Town Line, New York
Encyclopedia
Town Line is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Erie County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,521 at the 2000 census
. It is part of the Buffalo
–Niagara Falls
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
The community is a location on the town line between the Town of Lancaster
and the Town of Alden
. Town Line is at the junction of Town Line Road and Broadway. The town is also known as Two Rod.
Another community, Townline Station, is about a mile to the north on Town Line Road.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 2,521 people, 906 households, and 759 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 543.5 per square mile (209.8/km²). There were 925 housing units at an average density of 199.4/sq mi (77.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.29% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.
There were 906 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.4% were married couples
living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.2% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $51,548, and the median income for a family was $57,054. Males had a median income of $36,589 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $21,957. About 3.6% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
, 125 voters met and voted 85 to 40 to secede from the Union
and join the Confederate States of America
. The reasons are unclear, but an article in The Buffalo News
from 1945 cites discontent with President Lincoln
, treatment of Confederate soldiers at a POW camp in Elmira
, dissatisfaction of German immigrants with being subject to conscription or war, the interest of self rule or perhaps an incident by some runaway slaves at a local underground railroad
stop. It was also reported that Town Line sent five men through the Union lines to fight for the Confederate States under General Robert E. Lee
. (However, this was dwarfed by the twenty people from the town who signed up for the Union Army.)
During the American Civil War
, as casualties on both sides increased and the nature of the Civil War changed, the secession vote was slowly forgotten by members of the community but never revoked. There are conflicting reports on whether or not the hamlet was paying taxes as late as the 1920s. During World War II, it was discovered that Town Line had not rejoined the Union, effectively having extended the Civil War by diplomatic irregularity for eighty years. On January 26, 1946, after significant pressure and accusations of racism, Town Line voted to officially join the Union. In recognition of the hamlet's history, the local volunteer fire company has the words "Last of the Rebels" on their shoulder patch.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, 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 2,521 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is part of the Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
–Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area
The Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area, designated by the United States Census Bureau, encompassing two counties – Erie and Niagara – in Western New York, with a population, as of the 2010 census, of 1,135,509 inhabitants...
.
The community is a location on the town line between the Town of Lancaster
Lancaster (town), New York
Lancaster is a town in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town population has 39,019 residents.The Town of Lancaster has a village also called Lancaster. The Town and Village are currently exploring consolidation of governmental functions. Both town and village are east of...
and the Town of Alden
Alden (town), New York
Alden is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 10,470 at the 2000 census. The town is derived from a family name known to early settlers....
. Town Line is at the junction of Town Line Road and Broadway. The town is also known as Two Rod.
Another community, Townline Station, is about a mile to the north on Town Line Road.
Geography
Town Line is located at 42°53′6"N 78°33′30"W (42.884974, -78.558428).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 CDP has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²), all land.
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 2,521 people, 906 households, and 759 families residing in the CDP. 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 543.5 per square mile (209.8/km²). There were 925 housing units at an average density of 199.4/sq mi (77.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.29% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.
There were 906 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.4% 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 16.2% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $51,548, and the median income for a family was $57,054. Males had a median income of $36,589 versus $30,000 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 CDP was $21,957. About 3.6% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
In 1861, in the small hamlet of Town Line in upstate New YorkNew 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...
, 125 voters met and voted 85 to 40 to secede from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
and join the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. The reasons are unclear, but an article in The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News
The Buffalo News is the primary newspaper of the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area, and the area's only daily newspaper. It is the only newspaper owned by Berkshire Hathaway.-History:...
from 1945 cites discontent with President Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, treatment of Confederate soldiers at a POW camp in Elmira
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, dissatisfaction of German immigrants with being subject to conscription or war, the interest of self rule or perhaps an incident by some runaway slaves at a local underground railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
stop. It was also reported that Town Line sent five men through the Union lines to fight for the Confederate States under General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
. (However, this was dwarfed by the twenty people from the town who signed up for the Union Army.)
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, as casualties on both sides increased and the nature of the Civil War changed, the secession vote was slowly forgotten by members of the community but never revoked. There are conflicting reports on whether or not the hamlet was paying taxes as late as the 1920s. During World War II, it was discovered that Town Line had not rejoined the Union, effectively having extended the Civil War by diplomatic irregularity for eighty years. On January 26, 1946, after significant pressure and accusations of racism, Town Line voted to officially join the Union. In recognition of the hamlet's history, the local volunteer fire company has the words "Last of the Rebels" on their shoulder patch.