Edmeston, New York

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

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Edmeston, Otsego County


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Otsego
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 115.5
area_land_km2 = 115.4
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 44.6
area_land_sq_mi = 44.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1824
population_density_km2 = 15.8
population_density_sq_mi = 40.9

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 436
elevation_ft = 1430
latd = 42 |latm = 42 |lats = 44 |latNS = N
longd = 75 |longm = 14 |longs = 48 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 13335
area_code = 607
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-23613
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0978926
website =
footnotes =

Edmeston is a town located in Otsego County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,824.

The Town of Edmeston is at the western county line. Edmeston is also the name of the largest hamlet in the town. The town is south of Utica.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.6 square miles (115.5 km²), of which, 44.5 square miles (115.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.11% water. The major water features are:
* the Unadilla River, which forms the entire western border of the town,
* Wharton Creek, which meanders to the south and west through the southeastern corner of the town,
* Mill Creek, which flows from north to south from the northern border of Edmeston to the Wharton Creek at the Edmeston hamlet.
* Summit Lake in the northeastern corner of the town.

The elevation of the town varies by about convert|800|ft|m: from just under convert|1100|ft|m above sea level at the Unadilla River in the southwest corner of the town, to just over convert|1900|ft|m at peaks near Taylor Hill and Summit Lake in the northeast corner.

New York State Route 80 Passes through the southeast part of the town.

History

:"For a documented history of the Town of Edmeston, see the Wikisource article: "

The town of Edmeston, in Otsego County, extends to the West as far as the Unadilla River, a line that was established by the 1768 Treaty of Fort Stanwix between the British and the Iroquois, signed by Sir William Johnson ). The town's name came from the brothers, Robert and William Edmeston, who had been granted 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land in what is now the northwest corner of the town. The hamlets of West Edmeston and South Edmeston are situated in the Unadilla Valley, while the hamlet of Edmeston lies in the Wharton Valley. Earlier settlers came from New England; for most of the settlers, it was planned as a stopover on their way west. A strong Baptist influence came with the settlers. Universalists, Methodists and Roman Catholics soon arrived.

The town was established from the Town of Burlington in 1808.

Dairy farming has historically been the main business of the area. Cheese factories, creameries, livery stables, blacksmith shops, and tanneries were created to support the dairy industry. One room schoolhouses were scattered throughout the town. By damming the creeks, power was created for foundries and mills. Hop growing and maple syrup production were seasonal occupations. Each of the town's communities developed business districts and became self sufficient. By the late 1800s, and the beginning of the 1900s, trains were introduced. Then cars, buses and trucks arrived on the scene. Dams were washed out and electricity became available. The hamlets evolved into bedroom communities. The one room schoolhouses closed and the Central School was developed in the hamlet of Edmeston.

Today residents go in all four directions for employment. The New York Central Insurance Company, also known as Gossip Central, (in Edmeston) not only provides positions for many of the locals, and something to talk about and focus on other's lives other than their own, but also for hundreds that commute into the community each day. On the Eastern side of the town is the [http://www.pathfindervillage.org/ Pathfinder Village] (home for Down Syndrome residents) that provides more employment.

The population of the town has not increased much through the years. It still remains largely rural. Organizations like the local Rotary Club, American Legion and Fire and Emergency Squads have active volunteers that provide community needs in lieu of governments in the hamlets. Edmeston Central School is the center of activities.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, the town of Edmeston contained:

1824 people,

658 households, and

480 families.

The population density was 40.9 people per square mile (15.8/km²).

There were 821 housing units at an average density of 7.1/km² (18.4/sq mi).

The racial makeup of the town was:

98.14% White,

0.44% African American,

0.27% Native American,

0.05% Asian,

0.00% Pacific Islander,

0.44% of races other than the above,

0.66% of two or more races,

0.99% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 658 households out of which:

34.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them,

62.2% are married couples living together,

8.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and

26.9% are non-families.

22.5% of all households are made up of individuals and

12.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older.

The average household size is 2.65 and

the average family size is 3.06.

The population spread of the town of Edmeston was:

27.1% under the age of 18,

6.3% from 18 to 24,

28.6% from 25 to 44,

23.5% from 45 to 64, and

14.5% who are 65 years of age or older.

"Edmeston population distribution (2000 Census)":(*) percent of total population (all ages):{**) percent of population in age bracket

The median age was 37 years.

For every 100 females there were 100.0 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

In the town of Edmeston, median income:

per household was $36,800,

per family was $41,510,

per male was $27,546,

per female was $21,089.

The per capita income for the town is $17,507.

13.6% of the population and 8.3% of families are below the poverty line.

Out of the total people living in poverty,

18.3% of those under the age of 18 and

7.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Communities and locations in Edmeston

*Amblers Crossing -- A hamlet south of Edmeston village.
*Edmeston -- The hamlet of Edmeston is in the south part of the town on NY-80.
*Manchester Crossing -- A hamlet east of South Edmeston.
*South Edmeston -- A hamlet at the west town line near the Unadilla River at the junction of County Roads 18 and 20.
*Summit Lake -- A small lake in the northeast part of the town.
*West Edmeston -- A hamlet near the west town line, located next to the Unadilla River.

References

External links

* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyotsego/edm.htm Early map and brief history of Edmeston]
* [http://edmestoncentralschool.net/ Edmeston Central School Homepage]
* [http://www.edmestonny.org Edmeston, NY Web Site]