Somers, New York

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

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imagesize = 200px
image_caption = The Elephant Hotel in 2007


image_

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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 = Westchester
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Town Supervisor
leader_name = Mary Beth Murphy
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 83.6
area_land_km2 = 77.8
area_water_km2 = 5.7
area_total_sq_mi = 32.3
area_land_sq_mi = 30.0
area_water_sq_mi = 2.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 18346
population_density_km2 = 235.8
population_density_sq_mi = 610.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 116
elevation_ft = 381
latd = 41 |latm = 19 |lats = 18 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 43 |longs = 6 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 10589
area_code = 914
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-68308
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979503
website = http://www.somersny.com
footnotes = (while the railroad doesn't pass through the town, several stations, such as Purdys and Goldens Bridge, and Katonah are located just outside the town).

History

The town was established as Stephentown in 1788. Confusion with another New York town named Stephentown led the town to change its name to Somerstown. In 1808, the name was changed to Somers to honor Richard Somers, a naval captain from New Jersey who died in combat during the Tripolitan War. Somers grew most rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s, after International Business Machines and Pepsi built large corporate facilities within it.

Somers is known for being the "cradle of the American circus" [ [http://www.somersny.com/History.htm Town of Somers, New York, Cradle of the American Circus- History] ] . It gained this notoriety after Hachaliah Bailey bought an African Elephant, which he named "Old Bet". Bailey intended to use the elephant for farm work but the number of people it attracted caused Bailey to take her throughout the northeast. Bailey's success caused numerous others to tour with exotic animals, and during the 1830s the old style circus and Bailey's attractions merged to form the modern circus. Old Bet died on tour in 1827. Bailey later erected the Elephant Hotel in Somers in honor of Old Bet, and it was purchased by the town in 1927. It is a town landmark and was recently dedicated a National Historic Landmark. The elephant remains a symbol of the town to this day, with the High School sports teams nicknamed "Tuskers". The Elephant Hotel is currently the Somers Town Hall.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.3 square miles (83.6 km²), of which, 30.0 square miles (77.8 km²) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is water. The total area is 6.88% water.

The north town line is the border of Putnam County, New York.

US Route 202 and US Route 6 both pass through the town.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 18,346 people, 6,802 households, and 5,169 families residing in the town. The population density was 610.7 people per square mile (235.8/km²). There were 7,098 housing units at an average density of 236.3/sq mi (91.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.81% White, 1.7% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.86% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 2.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,802 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $89,528, and the median income for a family was $103,950. Males had a median income of $78,678 versus $45,367 for females. The per capita income for the town was $40,414. 2.0% of the population and 1.2% of families were below the poverty line. 1.6% of those under the age of 18 and 2.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

The Somers Public School District is the public school district of the town of Somers. It is made up of an elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school for grades K-12. The Somers school district website is listed below.

Communities and locations in Somers

*Amawalk
*Amawalk Reservoir -- A reservoir in the north part of the town adjacent to US-202 and NY-118.
*Granite Springs
* Golden's Bridge -- A hamlet in the town of Lewisboro with a Metro-North station.
*Heritage Hills
*Horton Estates -- A living community by the Amawalk Reservoir.
* [http://www.lakelincolndale.org/ Lake Lincolndale] -- A hamlet north of Lincondale, near the north county line.
*Lincolndale -- A hamlet by the intersection of US-202 and NY-138. -
*Purdys (partly in the town of North Salem, New York)
*Shenorock -- A hamlet near the north county line by NY-118.-
*Somers -- The hamlet of Somers.
*Somers Chase-- The development on Route 202 1.2 miles East of the Somers Central School District's Intermediate and Middle Schools.
*Whitehall Corners

Points of interest

* [http://www.somerslandtrust.org/angleflypreserve Angle Fly Preserve]
* Elephant Hotel
* [http://www.lakelincolndale.org/ Lake Lincolndale]
* Lasdon Park and Arboretum
* Muscoot Farm
* Old Stone House (on old Route 100)
* Reis Park & the Wright Reis Homestead

omers in popular culture

Somers has been used as a location for a handful of prominent movies. In 1923, famed silent film director D. W. Griffith recorded portions of the historical drama "America" in Somers, NY which was released the following year (1924). [cite web | url=http://www.somershistoricalsoc.org/elephanthotel.html | title=Somers Historical Society: Elephant Hotel History] [cite web | url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0014672/locations | title=IMDB America (1924) - Filming Locations] More recently, the 1987 movie "The Secret of My Success" (starring Michael J. Fox) was filmed in Lasdon Park & Muscoot Farm. [cite web | url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093936/locations | title=IMDB The Secret of My Success (1987) - Filming Locations] Muscoot Farm was also used as the location for the orphanage scenes in the 2007 movie "August Rush" (starring Robin Williams among others). [cite web | url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426931/locations | title=IMDB August Rush (2007) - Filming Locations]

Somers has also been used as a location for television production. The episode "The Arena Family" of , which first aired on May 15, 2006, was filmed in the Purdy's section of Somers. [cite web | url=http://www.tv.com/extreme-makeover-home-edition/the-arena-family/episode/757360/summary.html | title=Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: Arena Family - TV.com]

Notable residents

County legislator Mike Kaplowitz resides in Somers. [ [http://www.westchesterlegislators.org/Legislators/D4/Bio/index.htm Westchester County Board of Legislators, NY: Michael B. Kaplowitz, District 4] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.somersny.com/ Somers official website]
* [http://www.somers.k12.ny.us/ Somers Central School District Website]
* [http://www.intownconnect.com/ InTown Westchester Magazine]
* [http://www.lakelincolndale.org/ Lake Lincolndale Property Owners' Association website]
* [http://www.lohud.com/ The Journal News, the local newspaper]