Root, New York
Encyclopedia
Root is a town
in Montgomery County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,715 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Root is in the south-central part of the county and is southwest of Amsterdam
.
The Erie Canal
passes the north part of Root.
The first settler located near Currytown before the American Revolution
. During the Revolution, the community was raided and burned.
Root was once part of the original "Town of Mohawk."
Root was created in 1823 from the Town of Charleston
.
, the town has a total area of 51 square miles (132.1 km²), of which, 50.8 square miles (131.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
The north town line is defined by the Mohawk River
, and the south town line is the border of Schoharie County
.
The New York State Thruway
crosses the north part of the town, following the course of the Mohawk River. New York State Route 5S
also follows the course of the Mohawk and intersects New York State Route 162
at Sprakers in the northwest part of Root.
of 2000, there were 1,752 people, 656 households, and 492 families residing in the town. The population density
was 34.5 people per square mile (13.3/km²). There were 755 housing units at an average density of 14.9 per square mile (5.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.06% White, 0.40% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 656 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,060, and the median income for a family was $41,927. Males had a median income of $28,073 versus $22,656 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,206. About 8.4% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Brian S. Cechnicki (2004–2007)
John van Kersen (1992–2003)
John W. Cechnicki (1982–1991)
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 Montgomery County
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 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 1,715 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Root is in the south-central part of the county and is southwest of Amsterdam
Amsterdam (city), New York
Amsterdam is a city located in Montgomery County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 18,620. The name is derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands....
.
The Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
passes the north part of Root.
History
Root was in Corry's patent.The first settler located near Currytown before 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...
. During the Revolution, the community was raided and burned.
Root was once part of the original "Town of Mohawk."
Root was created in 1823 from the Town of Charleston
Charleston, New York
Charleston is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 1,373 at the 2010 census.The Town of Charleston is on the south border of the county and is southwest of the City of Amsterdam....
.
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 51 square miles (132.1 km²), of which, 50.8 square miles (131.6 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
The north town line is defined by the Mohawk River
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk flows into the Hudson in the Capital District, a few miles north of the city of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy...
, and the south town line is the border of Schoharie County
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
.
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...
crosses the north part of the town, following the course of the Mohawk River. New York State Route 5S
New York State Route 5S
New York State Route 5S is an east–west state highway located in the Mohawk Valley of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 5, NY 5A, NY 8, and NY 12 in Utica to a smaller interchange with NY 890 in Rotterdam...
also follows the course of the Mohawk and intersects New York State Route 162
New York State Route 162
New York State Route 162 is a state highway in eastern New York, United States. It runs from the hamlet of Sloansville within the town of Esperance, Schoharie County to the hamlet of Sprakers within the town of Root, Montgomery County, west of the village of Canajoharie...
at Sprakers in the northwest part of Root.
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 1,752 people, 656 households, and 492 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 34.5 people per square mile (13.3/km²). There were 755 housing units at an average density of 14.9 per square mile (5.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.06% White, 0.40% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.23% 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 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 656 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% 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, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,060, and the median income for a family was $41,927. Males had a median income of $28,073 versus $22,656 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 $16,206. About 8.4% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The Town of Root is a town of the Second Class under New York State law, with a Town Board of four members plus a Town Supervisor, who is a voting member of the Board. In addition, the Supervisor serves on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, the county's legislative and executive body.Town of Root Supervisors
John W. Thayer (2008–Present)Brian S. Cechnicki (2004–2007)
John van Kersen (1992–2003)
John W. Cechnicki (1982–1991)
Communities and locations in Root
- Browns Hollow – A location southwest of Root Center.
- Currytown – A hamlet on NY-162 near the center of Root. The name is derived from "Corry's patent."
- Flat Creek – A location southwest of Currytown, located on Flat Creek.
- Flat Creek – A tributaryTributaryA tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Mohawk River, flowing northward through western Root. - Kilmartin Corners – A location by the south town line.
- Little Nose – A landmark near the Mohawk River, which along with Big Nose on the opposite bank imarks a place called "The Noses."
- Lykers (formerly "Lykers Corners") – A location south of Root Center.
- Randall – A hamlet in the northeast part of Root on NY-5S.
- Root Center – A hamlet south of Currytown.
- Rural Grove – A hamlet southeast of Currytown on NY-162.
- Sprakers (formerly "Sprakers Basin") – 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...
, located on the Erie Canal and Mohawk River and the junction of NY-5S and NY-162 in the northeast part of Root. - Stone Ridge – A hamlet on the town line in the northeast corner of the town on NY-5S.
- Sutphens Hollow – A former community in the northwest part of Root, located by Flat Creek and formerly called "Hamilton Hollow."
- Yatesville – A former community located by the Mohawk River.