Willsboro, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Willsboro, New York
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
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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 = Essex
government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 190.1
area_land_km2 = 110.6
area_water_km2 = 79.5
area_total_sq_mi = 73.4
area_land_sq_mi = 42.7
area_water_sq_mi = 30.7

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1903
population_density_km2 = 17.2
population_density_sq_mi = 44.6

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 39
elevation_ft = 128
latd = 44 |latm = 22 |lats = 29 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 24 |longs = 24 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 12996
area_code = 518
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-82271GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979643GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Willsboro is a town in Essex County, New York, in the United States, and lies just south of the city of Plattsburgh. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,903. The town is named after early land owner William Gilliland.

History

During the American Revolution, British troops under John Burgoyne camped on the Bouquet River.

The region was first settled by Europeans in 1765 by William Gilliland. Originally called "Milltown" by its founder (for the saw mill he located on the falls of the Boquet River, located in the center of the town), it was renamed "Willsborough" (subsequently shortened to "Willsboro") shortly after the Revolutionary War, in honor of the founder.

While the town has always had a thriving farming tradition, through most of its history Willsboro's main employer was a paper mill (which produced the wood pulp used in the making of paper). When this paper mill closed in the 1960s, the town faced hard economic times and relied heavily on tourist dollars. Recently, new industries have moved to the town, most notably a wollastonite mine, curtain and furniture manufacturers, and numerous web-based service companies. It is also becoming a bedroom community for the city of Plattsburg, to the north.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 73.4 square miles (190.1 km²), of which, 42.7 square miles (110.6 km²) of it is land and 30.7 square miles (79.5 km²) of it (41.81%) is water.

The east town line, marked by Lake Champlain, is the border of Vermont. The Bouquet River enters Lake Champlain in the town east of Willsboro village.

New York State Route 22 is a north-south highway.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,903 people, 803 households, and 549 families residing in the town. The population density was 44.6 people per square mile (17.2/km²). There were 1,468 housing units at an average density of 34.4/sq mi (13.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.42% White, 0.26% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.26% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 803 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,715, and the median income for a family was $40,272. Males had a median income of $30,244 versus $20,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,209. About 3.8% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Willsboro

*Farrell Point -- A projection into the south end of Willsboro Bay.
*Hatch Point -- The northernmost part of the town, on the north tip of Willsboro Point.
*Highland Forge Lake -- A lake by the north town line, north of Long Pond.
*Jones Point/Flat Rock Point -- A projection into Lake Champlain northeast of Willsboro village.
*Long Pond -- A pond near the north town line.
*Reber -- A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on County Road 14.
*Willsboro -- The hamlet of Willsboro is in the eastern part of the town on NY-22 near the point where the Bouquet river enters Lake Champlain. It is also a resort community.
*Willsboro Bay -- A bay of Lake Champlain between Willsboro Point and the mainland.
*Willsboro Point -- A peninsula in Lake Champlain.
*Willsboro Point -- A hamlet on the east shore of Willsboro Point on County Road 27.
*Willsboro Central School -- The local school, at Willsboro village.

References

External links

* [http://www.co.essex.ny.us/Willsboro.asp Town of Willsboro]
* [http://www.willsborony.com Town of Willsboro information]
* [http://www.adkhistorycenter.org/esco/tow/willsboro.html Summary history of Willsboro, NY]
* [http://www.willsborocsd.org Willsboro Central School]