Editing Baldwin, New York (section)

===History as a town===
The town of Baldwin was founded by an act of the state legislature on April 7, 1856, from part of the town of [[Chemung, New York|Chemung]]. The first town meeting was held May 6, 1856, at the house of Daniel R. Harris, innkeeper. William H. Little was elected Town Supervisor, Johnson Little as Town Clerk, Daniel R. Harris as Commissioner of the Highways, and William R. Drake, William and Jeremiah McCumber as Justices of the Peace.

In 1856 Baldwin was a small village; the 1860 census shows a population of 274. There were several shops and businesses that were closely linked to the agricultural makeup of the town. There were also sawmills and lumber not used locally was floated down Baldwin Creek, which runs through the town, and on to Elmira to be sold.

Social life was very localized, but for holidays and special occasions there would have been community-wide [[square dance]]s filled with fun and music. In the early years of the town medicine shows and peddlers' arrivals would have been other exciting events for the people living there.

In 1875 there were 1,006 people living in Baldwin. However, with the rise of the [[Industrial Age]] there was less demand for handcrafted goods produced locally. With the completion of several railroad lines in Elmira more people began leaving Baldwin to make a living working in the factories in Elmira and beyond. By 1911 the town's population was down to 476.

On May 22, 1923, one hundred citizens of the town petitioned the supervisors of the county to have the town of Baldwin dissolved. The reason they gave was that the tax rates were excessive for citizens because of the lack of businesses in the township. It was proposed that the town be parcelled off and incorporated into the neighboring towns of [[Erin, New York|Erin]] and Chemung. However, the petition was denied by the county, as once a boundary is laid down on the official maps it would take too much legal formality to change, and a unanimous demand would be required to do so.

In 1956 the town celebrated its 100th anniversary with a parade, dance and other fun. The town celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006 much in the same fashion, with many local and state dignitaries in attendance.

The census in 2010 listed the total population of Baldwin at 832. Farming continues to be a way of life for some in the town to this day, but to a much lesser extent. The past 20 years have seen many family farms, specifically dairies, close down operations as the cost of farming outweighs the income. Until recently there was an increased interest in natural gas drilling within the town and region until a state moratorium was made permanent by Governor Andrew Cuomo.  Short of a few small home-based businesses, the majority of Baldwin's residents are employed in Elmira and the surrounding communities.

Life in the 21st century places demands on the citizens that take them outside the town's borders for both work and play. Still there is much history in this sleepy community, and the traces of yesterday are still to be found. In fact many of the older roads used in days gone by are now little more than cleared paths through the woods between existing roads for hikers to roam. There is evidence along the banks of Baldwin Creek remaining from the days of lumber mills that once occupied its shores, and many of the home buildings still stand, some still occupied by the descendants of those who built them.