Editing Independence, New York

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Independence, New York
|settlement_type          = [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =
|pushpin_map              = New York#USA
|pushpin_label            = Independence
|pushpin_label_position   = top <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|pushpin_mapsize          = 
|image_map                = 
|mapsize                  = 
|map_caption              = 
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[New York (state)|New York]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Allegany County, New York|Allegany]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Town Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Town Supervisor]]
|leader_name              = Jeri Reichman ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
| leader_title1           = [[Town Council]]
| leader_name1            = {{Collapsible list
 |title       = Members' List
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |list_style  = text-align:left;display:none;
 |1           = • Trinity Cutler ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
 |2           = • Donald Waters ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
 |3           = • Jaime Lewis ([[United States Democratic Party|D]], [[United States Republican Party|R]])
 |4           = • Kimberly Rounds Howe ([[United States Democratic Party|D]], [[United States Republican Party|R]])
}}
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref>{{cite web|title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_36.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 4, 2017}}</ref>
|area_total_sq_mi         = 34.49
|area_land_sq_mi          = 34.48
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=October 3, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total         = 1095 {{decrease}}
|population_density_km2   = 12.94
|population_density_sq_mi = 33.84
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_ft             = 2165
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|3|12|N|77|47|9|W|region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = {{ubl|14897 ([[Whitesville, New York|Whitesville]])|14806 ([[Andover (village), New York|Andover]])|14895 ([[Wellsville (village), New York|Wellsville]])}}
|area_code                = 
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 36-003-37297
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0979091
|website                  = {{URL|independenceny.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|population_est           = 1088
}}
'''Independence''' is a [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|town]] in [[Allegany County, New York|Allegany County]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States. The population was 1,095 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> The town is in the southeast corner of Allegany County, southeast of the village of [[Wellsville (village), New York|Wellsville]].

==History==
The first permanent settlement occurred in 1819 at Whitesville, although an attempt was made to settle the town in 1798. The town of Independence was formed in 1821 from part of the town of [[Alfred (town), New York|Alfred]]. Independence was reduced by the formation of the towns of [[Andover, New York|Andover]] (1824) and [[Willing, New York|Willing]] (1851). Historians have found no particular reason as to why the name Independence was chosen.<ref>[http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/state-and-union-freedom-and-independence/article_05153eba-5ebe-11e7-981a-a7bac69ced2f.html State and Union: Freedom and Independence]. ''Olean Times Herald'' (July 2, 2017). Retrieved July 4, 2017.</ref>

From November 16, 1896, through June 1936 Whitesville was served by the [[New York & Pennsylvania Railway]] (and predecessors) as part of its [[Canisteo, New York|Canisteo]] to [[Ceres, New York|Ceres]] (via [[Greenwood, New York|Greenwood]], [[Genesee Township, Potter County, Pennsylvania|Genesee]], [[Oswayo, Pennsylvania|Oswayo]] and [[Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania|Shinglehouse]]) main line. Following severe floods in July 1935 the railroad was partially out of service, and its abandonment in June 1936 was readily approved by the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] which from an early date approved railroad abandonment to promote highway truck use. The loss of railroad service did much to accelerate economic decline of the Whitesville area.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|34.5|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

The southern town line forms a border with [[Pennsylvania]] and the eastern town line is the border with [[Steuben County, New York|Steuben County]].

[[New York State Route 248]] is a major east-west highway in the town that intersects with [[New York State Route 248A]] (Cryder Creek Road) west of the community of Whitesville.

Cryder Creek is a stream flowing out the southwest of the town, and Chenunda Creek flows across the northern part of the town. Both creeks are tributaries of the [[Genesee River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 877
|1840= 1440
|1850= 1701
|1860= 1199
|1870= 1175
|1880= 1186
|1890= 1249
|1900= 1280
|1910= 1202
|1920= 1028
|1930= 1056
|1940= 1110
|1950= 1053
|1960= 1004
|1970= 1031
|1980= 1138
|1990= 1026
|2000= 1074
|2010= 1167
|2020= 1095
|estyear=2021
|estimate=1088
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 1,074 people, 400 households, and 301 families in the town.  The [[population density]] was 31.1/sqmi (12.0/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 14.1/sqmi (5.45/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 98.98% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.37% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.47% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.37% of the population.

There were 400 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.04.

The town population contained 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,438. Males had a median income of $27,961 versus $19,583 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,109.  About 11.0% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities and locations in the Town of Independence==
* '''Independence''' &ndash; A [[Administrative divisions of New York#Hamlet|hamlet]] at the intersection of County Road 22 and County Road 22A near the northern town line.
* '''Whitesville''' &ndash; A hamlet at routes [[New York State Route 248|NY 248]] and [[New York State Route 248A|NY 248A]] near the eastern town line.  The community is named after Samuel S White, the first permanent resident in the town and founder of the hamlet.
* '''Spring Mills''' &ndash; A hamlet in the southeast corner near Spring Mills Creek.<ref>[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyallega/independence.html Towns of Allegany County/Independence (accessed 29 June 2019)]</ref>

==Notable person==
* [[Mary Bassett Clarke]] (1831–1908), writer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://independenceny.org/ Town of Independence official website]
* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyallega/ Early history note of Independence]

{{Allegany County, New York}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Allegany County, New York]]
[[Category:Towns in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1821 establishments in New York (state)]]