusiast, born in Cumberland Township
Cumberland, Rhode Island
Cumberland is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, incorporated in 1746. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Providence County, Rhode Island
Providence County, Rhode Island
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,504 people per square mile . There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 per square mile...
, who asserted that she had received a divine commission. Wilkinson preached in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Obtaining a large tract (which was called Jerusalem in 1789) in the present Yates county, she founded in 1788 the village of Hopeton on the outlet of Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake
Keuka Lake is an unusual member of New York's Finger Lakes because it is Y-shaped, instead of long and narrow. Because of its shape, it was referred to in the past as Crooked Lake...
about a mile from Seneca Lake. Many followers settled there, and she herself lived there after 1790. Some of her followers left her before 1800, and then the community gradually broke up.
The name of the village is said to have been contrived from the first syllables of " Pennsylvania " and " Yankee," as most of the early settlers were Pennsylvanians and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
ers (or Yankees).
Many Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
and Mennonite
Mennonite
The Mennonites are a group of Christian Anabaptist denominations named after the Frisian Menno Simons , who, through his writings, articulated and thereby formalized the teachings of earlier Swiss founders...
families are recent arrivals to the area. Beginning in 1974, many Mennonite families moved to Yates County from Lancaster County, PA, seeking cheaper farmland.
The village was the western terminus of the former Crooked Lake Canal
Crooked Lake Canal
The Crooked Lake Canal was a former canal in New York, USA. The canal linked two Finger Lakes: Keuka Lake and Seneca Lake. The name refers to the unusual shape of Keuka Lake, which was formerly called "Crooked Lake."...
.
In 1921 the Penn Yan Boat Company
Penn Yan Boat Company
Penn Yan Boat Company, which produced a wide range of wooden and fiberglass powerboats, sailboats, canoes and rowboats, was founded in 1921 by German-native Charles A. Herrman. It derived its name from the location of its headquarters, Penn Yan, New York....
was founded by German immigrant Charles A. Herrman; it produced wooden and glass-fiber boats until 2001.
Notable residents
- David BordwellDavid BordwellDavid Bordwell is an American film theorist and film historian. Since receiving his PhD from the University of Iowa in 1974, he has written more than fifteen volumes on the subject of cinema including Narration in the Fiction Film , Ozu and the Poetics of Cinema , Making Meaning , and On the...
, prominent American film theorist, film critic, and author, grew up on a farm near Penn Yan. - NFL running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Tony CollinsTony CollinsAnthony Collins is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League and the Arena Football League.-Early years:...
grew up in Penn Yan. - Milly Bloomquist, Recipient of The Presidential Citizenship Medal in 2011
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 5,219 people, 2,141 households, and 1,261 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 2,299.7 people per square mile (887.7/km2). There were 2,299 housing units at an average density of 1,013.1 per square mile (391.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.15% White, 0.67% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.33% 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 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 2,141 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% 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, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $29,278, and the median income for a family was $39,087. Males had a median income of $30,692 versus $19,263 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 $15,848. About 9.7% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.