Camillus (town), New York

Camillus is a town in Onondaga County, New York, U.S. The population was 23,152 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Roman military leader Marcus Furius Camillus by a clerk interested in the classics.

The Town of Camillus is west of Syracuse. There is also a village named Camillus in the town. Much of the town is a western suburb of Syracuse.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.5 square miles (89.3 km²), all of it land.

New York State Route 5 is an east-west highway across the town. New York State Route 173 intersects NY-5 near Fairmount. New York State Route 174 intersect NY-5 near Camillus village. New York State Route 321 intersects NY-5 at Bennetts Corners. New York State Route 695 and New York State Route 297 are state highways near the east town line.

History

Camillus was part of the former Central New York Military Tract. The first pioneer arrived around 1790 at the site of Camillus village.

The Town of Camillus was formed in 1799 from the Town of Marcellus.

Industrial development was promoted by the Erie Canal in 1825, and Camillus was on the railroad linking Syracuse to Auburn in 1838.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 23,152 people, 9,315 households, and 6,595 families residing in the town. The population density was 671.9 people per square mile (259.4/km²). There were 9,661 housing units at an average density of 280.4/sq mi (108.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.45% White, 0.95% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.

There were 9,315 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,198, and the median income for a family was $58,395. Males had a median income of $41,011 versus $29,110 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,591. About 3.1% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Camillus

* Amboy -- A hamlet in the north central part of Camillus on NY-173. Site of former Syracuse Municipal Airport.
* Amboy Station -- A location north of Amboy.
* Belle Isle -- A location east of Amboy and adjacent to Rt. 695 and the NYS Fairgrounds.
*Bennetts Corners -- A hamlet near the west town line by the junction of NY-5 and NY-321.
*Camillus -- The Village of Camillus is in the southwest part of the Town of Camillus.
*Camillus Airport (NY2) -- A small airport near the north town line. It was an early center for aviation in the county.
*Edgewood Garden -- A neighborhood near the north town line.
*Fairmount -- A hamlet near the east town line.
*Four Winds -- A group of homes located in the Hamlet of Newport
*Fox Chapel -- A neighborhood approximately 5 minutes from the village of Camillus.
*Garden Terrace -- A neighborhood near the north town line.
*Greenfield Village -- A neighborhood adjacent to Amboy and across from Reed Webster park.
*Memphis -- A hamlet at the north town line north of Oswego Bitters.
*Newport -- A hamlet near the north town line.
*Ninemile Creek -- A Stream flowing through the western part of the town.
*North Belle Isle -- A hamlet near the east town line.
*Orchard Village -- A neighborhood near the south town line.
*Oswego Bitters -- A hamlet in the western part of the town on NY-321.
*Parson Farms -- A neighborhood near the south town line.
*Pioneer Farms -- A neighborhood west of the Weatheridge and Fox Chapel neighborhoods and across from the Camillus Medical Center (formerly the GTE building).
*Sherwood Knolls -- A neighborhood near the south town line.
*Stanley Manor -- A neighborhood near the south town line.
*Warners -- A hamlet at the north town line, north of Newport.
*Weatheridge -- A neighborhood southeast of Camillus village and borders pioneer farms
*Westerlea -- A neighborhood northeast of Camillus village.
*Westview Manor -- A neighborhood east of Camillus village.
*West Genesee Terrace -- A neighborhood east of Camillus village.
*Wincrest Park -- A neighborhood southeast of Camillus village.

Celebrity Connections and Famous Residents

*Richard Gere has ancestors in the town and has visited it in the past.
*Carol Baldwin mother of the Baldwin brothers (actors).
*Kinsley S. Bingham was born in the town of Camillus and went on to be a member of the Michigan State House of Representitaves, Speaker, United States Representitave from Michigan's 3rd Congressional District, Governor of Michigan, and a US Senator.

See also

* West Genesee High School

References

External links

* [http://www.townofcamillus.com Town of Camillus official site]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyononda/CAMILLUS/CAMILLUS.HTM Camillus history/genalogy links]

http://www.cambriapress.com/viewprintdatasheet.cfm?bookid=188