Greig, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Greig, New York
settlement_type = Town
nickname = Brantingham
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

|pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of New York
pushpin_mapsize =


mapsize =
map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Lewis
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Brantingham
established_date = 1828
established_title2 = Greig
established_date2 = 1832

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 244.3
area_land_km2 = 240.6
area_water_km2 = 3.7
area_total_sq_mi = 94.3
area_land_sq_mi = 92.9
area_water_sq_mi = 1.4

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1365
population_density_km2 = 5.7
population_density_sq_mi = 14.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 377
elevation_ft = 1237
latd = 43 |latm = 41 |lats = 50 |latNS = N
longd = 75 |longm = 18 |longs = 45 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 13345
area_code = 315
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-30796
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979026
website =
footnotes =

Greig is a town in Lewis County, New York, United States. The population was 1,365 at the 2000 census. Since 1878 the town has been named for a landowner, John Greig. Prior to that it bore the name, Brantingham, derived from the name used by the indigenous Indian tribes. Its use survives for a hamlet within the boundaries of the town, as a postal identity, and for the lake to the east of the town.

The town is in the southeastern part of the county and is north of Utica.

History

The native tribes who resided in the area referred to it as Brantingham, and the town first was settled by peoples of European descent around 1796, who adopted that name. A town government was formed in 1828 as the "Town of Brantingham", separating it from land delineated as a portion of the Town of Watson.

In 1832, the name of the town was changed to "Greig" in honor of a landowner. A southern portion of the town was used to form the Town of Lyonsdale in 1873, reducing the size of Greig to its current boundaries.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 94.3 square miles (244.3 km²), of which, 92.9 square miles (240.6 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²) of it (1.51%) is water.

The eastern town line is the border of Herkimer County, and the western town line is defined by the Black River.

The eastern half of the town is inside the Adirondack Park. It is the largest park in the contiguous United States (6.1 million acres), the largest National Historic Landmark, and the largest area protected by any U. S. state. The impetus to protect the land began in 1870 and by 1885, legislation had been passed to protect the land. The park was established in 1892. The park was given state constitutional protection in 1894, so that the state-owned lands within its bounds would be protected forever ("forever wild"). The part of the Adirondack State Park under government control is referred to as the "Adirondack Forest Preserve", which became a National Historic Landmark in 1963.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,365 people, 533 households, and 386 families residing in the town. The population density was 14.7 people per square mile (5.7/km²). There were 1,260 housing units at an average density of 13.6/sq mi (5.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.90% White, 0.07% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 533 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,179, and the median income for a family was $39,028. Males had a median income of $32,596 versus $22,857 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,838. About 4.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Brantingham Lake

Located east of the village of Brantingham, is Brantingham Lake, a mid-sized body of water very popular with locals and tourists to the Adirondack Park in which it is located. The name Brantingham is said to have been derived from a name used by the tribe of Indians who settled and lived in the area. Many "camps" were built along the lake that have become year-round residences.

Islands and Depths

Brantingham Lake has two islands, "Grant", or "Round Island", and "Dark Island". In 2003, during a mapping expedition of the bottom of the lake, the deepest part of Brantingham was found to be 85 feet below the surface. The mapping also found the average depth of the lake to be 55 feet There are two distinct sand bars in the lake, each one now is marked by white milk jugs that run the length of the bar. There is one submerged road which stems off of Dark Island and connects to the mainland. The road still can be seen when passed over by a boat.

Lily Ponds

There are four "lily ponds" accessible on Brantingham Lake, three of which are accessible by boating under a bridge on the southwestern side of the lake. The other is on the northeastern side and is a very small inlet. Fishing in these small areas of the lake is very successful although many residents say fishing off of boat docks can be just as good for catching fish.

Taps

In the early 1990s, the sound of taps started echoing over the lake at sunset. Since then, most nights, especially during the summer months, trumpets sound taps and return the call to each other.

Communities and locations in and near Greig

* Brantingham -- A hamlet near the center of the town, located inside the Adirondack Park
* Brantingham Lake -- A lake east of Brantingham and its residences
* Catspaw Lake -- A small lake north of Brantingham and its residences
* Glenfield -- A hamlet at the western town line, at the Black River
* Greig -- The hamlet of Greig is in the southwestern part of the town boundaries
* Otter Creek -- A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town, north of Greig village

References

External links

* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/lewis-greig.htm Early history of Greig, New York]