Westvale, New York
Encyclopedia
Westvale is a suburban community (and census-designated place
) in Onondaga County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 5,166 at the 2000 census.
Westvale is in the Town of Geddes
, lying east of Fairmount
and southwest of Solvay
. Westvale is a suburb
of Syracuse, New York
, which is to the east.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, Westvale has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 5,166 people, 2,061 households, and 1,506 families residing in the community. The population density
was 3,833.1 per square mile (1,477.5/km²). There were 2,094 housing units at an average density of 1,553.7/sq mi (598.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.87% White, 0.27% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races
, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 2,061 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,870, and the median income for a family was $62,071. Males had a median income of $44,107 versus $31,672 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $23,678. About 4.5% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
, which developed earlier than most of Westvale, where the land was held off the market. The "Avery Tract" lay between the reservoir and the City of Syracuse
. The Avery Tract became part of the Village of Solvay. The core of Westvale was farmland retained by a major landowning family of New York State, the Schuyler
s. The branch holding title to much of the property was the Parsons, recalled by Parsons Drive, a centerpiece residential boulevard with a grassy median, off West Genesee Street.
A few Westvale houses predate suburban development. The Parsons farmhouse unfortunately was replaced by development at the end of the twentieth century. West Genesee Street has a few late nineteenth century residences. Early twentieth-century streets show houses in styles of the period, especially the 1920s and 1930s. After World War II development was rapid, and most houses of Westvale now date from the later twentieth century. Westvale Plaza, one of the earliest suburban "malls" of the region, appeared in the Avery Tract shortly after World War II. It is extant (2005) as a "strip mall," while Fairmount Fair, immediately beyond Westvale to the west, came later. Its interior pedestrian concourse was roofed over about 1957, making it the first indoor, climate-controlled shopping mall in Central New York.
The stretch of West Genesee Street between the Avery Tract and Fairmout was spared commercial development through the political activism of the Westvale-Avery Club, a men's organization.
Westvale was once part of the Village of Solvay school district. Cherry Road School originally served grades K-8, thereafter students walked to Solvay High School. Since 1962, however, Westvale has been served by the Westhill Central School District
.
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...
) in Onondaga County
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, 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 5,166 at the 2000 census.
Westvale is in the Town of Geddes
Geddes, New York
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 17,740 at the 2000 census.The Town of Geddes is west of the neighborhood of Far Westside of Syracuse. The town is a western suburb of Syracuse.- History :...
, lying east of Fairmount
Fairmount, New York
Fairmount is a hamlet in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The Fairmount area was originally part of the New York State Salt Reservation, but was annexed to the Town of Camillus in 1834. Prior to that date, census enumerations for Fairmount were included in the Town of Onondaga census...
and southwest of Solvay
Solvay, New York
Solvay is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, and a suburb of the city of Syracuse. According to the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 6,845...
. Westvale is a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, which is to the east.
Geography
Westvale is located at 43°2′30"N 76°13′1"W (43.041716, -76.217073).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...
, Westvale has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 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 5,166 people, 2,061 households, and 1,506 families residing in the community. 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 3,833.1 per square mile (1,477.5/km²). There were 2,094 housing units at an average density of 1,553.7/sq mi (598.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.87% White, 0.27% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% 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 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 2,061 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,870, and the median income for a family was $62,071. Males had a median income of $44,107 versus $31,672 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 $23,678. About 4.5% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
"Westvale" as an identity probably evolved in the early twentieth century, referring to the area west of Wescott Reservoir, accessed by, but mostly south of, West Genesee Street (since the Village of Solvay was to the north). Farther west was FairmountFairmount, New York
Fairmount is a hamlet in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The Fairmount area was originally part of the New York State Salt Reservation, but was annexed to the Town of Camillus in 1834. Prior to that date, census enumerations for Fairmount were included in the Town of Onondaga census...
, which developed earlier than most of Westvale, where the land was held off the market. The "Avery Tract" lay between the reservoir and the City of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. The Avery Tract became part of the Village of Solvay. The core of Westvale was farmland retained by a major landowning family of New York State, the Schuyler
Schuyler
Schuyler is a given name of Dutch origin.Schuyler may also refer to:-People :* Cortlandt V.R. Schuyler , US army general* Eugene Schuyler , American writer, explorer and diplomat...
s. The branch holding title to much of the property was the Parsons, recalled by Parsons Drive, a centerpiece residential boulevard with a grassy median, off West Genesee Street.
A few Westvale houses predate suburban development. The Parsons farmhouse unfortunately was replaced by development at the end of the twentieth century. West Genesee Street has a few late nineteenth century residences. Early twentieth-century streets show houses in styles of the period, especially the 1920s and 1930s. After World War II development was rapid, and most houses of Westvale now date from the later twentieth century. Westvale Plaza, one of the earliest suburban "malls" of the region, appeared in the Avery Tract shortly after World War II. It is extant (2005) as a "strip mall," while Fairmount Fair, immediately beyond Westvale to the west, came later. Its interior pedestrian concourse was roofed over about 1957, making it the first indoor, climate-controlled shopping mall in Central New York.
The stretch of West Genesee Street between the Avery Tract and Fairmout was spared commercial development through the political activism of the Westvale-Avery Club, a men's organization.
Westvale was once part of the Village of Solvay school district. Cherry Road School originally served grades K-8, thereafter students walked to Solvay High School. Since 1962, however, Westvale has been served by the Westhill Central School District
Westhill Central Schools
Westhill Central Schools is a public school district immediately adjacent to the city of Syracuse, New York, USA, serving students primarily in the Town of Geddes and Town of Onondaga....
.