Williamson, New York

Coordinates: 43°16′47″N 77°11′11″W / 43.27972°N 77.18639°W / 43.27972; -77.18639
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

For the hamlet and CDP located within this town, see Williamson (CDP), New York. For other uses, see Williamson (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Williamstown, New York.
Williamson, New York
Town
Williamson looking north on South Avenue (NY 21)
Williamson looking north on South Avenue (NY 21)
FIPS code
36-82040
GNIS feature ID0979640[4]
Websitehttp://www.town.williamson.ny.us

Williamson is a

area code 315
.

The town has a

hamlet (and census-designated place), also called Williamson
. Government offices for the town are located there.

History

The area around

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
.

The first white settler, Daniel Russell, built a log cabin in Pultneyville in 1794. This hamlet briefly enjoyed prominence as one of the few ports in the area until the opening of the Erie Canal in the southern part of the county in 1823. It did continue to be an important Great Lakes port, however, well into the 19th century.

Williamson was created in 1802 from the

Town of Sodus and originally was much larger than its present-day borders. Later, other towns were created from parts of Williamson, including: Ontario in 1807 and Marion
in 1825. Until relatively recently, Williamson was a dry town.

In 1814, during the War of 1812, British troops landed in Pultneyville, and an agreement was made with the villagers allowing the invaders to seize some stores without resistance, but a dispute broke out and weapons fire began on both sides. A few citizens were killed or wounded and two were taken prisoner as the British fled.

In 2002, Williamson celebrated the bicentennial of its founding with celebrations and festivals throughout the year.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.7 square miles (90 km2), of which 34.6 square miles (90 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.06%) is water.

Williamson encompasses the hamlets of Williamson, Pultneyville and East Williamson. The nearest metropolitan area is the city of Rochester, which lies to the west. The town of Williamson does not have an incorporated village.

In 1980, the northern terminus of New York State Route 21 (NY 21) was moved southward from the intersection with Lake Road in Pultneyville to its present location at the intersection with NY 104, in Williamson, about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) north of the town's business district.

NY 104 is an important east–west highway in western New York, and NY 21 is a north–south highway used by many to access the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90).

Adjacent towns and areas

The town is bordered on the north by Lake Ontario, on the east by the Town of Sodus, on the south by the Town of Marion and on the west by the Town of Ontario.

Landmarks and events

fountain drinks
are popular among its patrons.

Williamson has played host to the annual Williamson Apple Blossom Festival since 1960. Celebrating the town's (and region's) heritage of apple farming, this event is held in May at the height of the blooms. The week-long celebration begins with the selection of the local festival queen and her court and culminates with a carnival, popular 5k race, parade and "fly-in" breakfast at the local airport.

Government services

Williamson is governed by a Town Supervisor and a four-person Town Board. Anthony Verno is currently the Town Supervisor and also serves on the Wayne County Board of Supervisors. The Williamson Central School District provides the public education services to the town's residents through its Elementary School, Middle School and High School. The School District was designed and built by Dr. K. Slater.

Economy

Williamson is primarily a rural agricultural town, but since the 1960s, the growth of

bedroom community aspects to the town. Recognized nationally for its fruit-growing – especially apple tarts, peach pies, and cherry cokes – local agriculture also includes dairy farming. It is also home of a Mott's
plant, employing roughly 300 people, which made national headlines when the unionized employees went on strike for roughly four months in 2010.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18202,521—
18301,788−29.1%
18402,14720.1%
18502,38010.9%
18602,68112.6%
18702,430−9.4%
18802,74513.0%
18902,670−2.7%
19002,6700.0%
19103,06014.6%
19203,2937.6%
19303,5046.4%
19403,7005.6%
19504,22614.2%
19605,29425.3%
19706,35620.1%
19806,319−0.6%
19906,5403.5%
20006,7773.6%
20106,9843.1%
2016 (est.)6,969[3]−0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

As of the

Latino
of any race were 3.9% of the population.

There were 2,773 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 20, 4.3% from 20 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The

poverty line
, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Housing

There were 3,121 housing units at an average density of 89.9 per square mile (34.7/km2); a total of 11.2% of housing units were vacant.

There were 2,773 occupied housing units in the town, of which 2,229 were owner-occupied units (80.4%), while 544 were renter-occupied (19.6%). The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.1% of total units. The rental unit vacancy rate was 9.5%.[6]

Prohibition never ended

On January 16, 1920, Williamson became "dry" along with the rest of the United States when the

21st Amendment
ended Prohibition, the sales of such beverages were illegal within the town.

In 1996 residents of the town voted to liberalize the laws and the sales of

taverns were banned until 2004.[8] Today, the town only bans beer sales at race tracks, outdoor athletic fields and sports stadia where admission is charged.[9]

Communities and locations in the Town of Williamson

References

  1. ^ Wayne County Office of County Historian - Town of Williamson History, Retrieved Jun. 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  7. ^ Kristin Star, Standing Up to King Alcohol: The Temperance Movement of Wayne County, 2001, Hoffman Essays. Archive of http://www.co.wayne.ny.us/departments/historian/HoffmanEssays/Essays01-13.pdf last accessed July 30th, 2021.
  8. ^ Dry Town Puts Drink To A Vote, The New York Times. November 1, 2004. Last accessed October 31, 2006.
  9. New York State Liquor Authority
    ; September 19, 2007; retrieved March 22, 2012.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Williamson,_New_York&oldid=1177741380"