Canajoharie (town), New York

Canajoharie is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,797 at the 2000 census. The town of Canajoharie is located south of the Mohawk River on the south border of the county. There is a village of Canajoharie in the town. Both are west of Amsterdam.

The Erie Canal passes along the north town line.

History

The native name, "Cana-jo-ha-ray," means "The pot that washes itself" referring to a local hole in the Canajoharie Creek bed.

The region was the site of a barricaded long house village -- or "castle" -- of the Mohawk tribe of the Iroquois. It was called a castle because it was originally surrounded by a palisade of poles. In the mid-1700's its population was around 250. The Indians replaced their traditional long houses by initially crude cabins and then eventually respectable frame houses. A school for the villagers was established around the middle of the 18th Century.

The town was first settled by whites around 1730, and was originally in the "former" Tryon County.

During the American Revolution, the towns's sympathy was split between loyalists and rebels. Many male citizens of the town were killed or wounded at the Battle of Oriskany (1777). Former residents Henry Ware and William Newbury were executed as Tory spies. The town was a temporary headquarters during the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition of 1779. In August, 1780 the town was burned by four hundred Indians and Tories under Sayenqueraghta, Cornplanter, and Joseph Brant.

The town was formed in 1788, but was reduced to form the Towns of Minden (1798) and Root (in part, 1823).

The population of the town in 1865 was 4,248.

Beech-Nut, the baby food producer, was founded in Canajoharie in 1891 and served as the largest employer in the town for over a century.

Notable residents

*Susan B. Anthony, women's rights pioneer, taught school here.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.1 square miles (111.6 km²), of which, 42.9 square miles (111.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (0.46%) is water.

The south town line is the border of Schoharie County and the north town line is defined by the Mohawk River.

The New York State Thruway crosses the northern part of the town, following the river. New York State Route 5S parallels the Thruway. New York State Route 10 is a north-south highway, intersecting the Thruway and NY-5S at Canajoharie village.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,797 people, 1,492 households, and 1,026 families residing in the town. The population density was 88.5 people per square mile (34.2/km²). There were 1,637 housing units at an average density of 38.2/sq mi (14.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.02% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 1,492 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,701, and the median income for a family was $39,646. Males had a median income of $29,107 versus $22,617 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,702. About 11.0% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Canajoharie

*Ames -- The Village of Ames in the south part of the town on NY-10.
*Bowmans Creek -- A stream in the south part of the town.
*Budd Hill -- A location at the south town line, south of Ames.
*Buel -- A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on Bowmans Creek. The community and much of the south part of Canajoharie were once called Bowmans Creek after early settler Jacob Bowman.
*Canajoharie -- The Village of Canajoharie is in the north part of the town on the Mohawk River and NY-10.
*Canajoharie Creek -- A stream in the south central part of the town.
*Fort Plain -- The Village of Fort Plain is partly in the town at the western town line.
*Maple Hill -- A location east of Marshville.
*Mapleton -- A location near the east town line, named after local trees.
*Marshville -- A hamlet south of Canajoharie village on NY-10.
*Sprout Brook -- A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on Bowmans Creek.
*Van Deusenville -- A hamlet near the town line in the southwest part of the town.
*Waterville -- A hamlet northeast of Ames.

References

External links

* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyherkim/canajoharie.html Town of Canajoharie historical notes]
* [http://www.amsterdamedz.com/canjohistory.asp Brief summary history]
* [http://www.canajohariestories.com/ Palatine Bridge/Canajoharie information]