Pittsfield, New York
Encyclopedia
Pittsfield is a town
in Otsego County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,295 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Pittsfield is on the west border of the county, northwest of the City of Oneonta
.
The Town of Pittsfield was formed from part of the Town of Burlington
in 1797. The territory of Pittsfield was reduced two times, in 1806 to form Town of New Lisbon
, and in 1859 to form part of the Town of Morris.
It was named by the Noble family from Pittsfield, MA, for their old home, who settled in the Pittsfield Centre vicinity.
The hamlet of Pittsfield, or "Pittsfield Centre", had a unmanned whistlestop station and siding on the Ontario & Western RR branch to Edmeston from New Berlin, later purchased by the Unadilla Valley RR. During World War I Richard Freeman and Charles Walton shipped lumber by the carload from here, milled over in Ketchum.
Ketchum takes its name from the Rev. Orvib Ketchum who founded a congregational church on the headwaters of Aldrich Creek in the east part of town, the church was later sold by the Wyoming Conference to the Americana Village near Hamilton, NY. A schoolhouse, store, several steam sawmills and cemetery also existed here. The Ball family operated several "rope walks" nearby, where hemp was wound into twine and then rope.
County Route 13 between Morris and New Berlin is referred to as "the turnpike" by locals, originally constructed in 1832, it was the last section to operate a tollgate due to being the most expensive to build.
Ebenezer Chapel, near the southwest border, was coincidentally named after a nearby resident, and was a small settlement originally known as "Hayti" at one time. In 1956, a nearby house made statewide news when a moonshine still was busted up.
, the town has a total area of 37.8 square miles (97.9 km²), of which, 37.7 square miles (97.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.13%) is water.
The west town line, defined by the Unadilla River
, is the border of Chenango County
. Wharton Creek flows into the Unadilla River at the west town line. Aldrich Creek drains the east end of town southwards into the Butternut at Elm Grove in Morris.
New York State Route 80
passes through the northwest part of the town.
of 2000, there were 1,295 people, 474 households, and 359 families residing in the town. The population density
was 34.3 people per square mile (13.3/km²). There were 605 housing units at an average density of 16.0 per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.84% White, 0.23% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 474 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,078, and the median income for a family was $36,328. Males had a median income of $27,446 versus $21,912 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,347. About 13.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 12.3% 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 Otsego County
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. The 2010 population was 62,259. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name Otsego is from a Mohawk word meaning "place of the rock."-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 1,295 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Pittsfield is on the west border of the county, northwest of the City of Oneonta
Oneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
.
History
The town was first settled around 1793.The Town of Pittsfield was formed from part of the Town of Burlington
Burlington, New York
Burlington is a town in Otsego County, New York, USA. The population was 1,085 at the 2000 census.The Town of Burlington is in the northwest part of the county and is north of Oneonta.-Geography:...
in 1797. The territory of Pittsfield was reduced two times, in 1806 to form Town of New Lisbon
New Lisbon, New York
New Lisbon is a town in Otsego County, New York, United States. The population was 1,116 at the 2000 census.The Town of New Lisbon is in the west-central part of the county. It is north of the City of Oneonta.- History :...
, and in 1859 to form part of the Town of Morris.
It was named by the Noble family from Pittsfield, MA, for their old home, who settled in the Pittsfield Centre vicinity.
The hamlet of Pittsfield, or "Pittsfield Centre", had a unmanned whistlestop station and siding on the Ontario & Western RR branch to Edmeston from New Berlin, later purchased by the Unadilla Valley RR. During World War I Richard Freeman and Charles Walton shipped lumber by the carload from here, milled over in Ketchum.
Ketchum takes its name from the Rev. Orvib Ketchum who founded a congregational church on the headwaters of Aldrich Creek in the east part of town, the church was later sold by the Wyoming Conference to the Americana Village near Hamilton, NY. A schoolhouse, store, several steam sawmills and cemetery also existed here. The Ball family operated several "rope walks" nearby, where hemp was wound into twine and then rope.
County Route 13 between Morris and New Berlin is referred to as "the turnpike" by locals, originally constructed in 1832, it was the last section to operate a tollgate due to being the most expensive to build.
Ebenezer Chapel, near the southwest border, was coincidentally named after a nearby resident, and was a small settlement originally known as "Hayti" at one time. In 1956, a nearby house made statewide news when a moonshine still was busted up.
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 37.8 square miles (97.9 km²), of which, 37.7 square miles (97.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.13%) is water.
The west town line, defined by the Unadilla River
Unadilla River
The Unadilla River in New York State flows from south of Utica to the village of Sidney, where it flows into the Susquehanna River, which eventually empties into the Chesapeake Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean....
, is the border of Chenango County
Chenango County, New York
Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477. The county's name originates from an Oneida word meaning "large bull-thistle." Its county seat is Norwich.-History:...
. Wharton Creek flows into the Unadilla River at the west town line. Aldrich Creek drains the east end of town southwards into the Butternut at Elm Grove in Morris.
New York State Route 80
New York State Route 80
New York State Route 80 is a west–east New York State Route located within Onondaga, Madison, Chenango, Otsego, Herkimer, and Montgomery Counties in New York. Its western terminus is located at a junction with NY 175 in the city of Syracuse in Onondaga County, from which it...
passes through the northwest 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 1,295 people, 474 households, and 359 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 34.3 people per square mile (13.3/km²). There were 605 housing units at an average density of 16.0 per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.84% White, 0.23% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.08% 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 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 474 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,078, and the median income for a family was $36,328. Males had a median income of $27,446 versus $21,912 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 $15,347. About 13.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Pittsfield
- Briggs Corners – A location northwest of Pittsfield village.
- Cardtown – A location northeast of Pittsfield village.
- Finksville – About a mile east of New Berlin on the Turnpike/County 13, once home of a large woodenware and pump log manufactory.
- Hoboken – 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 west town line on NY-80. Named for workers who migrated up from Hoboken, NJ, at the Bordens Condensory that was originally the Arkwright textile mill and c. 1900 was the largest dairy condensory in the world, just east of the Village of New Berlin and served by a branch of the O&WRR. - Ketchum – A location in the western part of the town on County Route 49, formerly site of a Congregational church founded by Rev. Orvib Ketchum for whom the hamlet was named.
- Pittsfield – The hamlet of Pittsfield, formerly "Pittsfield Centre", is on NY Route 80New York State Route 80New York State Route 80 is a west–east New York State Route located within Onondaga, Madison, Chenango, Otsego, Herkimer, and Montgomery Counties in New York. Its western terminus is located at a junction with NY 175 in the city of Syracuse in Onondaga County, from which it...
in the northern part of the town. - Silver LakeSilver Lake, Otsego County, New YorkOtsego County's Silver Lake is located south of New Berlin in the town of Pittsfield, situated on the eastern bank of the Unadilla River. The hamlet is named for a small lake of the same name along the eastern edge of the hamlet....
– (1) A hamlet near the Unadilla River located north of (2) a small lake of the same name, both located west of County Highway 18. - Shacktown Mountain – An elevation in the southwest corner of Pittsfield.
- Taylors Corners – A location northeast of Pittsfield village on County Route 49.