Springfield, New York
Encyclopedia
Springfield is a town
in Otsego County
, New York
, USA. The population was 1,350 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Springfield is located at the northern county line of Otsego County and is approximately 50 mi (80.5 km) west of Schenectady.
, native leader, led an expedition that burned the town and took captives.
The Town of Springfield was formed from part of the Town of Cherry Valley
in 1797. Growing hops
was a major agricultural pursuit.
, the town has a total area of 45.5 square miles (117.8 km²), of which, 43 square miles (111.4 km²) of it is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it (5.46%) is water.
The town encloses the northern end of Otsego Lake. Hayden Creek flows southward from Summit Lake into the northern end of the Otsego Lake. Because Summit Lake is located on a divide, part of its flow exits from the northern end of the lake through Cedar Swamp. The "Chyle," is the name of a sinkhole at the north end of Summit Lake. Shadow Brook enters Otsego Lake at Hyde Bay.
New York State Route 80
, a north-south highway, intersects US Route 20, an east-west highway, north of Springfield Center.
The north town line is the county line of Herkimer County
and a small section of Montgomery County
.
of 2000, there were 1,350 people, 521 households, and 375 families residing in the town. The population density
was 31.4 people per square mile (12.1/km²). There were 712 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.59% White, 0.15% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.15% from other races
, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.
There were 521 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,854, and the median income for a family was $38,490. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $23,611 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,513. About 5.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 5.4% 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...
, USA. The population was 1,350 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Springfield is located at the northern county line of Otsego County and is approximately 50 mi (80.5 km) west of Schenectady.
History
Several families settled near Otsego Lake around 1762, but little further development occurred until after the American Revolution. In 1778, Joseph BrantJoseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
, native leader, led an expedition that burned the town and took captives.
The Town of Springfield was formed from part of the Town of Cherry Valley
Cherry Valley (town), New York
Cherry Valley is a town in Otsego County, New York, USA. The population was 1,266 at the 2000 census.Within the Town of Cherry Valley is a village, also called Cherry Valley...
in 1797. Growing hops
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
was a major agricultural pursuit.
Notable residents
- Elisha Hall, inventor of a type of threshing machine.
- George Hyde Clarke, grandson to the Acting Governor of New York from 1736-1743 (under British rule) http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM02800.html
- Arthur L. Ryerson, steel industrialist, who died on the Titantic maintained a summer home for his family in Springfield Center known as Ringwood
- Henry Lansing Wardwell, New York City financier, maintained a summer estate and farm in Springfield Center known as Pinehurst. Still owned by descendents today.
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 45.5 square miles (117.8 km²), of which, 43 square miles (111.4 km²) of it is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it (5.46%) is water.
The town encloses the northern end of Otsego Lake. Hayden Creek flows southward from Summit Lake into the northern end of the Otsego Lake. Because Summit Lake is located on a divide, part of its flow exits from the northern end of the lake through Cedar Swamp. The "Chyle," is the name of a sinkhole at the north end of Summit Lake. Shadow Brook enters Otsego Lake at Hyde Bay.
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...
, a north-south highway, intersects US Route 20, an east-west highway, north of Springfield Center.
The north town line is the county line of Herkimer County
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
and a small section of 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...
.
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 1,350 people, 521 households, and 375 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 31.4 people per square mile (12.1/km²). There were 712 housing units at an average density of 16.6 per square mile (6.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.59% White, 0.15% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.15% 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 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.
There were 521 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% 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, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,854, and the median income for a family was $38,490. Males had a median income of $25,625 versus $23,611 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 $16,513. About 5.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Springfield
- Allen Lake – a small lake near the west town line.
- Clarke Point – a headland of Otsego Lake north of Hyde Bay.
- East Springfield – 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...
east of Middle Village on US-20 at the junction of County Route 31. - Glimmerglass State ParkGlimmerglass State ParkGlimmerglass State Park is located north of Cooperstown, in Otsego County, New York, USA. Most of the park is located inside the Town of Springfield....
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
partly in the town at eastern shore of Otsego Lake. - Hyde Bay – A bay of Otsego Lake, partly in the town.
- Middle Village – A hamlet east of Springfield village on US-20.
- Mt. Wellington – a notable hill north of Otsego Lake.
- Shipman Pond – a pond north of Springfield Center.
- Springfield – The hamlet of Springfield is located on US Route 20.
- Springfield Center – A hamlet on NY-80, at County Route 29A, north of Otsego Lake.
- Springfield Four Corners – A location northwest of Springfield village, located on NY-80.
- Summit Lake – A small lake north of Otsego Lake.