Phelps (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Phelps is a town
in Ontario County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 7,017 at the 2000 census. The town is named after one of the original proprietors.
The Town of Phelps contains a village called Phelps
. Both are north of Geneva
, New York
.
.
The region was first settled around 1788. The town was formed in 1796 and was formerly known as "Sullivan."
The town of Phelps was formerly a major center for the production of sauerkraut
, earning the distinction of sauerkraut capital of the world. 2006 marked the 40th anniversary of the annual festival (August) honoring the pickled cabbage.
, the town has a total area of 65.3 square miles (169.0 km²), of which, 65.0 square miles (168.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (0.43%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Seneca County
and the north town line is the border of Wayne County
.
The New York State Thruway
(Interstate 90
) passes through the town north of Phelps village and Clifton Springs. New York State Route 96
parallels the Thruway and intersects two north-south highways in the western part of the town: New York State Route 88
and New York State Route 488
.
of 2000, there were 7,017 people, 2,659 households, and 1,957 families residing in the town. The population density
was 108.0 people per square mile (41.7/km²). There were 2,817 housing units at an average density of 43.4 per square mile (16.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.26% Black or African American
, 0.14% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.46% from other races
, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 2,659 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,246, and the median income for a family was $53,854. Males had a median income of $34,792 versus $26,498 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,297. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% 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 Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 7,017 at the 2000 census. The town is named after one of the original proprietors.
The Town of Phelps contains a village called Phelps
Phelps (village), New York
Phelps is a village in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,969 at the 2000 census. The village is named after an original proprietor, Oliver Phelps....
. Both are north of Geneva
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
, 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 part of the Phelps and Gorham PurchasePhelps 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...
.
The region was first settled around 1788. The town was formed in 1796 and was formerly known as "Sullivan."
The town of Phelps was formerly a major center for the production of sauerkraut
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut , directly translated from German: "sour cabbage", is finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria, including Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus. It has a long shelf-life and a distinctive sour flavor, both of which result from the lactic acid...
, earning the distinction of sauerkraut capital of the world. 2006 marked the 40th anniversary of the annual festival (August) honoring the pickled cabbage.
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 65.3 square miles (169.0 km²), of which, 65.0 square miles (168.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (0.43%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Seneca County
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
and the north town line is the border of Wayne County
Wayne County, New York
Wayne County is a county located in the US state of New York. It is part of the Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies on the south shore of Lake Ontario, forming part of the northern border of the United States with Canada. The name honors General Anthony Wayne, an American...
.
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...
) passes through the town north of Phelps village and Clifton Springs. New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96 is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier village of Owego, Tioga County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with...
parallels the Thruway and intersects two north-south highways in the western part of the town: New York State Route 88
New York State Route 88
New York State Route 88 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 96 in the Ontario County village of Phelps to a junction with NY 104 in the Wayne County town of Sodus...
and New York State Route 488
New York State Route 488
New York State Route 488 is a state highway in Ontario County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 21 in the town of Hopewell, near the city of Canandaigua, to a junction with NY 96 midway between the villages of Phelps and Clifton Springs...
.
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 7,017 people, 2,659 households, and 1,957 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 108.0 people per square mile (41.7/km²). There were 2,817 housing units at an average density of 43.4 per square mile (16.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.26% Black or African American
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...
, 0.14% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.46% 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 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 2,659 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,246, and the median income for a family was $53,854. Males had a median income of $34,792 versus $26,498 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 $21,297. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Phelps
- Clifton SpringsClifton Springs, New YorkClifton Springs is a village located in Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 2,223 at the 2000 census. The village takes its name from local mineral springs....
– The smaller, and eastern, part of the Village of Clifton Springs is located by the west town line. - Dobbins Corners – A hamlet on the east town line.
- East X – A location near the east town line, west of Dobbins Corners.
- Five Points – A location near the east town line, south of West Junius.
- Five Waters Corners – A location on NY-88 in the northern part of the town.
- Fort Hill – A hamlet in the south part of the town.
- Gypsum – A hamlet at the western town line on County Road 27.
- Knickerbocker Corner – A hamlet west of Phelps village at the junction of NY-96 and NY-488.
- Melvin Hill – A hamlet in the south part of the town.
- Oaks Corners – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town on County Road 23. It is named after Pioneer Jonathan Oaks.
- Orleans – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on NY-488.
- PhelpsPhelps (village), New YorkPhelps is a village in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,969 at the 2000 census. The village is named after an original proprietor, Oliver Phelps....
– The Village of Phelps is on NY-96 near the center of the town. - Phelps Junction – A hamlet northwest of Phelps village.
- Pierson Corners – A location by the south town line.
- Thompson – A hamlet on the east town line, north of West Junius.
- Unionville – A hamlet on NY-96 east of Phelps village.
- Warner Corners – A location east of Orleans on County Road 23.
- West Junius – A hamlet near the east town line.