Berkshire, New York

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

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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 = Tioga
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 78.3
area_land_km2 = 78.3
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 30.2
area_land_sq_mi = 30.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1366
population_density_km2 = 17.5
population_density_sq_mi = 45.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 315
elevation_ft = 1033
latd = 42 |latm = 18 |lats = 14 |latNS = N
longd = 76 |longm = 11 |longs = 7 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 13736
area_code = 607
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-06145
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0978726
website =
footnotes =

Berkshire is a town in Tioga County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, it had a population of 1,366. The town is named after Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

The Town of Berkshire is in the northeast part of the county and is northwest of Binghamton, NY.

History

Purchase rights to the Native American lands in the area were awarded to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as part of the Boston Ten Townships, by the Treaty of Hartford in 1786. (New York retained the right to govern the land.) Massachusetts sold these rights to private individuals in 1788.

The first settlers arrived around 1791. It was originally called "Browns Settlement."

The Town of Berkshire was established in 1808 from the Town of Union while in Broome County. In 1822, Berkshire was made part of Tioga County. The Town of Newark Valley, as the "Town of Westfield," was created from part of Berkshire in 1828. An additional part of Berkshire was lost in 1831, to found the Town of Richford, then called "Arlington."

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.2 square miles (78.3 km²), of which, 30.2 square miles (78.2 km²) of it is land and 0.03% is water.

The east town line of Berkshire is the border of Broome County, and part of the west town line is the border of Tompkins County.

New York State Route 38 is a north-south highway in the town.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,366 people, 506 households, and 384 families residing in the town. The population density was 45.2 people per square mile (17.5/km²). There were 561 housing units at an average density of 18.6/sq mi (7.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.76% White, 0.37% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.07% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 506 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 103.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,625, and the median income for a family was $43,676. Males had a median income of $29,620 versus $22,865 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,735. About 6.5% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Berkshire

*Berkshire -- The hamlet of Berkshire is located where County Roads 8, 10, and NY-38 converge. The community is in the center of the town and was first settled around 1795.
*East Berkshire -- A hamlet east of Berkshire village on County Road 10.
*Wilson Creek -- A hamlet in the southeast part of the town and the name of a stream that flows past the community.

References

External links

* [http://www.berkshireny.com/ The Town of Berkshire]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/berkshire-ny.htm Berkshire history]
* [http://www.tiogacountyny.com/towns_villages/berkshire.php Information about Berkshire, NY]