Sweden, New York
Encyclopedia
Sweden is a town in Monroe County
, New York
, United States
. The town is located on the west border of the county. The Erie Canal
passes through the northern part of the town and Route 19
is a major north-south highway. The population was 14,175 at the 2010 census.
. Settlers began arriving before 1806. The town was created by a mandate of the New York State Legislature in 1813 to break up the west part of the county into three new towns named Bergen, Sweden and Murray.
The town of Sweden was established in 1814 from the Town of Murray
in Orleans County
. The first Sweden town meeting was held on April 5, 1814.
By 1823 the Erie Canal only went from Albany
as far west as Sweden, and Brockport
became an important location.
Lake View Cemetery
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2009.
, the town has a total area of 33.7 square miles (87.3 km²), of which, 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.47%) is water.
The town of Sweden is bordered on the north by the town of Clarkson
, on the west by Orleans County
, on the south by Genesee County
, and on the east by the towns of Parma
and Ogden
.
of 2000, there were 13,716 people, 4,581 households, and 2,757 families residing in the town. The population density
was 408.9 people per square mile (157.8/km²). There were 4,843 housing units at an average density of 144.4 per square mile (55.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.59% White, 3.72% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races
, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.88% of the population.
There were 4,581 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% 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 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 30.1% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,151, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $39,850 versus $27,103 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,874. About 4.3% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
, 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 town is located on the west border of the county. 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 through the northern part of the town and Route 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
is a major north-south highway. The population was 14,175 at the 2010 census.
History
This town was part of The Triangle TractThe Triangle Tract
The Triangle Tract was 87,000 acre parcel of land abutting the Mill Yard Tract portion of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase in western New York State in the USA...
. Settlers began arriving before 1806. The town was created by a mandate of the New York State Legislature in 1813 to break up the west part of the county into three new towns named Bergen, Sweden and Murray.
The town of Sweden was established in 1814 from the Town of Murray
Murray, New York
Murray is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,259 at the 2000 census.The Town of Murray is on the east border of the county, northwest of the City of Rochester.- History :Murray was first settled around 1809....
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...
. The first Sweden town meeting was held on April 5, 1814.
By 1823 the Erie Canal only went from Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
as far west as Sweden, and Brockport
Brockport, New York
Brockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
became an important location.
Lake View Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery (Brockport, New York)
Lake View Cemetery is a historic rural cemetery located in the town of Sweden, near Brockport in Monroe County, New York. The cemetery was established in 1891. It includes a Romanesque Revival style chapel / receiving vault, a small pond, a cast iron tiered fountain, and a distinctive serpentine...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2009.
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 33.7 square miles (87.3 km²), of which, 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.47%) is water.
The town of Sweden is bordered on the north by the town of Clarkson
Clarkson, New York
Clarkson is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 6,736 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General Matthew Clarkson.The Town of Clarkson is on the west border of the county and is west of the City of Rochester.-History:...
, on the west by 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...
, on the south by 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 :...
, and on the east by the towns of Parma
Parma, New York
Parma is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 15,633 at the 2010 census.The Town of Parma, then in Genesee County, was organized in 1808, named after Parma in Italy.-Geography:...
and Ogden
Ogden, New York
Ogden is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 19,856 at the 2010 census.The Erie Canal passes through the Town of Ogden.-Geography:...
.
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 13,716 people, 4,581 households, and 2,757 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 408.9 people per square mile (157.8/km²). There were 4,843 housing units at an average density of 144.4 per square mile (55.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.59% White, 3.72% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.04% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.06% 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 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.88% of the population.
There were 4,581 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% 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, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% 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 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.9% under the age of 18, 30.1% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,151, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $39,850 versus $27,103 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 $17,874. About 4.3% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The town is governed by a town board consisting of a town supervisor and four councilpersons, all elected by registered town voters.Noted residents
- Mary Jane Holmes (d. 1907), a local author of about forty novels in the 19th Century.
Communities and locations in Sweden
- BrockportBrockport, New YorkBrockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
– A village near the northern town line that is home to the State University of New York Brockport. - Ledgedale Airpark (7G0) – A general aviation airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
is located southeast of Brockport. - Sweden Center – A hamlet on Route 19 south of Brockport.
- West Sweden – A location in the southwest corner of the town.