Broome County, New York

Infobox U.S. County
county = Broome County
state = New York




map size = 250
founded = 1806
seat = Binghamton | area_total_sq_mi =715
area_land_sq_mi =707
area_water_sq_mi =9
area percentage = 1.21%
census yr = 2000
pop = 200536
density_km2 =110
web = www.gobroomecounty.com
|

Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 census, the population was 200,536. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current county executive is Barbara J. Fiala. It is one of only four counties in New York state to currently have a woman county executive. Broome County is also home to Binghamton University, one of four university centers in the SUNY system.

Broome County is part of the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

When counties were established in New York State in 1683, the present Broome County was part of Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York State as well as all of the present State of Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the Pacific Ocean. This county was reduced in size on July 3, 1766 by the creation of Cumberland County, and further on March 16, 1770 by the creation of Gloucester County, both containing territory now in Vermont.

On March 12, 1772, what was left of Albany County was split into three parts, one remaining under the name Albany County. One of the other pieces, Tryon County, contained the western portion (and thus, since no western boundary was specified, theoretically still extended west to the Pacific). The eastern boundary of Tryon County was approximately five miles west of the present city of Schenectady, and the county included the western part of the Adirondack Mountains and the area west of the West Branch of the Delaware River. The area then designated as Tryon County now includes 37 counties of New York State. The county was named for William Tryon, colonial governor of New York.

In the years prior to 1776, most of the Loyalists in Tryon County fled to Canada. In 1784, following the peace treaty that ended the American Revolutionary War, the name of Tryon County was changed to Montgomery County in honor of the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died attempting to capture the city of Quebec, replacing the name of the hated British governor.

In 1789, Montgomery County was reduced in size by the splitting off of Ontario County. The actual area split off from Montgomery County was much larger than the present county, also including the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates, and part of Schuyler and Wayne Counties.

Tioga County was one of three counties split off from Montgomery County (the others being Herkimer and Otsego Counties) in 1791. Tioga County was at this time much larger than the present county, also including the present Broome and Chemung Counties and parts of Chenango and Schuyler Counties.

Tioga County was reduced in size in 1798 by the splitting off of Chemung County (which also included part of the present Schuyler County and by the combination of a portion with a portion of Herkimer County to create Chenango County.

Broome County was split off from Tioga County in 1806.

Geography

Broome County is located in south-central New York State, directly north of the border with Pennsylvania in a section of the state called the Southern Tier. The Chenango River joins the Susquehanna River, which flows through the county.

The western half of the county is hilly but has wide valleys that accommodate Binghamton and its suburbs. In the northern portion Interstate 81 takes advantage of another glacial valley. To the east, however, the terrain becomes much more rugged as the land tilts up to the Catskills.

The highest elevation is a U.S. National Geodetic Survey benchmark known as Slawson atop an unnamed hill in the Town of Sanford. It is approximately 2,080 feet (634 m) above sea level. An area due east on the Delaware County line in Oquaga Creek State Park also lies within the same elevation contour line. The lowest point is 864 feet (263 m) above sea level, along the Susquehanna at the Pennsylvania state line.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 715 square miles (1,853 km²), of which, 707 square miles (1,831 km²) of it is land and 9 square miles (22 km²) of it (1.21%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

*Chenango County, New York - north
*Delaware County, New York - east
*Wayne County, Pennsylvania - southeast
*Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania - south
*Tioga County, New York - west
*Cortland County, New York - northwest

Major Highways

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* (Senator Warren M. Anderson Expressway / Susquehanna Expressway)
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* (Southern Tier Expressway)
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Demographics

USCensusPop
1810 = 8130
1820 = 14343
1830 = 17579
1840 = 22338
1850 = 30660
1860 = 35906
1870 = 44103
1880 = 49483
1890 = 62973
1900 = 69149
1910 = 78809
1920 = 113610
1930 = 147022
1940 = 165749
1950 = 184698
1960 = 212661
1970 = 221815
1980 = 213648
1990 = 212160
2000 = 200536
estyear = 2007 [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-36.xls Population Estimates as of July 1, 2007 by U.S. Census Bureau] ]
estimate = 195973
footnote = Source [ [http://www.empire.state.ny.us/nysdc/StateCountyPopests/CountyPopHistory.PDF New York State Department of Economic Development] ] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 200,536 people, 80,749 households, and 50,225 families residing in the county. The population density was 284 people per square mile (110/km²). There were 88,817 housing units at an average density of 126 per square mile (49/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.33% White, 3.28% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 2.79% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. 1.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.1% were of Irish, 13.3% Italian, 12.3% German, 11.6% English, 6.4% American and 5.7% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000 [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_PCT016&-tree_id=] . 91.4% spoke English, 2.0% Spanish and 1.1% Italian as their first language.

