Wright, New York
Encyclopedia
Wright is a town
in Schoharie County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,547 at the 2000 census. The town was named after governor Silas Wright
.
The Town of Wright is on the county's northeastern corner and is west of Albany
.
During the American Revolution
, in the year 1782, the town was raided by Tories with their native allies, inflicting harm on residents and property.
Wright was formed from the Town of Schoharie
in 1846.
, the town has a total area of 28.7 square miles (74.3 km²), of which, 28.6 square miles (74.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.24%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Schenectady County
and the east town line is the border of Albany County
. The west town line is partly defined by the Louse Kill, a tributary of the Fox Creek.
New York State Route 146
intersects New York State Route 443
, both east-west highways near Gallupville in Wright. The intersection is the western terminus of NY-146.
of 2000, there were 1,547 people, 569 households, and 433 families residing in the town. The population density
was 54.0 people per square mile (20.9/km²). There were 622 housing units at an average density of 21.7 per square mile (8.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.64% White, 0.39% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 569 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,898, and the median income for a family was $46,667. Males had a median income of $32,464 versus $27,171 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,711. About 5.5% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% 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 Schoharie County
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 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 1,547 at the 2000 census. The town was named after governor Silas Wright
Silas Wright
Silas Wright, Jr. was an American Democratic politician. Wright was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and moved with his father to Weybridge, Vermont in 1796. He graduated from Middlebury College in 1815 and moved to Sandy Hill, New York, the next year, where he studied law, being admitted to the bar...
.
The Town of Wright is on the county's northeastern corner and is west of 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...
.
History
The town was first settled around 1735, near Gallupville.During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, in the year 1782, the town was raided by Tories with their native allies, inflicting harm on residents and property.
Wright was formed from the Town of Schoharie
Schoharie (town), New York
Schoharie is a town in Schoharie County, New York. The population was 3,299 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a native word for driftwood.The Town of Schoharie has a village, also called Schoharie...
in 1846.
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 28.7 square miles (74.3 km²), of which, 28.6 square miles (74.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.24%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Schenectady County
Schenectady County, New York
Schenectady County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 154,727. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Schenectady. The name is from a Mohawk Indian word meaning "on the other side of the...
and the east town line is the border of Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
. The west town line is partly defined by the Louse Kill, a tributary of the Fox Creek.
New York State Route 146
New York State Route 146
New York State Route 146 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. It extends for from Gallupville at NY 443 to near Mechanicville at U.S. Route 4 and NY 32. NY 146 is a major thoroughfare in the city of Schenectady, just outside of...
intersects New York State Route 443
New York State Route 443
New York State Route 443 is an east–west state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The route begins at an intersection with NY 30 in the town of Schoharie and ends later at a junction with U.S. Route 9W and US 20 in the city of Albany...
, both east-west highways near Gallupville in Wright. The intersection is the western terminus of NY-146.
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 1,547 people, 569 households, and 433 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 54.0 people per square mile (20.9/km²). There were 622 housing units at an average density of 21.7 per square mile (8.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.64% White, 0.39% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.06% 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 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 569 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,898, and the median income for a family was $46,667. Males had a median income of $32,464 versus $27,171 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 $19,711. About 5.5% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Wright
- Echo Pond – A small lake in the northeast corner of Wright.
- Fox Creek – A stream flowing out the eastern border of the town.
- Gallupville – 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...
in the southwest part of the town by the intersection of NY-146 and NY-443. It is also the location of the first settlement in the town. - Shutter Corners – A hamlet northwest of Gallupville on Route 443New York State Route 443New York State Route 443 is an east–west state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The route begins at an intersection with NY 30 in the town of Schoharie and ends later at a junction with U.S. Route 9W and US 20 in the city of Albany...
.
External links
- Town of Wright, NY
- Early history of Wright
- Berne Historical Project has genealogy of Hilltown families including most early families from Wright.