Shelby, New York
Encyclopedia
Shelby, New York is a town
in Orleans County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 5,420 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Shelby is located in southwest corner of Orleans County.
.
Since 2002, Shelby and Ridgeway have been exploring merging functions for cost-saving and currently have one town court to serve both towns.
, the town has a total area of 46.7 square miles (121 km²), of which, 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.79%) is water.
The west town line is shared with the Town of Royalton
in Niagara County
, and the south town line is shared by the Town of Alabama
in Genesee County
.
of 2000, there were 5,420 people, 2,005 households, and 1,337 families residing in the town. The population density
was 117.0 people per square mile (45.2/km²). There were 2,133 housing units at an average density of 46.0 per square mile (17.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.70% White, 7.01% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races
, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 2,005 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,091, and the median income for a family was $40,972. Males had a median income of $32,087 versus $21,299 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,154. About 8.6% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 3.3% 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 Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 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 5,420 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Shelby is located in southwest corner of Orleans County.
History
The Town of Shelby was established in 1818 by a partition of the Town of RidgewayRidgeway, New York
Ridgeway, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century....
.
Since 2002, Shelby and Ridgeway have been exploring merging functions for cost-saving and currently have one town court to serve both towns.
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 46.7 square miles (121 km²), of which, 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.79%) is water.
The west town line is shared with the Town of Royalton
Royalton, New York
Royalton is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 7,660 at the 2010 census.The Town of Royalton is in the southeast corner of the county and is east of the City of Niagara Falls.- History :...
in Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, and the south town line is shared by the Town of Alabama
Alabama, New York
Alabama is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The town is in the northwest part of the county. New York State Route 63 and New York State Route 77 intersect in the town. The population was 1,881 at the 2000 census...
in Genesee County
Genesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
.
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 5,420 people, 2,005 households, and 1,337 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 117.0 people per square mile (45.2/km²). There were 2,133 housing units at an average density of 46.0 per square mile (17.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.70% White, 7.01% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.16% 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 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 2,005 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% 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, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,091, and the median income for a family was $40,972. Males had a median income of $32,087 versus $21,299 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 $17,154. About 8.6% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Shelby
- Iroquois National Wildlife RefugeIroquois National Wildlife RefugeThe Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Genesee and Orleans Counties in the western part of New York. The refuge is between the cities of Buffalo and Rochester....
– Part of the refuge is in Shelby. - MedinaMedina, New YorkMedina is a village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat. The village was named by its surveyor...
- The south part of the Village of Medina is in the town. - MillvilleMillville, New YorkMillville, New York is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Shelby in Orleans County, New York, USA. First settled in the mid-1810s, Millville grew as a result of the mills located there to tap the abundant water available in the three streams that run through the hamlet...
– several water-powered mills gave the community its name. It is located in the northeast corner of the town on NY-31A. - East Shelby – Located on the border with the Town of BarreBarre, New YorkBarre is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,124 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Barre, Massachusetts.The Town of Barre is on the south border of the county.- History :...
. - Oak Orchard RiverOak Orchard RiverOak Orchard Creek is a tributary of Lake Ontario in Orleans County, New York in the United States.Oak Orchard Creek rises south of Oak Orchard Creek Marsh at the border of Orleans and Genesee Counties...
– This stream is usually called the Oak Orchard Creek in this area. - Oak Orchard Wildlife Management AreaOak Orchard Wildlife Management AreaThe Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area is a conservation area located in western New York, USA. Most of this wildlife area is in the northwest part of Genesee County, but a small northern portion is in Orleans County....
- A small part is in the south part of the town. - West Shelby – In the southwest corner of the town by the Iroquois Refuge.
- Shelby Center – Joseph EllicottJoseph EllicottJoseph Ellicott was an American surveyor, city planner, land office agent, lawyer and politician of the Quaker faith.-Life:He was the son of Joseph Ellicott ....
, an agent of the Holland Land CompanyHolland Land CompanyThe Holland Land Company was a purchaser of the western two-thirds of the western New York land tract known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. This tract was known thereafter as The Holland Purchase...
, purchased land near here in order to use a waterfall on Oak Orchard River. This hamlet is south of Medina on NY-63. - Shelby Basin – A former wide part of the Erie Canal, where barges could turn is west of Medina.
- Tonawanda Wildlife Management AreaTonawanda Wildlife Management AreaThe Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area is a conservation area located in western New York, USA. Most of the area is in Niagara County and Genesee County, but a small portion is inside Orleans County....
- A state conservation area partly in the southwest corner of the town.