Phelps is a town in Ontario County
, New
York
, USA
. The
population was 7,017 at the 2000 census. The town is named after
one of the original proprietors.
The
Town of Phelps contains a village called Phelps
. Both are north of Geneva
, New York.
History
The town was part of the
Phelps and Gorham Purchase.The
region was first settled around 1788. The town was formed in 1796
and was formerly known as "Sullivan."
The town of Phelps was formerly a major center for the production
of
sauerkraut, earning the distinction of
sauerkraut capitol of the world. 2006 marked the 40th anniversary
of the annual festival (August) honoring the pickled cabbage.
Geography
According to the
United
States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of
65.3
square miles
(169.0
km²), of which,
65.0 square miles (168.3 km²) of it is land and
0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (0.43%) is water.
The east
town line is the border of Seneca County
and the north town line is the border of Wayne
County
.
The
New York State Thruway
(
Interstate 90) passes through the
town north of Phelps village and Clifton Springs.
New York State Route 96 parallels
the Thruway and intersects two north-south highways in the western
part of the town:
New York State
Route 88 and
New York State
Route 488.
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 7,017
people, 2,659 households, and 1,957 families residing in the town.
The
population density was 108.0
people per square mile (41.7/km²). There were 2,817 housing units
at an average density of 43.4/sq mi (16.7/km²). The racial
makeup of the town was 98.09%
White, 0.26%
Black or
African American, 0.14%
Native American, 0.27%
Asian, 0.46% from
other races, and 0.78% from two
or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 1.23%
of the population.
There were 2,659 households out of which 34.9% had children under
the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were
married couples living together, 8.6% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families.
20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had
someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average
household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age
of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to
64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was
38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every
100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,246, and the
median income for a family was $53,854. Males had a median income
of $34,792 versus $26,498 for females. The
per capita income for the town was
$21,297. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were
below the
poverty line, including 4.8%
of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Phelps
- Clifton Springs
– The smaller, and eastern, part of the Village of
Clifton Springs is located by the west town line.
- Dobbins Corners – A hamlet on the east town
line.
- East X – A location near the east town line,
west of Dobbins Corners.
- Five Points – A location near the east town
line, south of West Junius.
- Five Waters Corners – A location on NY-88 in
the northern part of the town.
- Fort Hill – A hamlet in the south part of the
town.
- Gypsum – A hamlet at the western town line on
County Road 27.
- Knickerbocker Corner – A hamlet west of Phelps
village at the junction of NY-96 and NY-488.
- Melvin Hill – A hamlet in the south part of
the town.
- Oaks Corners – A hamlet in the southeast part
of the town on County Road 23. It is named after Pioneer Jonathan
Oaks.
- Orleans – A hamlet in the southwest part of
the town on NY-488.
- Phelps – The Village of Phelps is on NY-96 near the center
of the town.
- Phelps Junction – A hamlet northwest of Phelps
village.
- Pierson Corners – A location by the south town
line.
- Thompson – A hamlet on the east town line,
north of West Junius.
- Unionville – A hamlet on NY-96 east of Phelps
village.
- Warner Corners – A location east of Orleans on
County Road 23.
- West Junius – A hamlet near the east town
line.
References
External links
Wikis
Map
Search
