Bergen (town), New York

Bergen is a town in Genesee County, United States. New York, United States. The population was 3,182 at the 2000 census.

The Town of Bergen is in the northeast corner of the county. There is also a village of Bergen in the town.

History

The town was first settled around 1801. The Town of Bergen was founded in 1812 from part of the Town of Batavia. In 1820, part of Bergen was used to form the Town of Byron.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.6 square miles (71.6 km²), of which, 27.6 square miles (71.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04% is water.

Bergen Swamp, a glacial feature now kept as a wildlife preserve, is home to a small endangered rattlesnake, the Eastern Massasauga, as well as a large diversity of other species.

The eastern town line is the border of Monroe County, New York and the northern town line is the border of both Monroe County and Orleans County, New York.

Interstate 490 passes through the southeast part of the town.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,182 people, 1,196 households, and 857 families residing in the town. The population density was 115.2 people per square mile (44.5/km²). There were 1,240 housing units at an average density of 44.9/sq mi (17.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.27% White, 0.31% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.

There were 1,196 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,412, and the median income for a family was $54,012. Males had a median income of $36,913 versus $26,571 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,932. About 1.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Bergen

*Bergen -- The Village of Bergen is in the eastern part of the town on Route 19.
*East Bergen -- A hamlet on Route 19 in the northeast corner of the town.
*Jerico Corners -- A location at the intersection of Jerico and Swamp Roads.
*North Bergen -- A hamlet in the northwest corner of the town.
*Stone Church -- A hamlet south of Bergen village on Route 19.
*West Bergen -- A hamlet near the western town line.

References

External links

* [http://town.bergen.ny.us Town of Bergen website]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/bergen-ny.htm Early history of Bergen]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenese/bergen.htm Local history page]