Smyrna (town), New York

Smyrna is a town in Chenango County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. Smyrna is named after a coastal city in ancient Greece.

The Town of Smyrna contains a village named Smyrna. The town is on the county's north border.

History

The town was settled around 1792. The Town of Smyrna was founded in 1808 as the "Town of Stafford" from part of the Town of Sherburne. Within a month, the name was changed to "Smyrna."

Past resident of note

* Brigham Young lived in Smyrna as a child. A historical marker at the corner of County Route 21 and Cole Road indicates the approximate former location of his boyhood home.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 42.2 square miles (109.2 km²), of which, 42.1 square miles (109.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.17%) is water.

The north town line is the border of Madison County.

New York State Route 80 is an east-west highway in the town.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,418 people, 472 households, and 371 families residing in the town. The population density was 33.7 people per square mile (13.0/km²). There were 608 housing units at an average density of 14.4/sq mi (5.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.45% White, 0.92% Native American, 0.14% Asian, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.28% of the population.

There were 472 households out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the town the population was spread out with 32.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,607, and the median income for a family was $34,125. Males had a median income of $25,313 versus $21,111 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,541. About 16.6% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Smyrna

*Beaver Meadow -- A hamlet at the west town line on County Road 16.
*Bonney -- A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on NY Route 80.
* Pleasant Brook -- A stream flowing through the center of the town.
*Smyrna -- The Village of Smyrna on NY-80 at County Road 20.
*Sherburne Four Corners -- A hamlet on County Road 20 on the town line at the southeast corner of the town so that it is in four towns of the county.
*Upperville -- A hamlet northwest of Smyrna village on NY-80.

References

External links

* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/smyrna-ny.htm Early history of Smyrna, NY]
* [http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/new-york/smyrna Information about Smyrna]