Portland, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Portland, New York
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of New York
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Chautauqua
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 88.8
area_land_km2 = 88.7
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 34.3
area_land_sq_mi = 34.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5502
population_density_km2 = 62.0
population_density_sq_mi = 160.6

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 239
elevation_ft = 784
latd = 42 |latm = 22 |lats = 58 |latNS = N
longd = 79 |longm = 27 |longs = 43 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 14769
area_code = 716
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-59421
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979388
website =
footnotes =

Portland is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 5,502 at the 2000 census.

The Town of Portland is on the shore of Lake Erie west of the City of Dunkirk.

History

The region was first settled in 1804. The Town of Portland was founded in 1813 from the Town of Chautauqua. Subsequently, the town was reduced in size to form two new towns: Ripley (1816) and Westfield (1829).

A genealogical history of Portland, New York was published in 1873 by Dr. H. C. Taylor titled "Historical Sketches of the Town of Portland, New York". An all names index was created for this book by Agnes Lee Mitchell in 1989 and published by the Chautauqua County Genealogical Society.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.3 square miles (88.8 km²), of which, 34.3 square miles (88.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.09%) is water.

The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) and US 20 cross the northern part of the town. NY 5 parallels the shore of Lake Erie.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,502 people, 1,655 households, and 1,161 families residing in the town. The population density was 160.6 people per square mile (62.0/km²). There were 2,096 housing units at an average density of 61.2/sq mi (23.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 82.93% White, 12.05% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.02% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.51% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.62% of the population.

There were 1,655 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 25.4% 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 2.57 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 16.2% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 140.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 148.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,909, and the median income for a family was $37,006. Males had a median income of $27,464 versus $21,636 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,881. About 8.9% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Portland

*Brocton -- The Village of Brocton. Nearby is a New York State Correctional Facility, Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility, that specializes in shock treatment for youthful offenders.
*Greencrest -- A lakeside hamlet on the Lake Erie shore in the northeast part of the town.
*Green Hills -- A hamlet on the shore of Lake Erie.
*Lake Erie State Park -- A lakeside park in the northeast part of the town.
*Portland -- the town government is located in this hamlet, located on Route 20 west of Brocton.
*Skinner Switch -- A location west of Portland.
*Van Buren Point - A hamlet on the Lake Erie shore in the northeast part of the town, east of Greencrest.
*Vineyard -- A hamlet northwest of Brocton.
*West Portland -- A hamlet on Route 20 near the west town line.

References

External links

* [http://www.town.portland.ny.us Town of Portland webpage] .
* [http://www.co.chautauqua.ny.us/municipal/portland_list.htm Town of Portland government]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/chau-portland.htm History of Portland, NY]
* [http://www.town-court.com/getTownCourt.php?courtID=159 Portland Town Court]