There were 80,749 households out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.60% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.80% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,347, and the median income for a family was $45,422. Males had a median income of $34,426 versus $24,542 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,168. About 8.80% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Cities, towns, and villages

*Barker (town)
*Binghamton (city)
*Binghamton (town)
*Chenango (town)
*Colesville (town)
*Conklin (town)
*Deposit (village)
*Dickinson (town)
*Endicott (village)
*Endwell (hamlet)
*Fenton (town)
*Johnson City (village)
*Kirkwood (town)
*Lisle (village)
*Lisle (town)
*Killawog (hamlet)
*Maine (town)
*Nanticoke (town)
*Port Dickinson (village)
*Sanford (town)
*Triangle (town)
*Union (town)
*Vestal (town)
*Whitney Point (village)
*Windsor (village)
*Windsor (town) : "=> Official political designation is shown in parentheses".

Education

The three primary institutes of higher education in Broome County include:

*Binghamton University With a student population of 14.000, it is responsible for a large portion of the population in and around Broome's largest city, Binghamton, NY.
*Broome Community College, also known as BCC. The school serves as a two year associate-granting institution for local residents.
*Davis College, a small, private, Christian college in Johnson City, NY.

Notable natives, residents, and past residents

* John Allen, noted dentist and inventor of new denture method cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | date = 1963]
* Percival Borde, modern dancer, choreographer Fact|date=August 2007
* Norman F. Cantor, world historian, author, editor, lecturer
* Jean Casadesus, classical pianist Fact|date=August 2007
* Cynthia Clarey, opera soprano, Deutsche Opera Berlin Fact|date=August 2007
* Richard Deacon, actor, "Dick Van Dyke Show", "Leave it to Beaver", "Hello Dolly" Fact|date=August 2007
* Daniel S. Dickinson, mid-19th century U.S. Senator, historic "Defender of the Constitution" prior to Civil War
* Mike Dunham, former NHL goaltender and now current New York Islanders goalie coach
* Henry B. Endicott, industrialist, co-founder of Endicott-Johnson Co.
* Exterminator, "Old Bones", thoroughbred race horse, Kentucky Derby winner 1918, horse of the year 1922, #27 in Top 100 U.S. race horses of the 20th century, in ancestral line of Secretariat and Seattle Slew
* Jake Gardner, opera tenor, Cologne Opera, Vienna State Opera Fact|date=August 2007
* John Gardner, modern American novelist, essayist, critic, lecturer, "October Light", "Sunlight Dialogues", "Grendel" Fact|date=August 2007
* The Guarnieri Quartet, classical string ensemble Fact|date=August 2007
* Robert Harpur, colonial teacher, politician, pioneer, for whom Harpur College was named
* Johnny Hart, cartoonist, creator of "B.C." and co-creator of "The Wizard of Id"
* George F. Johnson, industrialist, philanthropist, co-founder of Endicott-Johnson Co.
* Bill T. Jones, modern dancer, dance company founder, choreographer, Tony Award winner: "Spring Awakening"
* Jack Keely, illustrator, cartoonist, author, "Grossology"
* Alfred Joyce Kilmer, poet: "Trees and Other Poems" Fact|date=August 2007
* Willis Sharpe Kilmer, early 20th-century industrialist and entrepreneur Fact|date=August 2007
* Richard Leach, opera tenor, Metropolitan Opera, La ScalaFact|date=August 2007
* Edwin A. Link, inventor, visionary, entrepreneur, industrialist, Link Aviation, Harbor Branch Foundation
* David Ross Locke, journalist and early political commentator during the American Civil War
* Ron Luciano, American League baseball umpire, author
* Billy Martin, NY Yankees second baseman and manager
* Leonard Melfi, poet, screenwriter, author, playwright: "Oh! Calcutta!" Fact|date=August 2007
* Loften Mitchell, playwright: Broadway hit "Bubbling Brown Sugar", 1999 Paul Robeson Award winner Fact|date=August 2007
* Pat Monforte, Tony Monforte, Vic Fontaine, jazz musicians Fact|date=August 2007
* Hidy Ochiai, karate and judo grand master, author, actor
* Elmar Oliveira, classical violinist, only American violinist winner Moscow's Tchaikovsky International Competition Fact|date=August 2007
* Camille Paglia, philosopher, author, editor, lecturer, intellectual provocateur
* Anthony J. Milasi and Roger D. Brooks, famous identical twins separated at birth, then reunited after 25 years.
* Paul Reiser, actor, comedian, "Aliens", "Mad About You"
* Amy Sedaris, actress, author, playwright
* David Sedaris, comedian, essayist, playwright
* Rod Serling, screenwriter, playwright, most famous for his science fiction anthology television series "The Twilight Zone"
* Jack Sharkey, born Joseph Paul Cukoschay, world heavyweight boxing champion, 1931-33
* Dick Stack, founder Dick's Sporting Goods, world's largest sporting goods chain Fact|date=August 2007 [ [http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/corp/index.jsp?page=aboutUs&clickid=botnav_corp_txt Dicks Sporting Goods ] ]
* Thomas J. Watson, industrialist, founder, IBM Corp.
* Scott Coolbaugh, professional baseball player: Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres
* Mike Coolbaugh, professional baseball player: Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Minor League baseball coach

ee also

External links

* [http://www.gobroomecounty.com Broome County, NY]
*
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/his/bk10/ch1.html Summary Early history of Broome County]

References