Frankfort (town), New York

Frankfort is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 7,478 at the 2000 census. The town is named after one of its earliest settlers, Lawrence (Lewis) Frank.

The Town of Frankfort includes a village also called Frankfort. The town is east of Utica.

The Erie Canal passes along the north border of the town.

History

The town was settled around 1723, but much of the area had to be abandoned during the French and Indian War. The early town was a region assigned by patent to various landowners. It was resettled again before 1794.

The town was established in 1796 from part of the Town of German Flatts. In 1798, the northwest part of Frankfort was made part of the Town of Deerfield.

Notable people

* Hiram Cronk, the last survivor of the War of 1812 was born in Frankfort.
* Kim Bass, Television writer.
*Mike Hawk, explorer who discovered Uoyr Mumes Cave was born in Frankfort.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.3 square miles (96.7 km²), of which, 37.2 square miles (96.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.29%) is water.

The west town line is Oneida County, New York, and the northern border is defined by the Mohawk River. Moyer Creek and Fergusen Creek flow northward to the Mohawk River.

New York State Route 5S runs parallel to the Mohawk River. New York State Route 171 intersects NY-5S in Frankfort village.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,478 people, 2,997 households, and 2,091 families residing in the town. The population density was 200.9 people per square mile (77.6/km²). There were 3,185 housing units at an average density of 85.6/sq mi (33.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.93% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.

There were 2,997 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,399, and the median income for a family was $43,594. Males had a median income of $30,423 versus $22,813 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,719. About 7.5% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Frankfort has a large Italian American population.

Communities and locations in the Town of Frankfort

*Corrado Corners -- A hamlet immediately southwest of Frankfort village.
*Dutch Hill -- An elevation in the northern part of Frankfort.
*East Frankfort -- A hamlet immediately southeast of Frankfort village, located on NY-5S at the east town line. It was previously called "McGowansville." East Frankfort border the Village of Ilion.
*Frankfort -- The Village of Frankfort in the northeast part of the town, located on NY-5S at the Mohawk River.
*Frankfort Center -- A hamlet west of Frankfort village, locate on County Road 13. It was previously called "Howards Bush."
*Frankfort Gorge -- A valley containing Moyer Creek that extends from the south town line up to Frankfort village.
*Frankfort Hill -- A location in the western part of the town, north of Stewart Corners on County Road 104.
*Gulph -- A hamlet by the south town line on NY-171.
*Harbor -- A hamlet in the northwest part of the town, east of West Frankfort on NY-5S by County Road 240. .
*Kinne Corners -- A location on the south town line on County Road 27.
*North Frankfort -- A location north of Frankfort village, near the Mohawk River.
*Stewart Corners -- A hamlet in the western part of the town at the junction of County Roads 104 and 186.
*Maggie's Bush -- A former community in the western part of Frankfort.
*West Frankfort -- A hamlet on NY-5S near the west town line in the northwest corner of the town. It was originally called "Four Mile Grocery."

References

External links

* [http://www.townoffrankfort.com/ Official Town of Frankfort Website]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyherkim/frankfort.html Town of Frankfort historical information]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/herk-frankfort.htm Early history of Frankfort, New York]