Richfield, New York

Richfield, New York
FIPS code		36-61467
GNIS feature ID	0979417

Richfield is a

had a population of 2,388. The Town of Richfield is located at the northern border of the county.

History

Richfield Springs was called "Big Medicine Waters" by the local natives.

From the Gazetteer of the State of New York by J. H. French, Published by R. Pearsall Smith, Syracuse, N. Y. 1860:

Richfield was formed from the Town of

Daniel Nash

was the first preacher.³

¹ Richfield Springs — from which the village derives its name — are celebrated for their medicinal properties in the cure of cutaneous disorders and large numbers of invalids are annually attracted here. Professor Reid has given the following as the result of an analysis of a wine gallon of the water of these springs:

• Grains. Bicarbonate of magnesia 20
• Bicarbonate of lime 10
• Chloride of sodium and magnesia 1.05
• Sulphate of magnesia 30
• Hydrosulfate of magnesia and lime 2
• Sulphate of lime 20
• Solid matter 153.05
• Total Grains 236.10
• Sulphurated hydrogen gas, 26.9 inches.

² Willam Tunnicliff, Dan'l Hawks, John Hatch, Ebenezor Eaton, and Jos. Rockwell settled at or near Richfield Springs in 1789; Obadiah Beardsley and his son Obadiah, jr., the father and grandfather of the late Levi Beardsley, and Hon. Samuel Beardsley, of Utica settled near Schuylers Lake in 1790. The first birth was that of Jos. Beardsley; and the first marriage, that of Ebenezer Russell and Mrs. Moore. James S. Palmer taught the first school at Richfield Springs; Israel Rawson kept the first inn, and Cyrus Robinson the first store, at the Springs; William Tunnicliff erected the first mill, at the same place.

³ The census reports 7 churches; 3 M. E., 2 Prot. E., Presb., and Univ.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.4 square miles (84 km²), of which 30.9 square miles (80 km²) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) (4.72%) is water.

The northern town line is the border of

flow into the lake from the north, passing through Richfield Springs.

New York State Route 28 (NY 28) is a north-south highway passing the western shore of Canadarago Lake. NY 28 intersects US Route 20 at Richfield Springs. NY 167 has its southern terminus at US Route 20 in the center of Richfield Springs.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	1,772		—
1830	1,752		−1.1%
1840	1,680		−4.1%
1850	1,502		−10.6%
1860	1,648		9.7%
1870	1,831		11.1%
1880	2,515		37.4%
1890	2,699		7.3%
1900	2,526		−6.4%
1910	2,212		−12.4%
1920	2,133		−3.6%
1930	2,099		−1.6%
1940	1,970		−6.1%
1950	2,339		18.7%
1960	2,662		13.8%
1970	2,602		−2.3%
1980	2,608		0.2%
1990	2,711		3.9%
2000	2,423		−10.6%
2010	2,388		−1.4%
2016 (est.)	2,277	[2]	−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

As of the

of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 968 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,784, and the median income for a family was $41,050. Males had a median income of $29,479 versus $21,518 for females. The

, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Richfield

• Brighton (or "Brighton Corners") – A hamlet in the northern part of the town, located on US-20, west of Richfield Springs.
• Canadarago Hill – An elevation located in the Village of Richfield. Also referred to as The Round Top.
• Dogtown – A hamlet near the southern town line of Richfield on County Route 24, located on Hyder Creek.
• Federal Corners – A location east of Richfield Springs at the corner of Butternut Road and Cemetery Road.
• Gunset Hill – An elevation located west of Richfield Springs.
• Hawk Hill – An elevation near Dogtown.
• Nine Hill – An elevation southwest of Richfield Springs.
• Pray Hill – An elevation west of Brighton.
• Monticello – A hamlet southwest of Richfield Springs on Country Route 25 at the intersection of County Road 24.
• Richfield Hill – An elevation located by the northwestern part of the town. Part of Richfield Hill is in the town of Columbia.
• Richfield Springs – The Village of Richfield Springs is in the northeastern section of the town at the junction of US-20 and NY-28, north of Canadarago Lake.
• Round Top – An elevation on the western town line. Partly in Herkimer County.
• Sunset Hill – An elevation north of the village of Richfield

References

External links

• Official Town of Richfield website
• Early map and brief history of Richfield, NY

42°51′26″N 75°03′15″W / 42.85722°N 75.05417°W / 42.85722; -75.05417