Editing Ransomville, New York

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Ransomville, New York
|nicknames                 = Ransomtucky
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
|motto                    = A Great Place To Grow
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|pushpin_map            = New York
|image_map                = Niagara County New York incorporated and unincorporated areas Ransomville highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara County]] and the state of [[New York (state)|New York]].

<!-- Location -->
|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        = [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara]]
|government_footnotes     = 
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|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
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<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 15.29
|area_land_km2            = 15.29
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.90
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.90
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1316
|population_density_km2   = 86.06
|population_density_sq_mi = 222.90

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|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 99
|elevation_ft             = 325
|coordinates              = {{coord|43|14|13|N|78|54|55|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 14131
|area_code                = [[Area code 716|716]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 36-60598
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0962190
|website                  = https://www.townofporter.net
|footnotes                = 
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}}
'''Ransomville''' is a [[Hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] (and [[census-designated place]]) located in the [[Porter, New York|Town of Porter]] in [[Niagara County, New York]], United States. The population was 1,419 at the 2010 census. Portions of the hamlet are also in [[Wilson (town), New York|Town of Wilson]] and [[Cambria, New York|Town of Cambria]]. Ransomville is north of the [[Niagara Falls, New York|City of Niagara Falls]] and is part of the [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]]&ndash;Niagara Falls [[Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

Ransomville is in the southeast corner of the town on the Youngstown-Lockport Road ([[New York State Route 93]]).

==Geography==
Ransomville is located at {{Coord|43|14|13|N|78|54|55|W|type:city}} (43.236955, -78.915327).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|6.2|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

== History ==

===Founding===
The town of Ransomville was established in 1842 by the Ransom and Curtiss families and was named after William Henry Harrison Ransom. The Curtiss family, led by brothers Gideon and Capt. Gilbert Curtiss, were the first to settle in the area in the 1820s, establishing the early links with neighboring towns.<ref>"[http://www.niagara2008.com/history109.html Niagara County Historical Society's Bicentennial Moments - The Niagara Poultry Farm of Ransomville]." Niagara County Historical Society. Retrieved on October 22, 2012.</ref>

The son of immigrants from [[Sullivan County, New York|Sullivan County]] in the [[Hudson River]] Valley, W.H.H. Ransom arrived in [[Niagara County]] in 1839 and built a farm that he worked with his wife, Elisa Estes Ransom. In 1846, Ransom purchased a general store from his uncle, Jehiel Ransom, who had been in Niagara County since 1826 and served as postmaster. Ransom had 13 children and died at the age of 74 in Ransomville on December 29, 1889.<ref>"[http://www.niagara2008.com/history154.html Niagara County Historical Society's Bicentennial Moments - The Ransom Family]." Niagara County Historical Society. Retrieved on October 22, 2012.</ref>

===Development===

Ransomville was established as a farming community, but some of the earliest businesses were the log taverns built by Gideon Curtiss, the first of which was erected in 1817 and the second in 1825. A cemetery was laid out by 1821. In 1840 the Ransomville House was built as a larger, more refined building. In addition to the hotel, an 1860 map of the village lists two doctors and two blacksmiths, as well as a bootmaker, carriage maker, harness maker, grocer, lumber mill and general merchandise store.<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyniagar/1860/Ransomville.html 1860 Ransomville] Niagara County, NYGenWeb Project. Retrieved October 22, 2012.</ref>

Early settlers from the Curtiss family cleared and laid down the roads from Ransomville to [[Youngstown, New York|Youngstown]] to the West ([[NY 93]]), along the ridge to the South ([[NY 104]]) and [[Lake Ontario]] to the North ([[County Route 17 (Niagara County, New York)#County Route 17|CR 17]]). In 1876, The [[Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad]] took over the [[Lake Ontario Shore Railroad]] and extended track, connecting Ransomville with [[Lewiston, New York|Lewiston]] to the West and [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]] to the East. This was later incorporated into the [[New York Central Railroad]].<ref>[http://www.rworr.net/history/russell-history.html Rome Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad - History by Harold Russell] Harold Russell. Retrieved October 22, 2012.</ref> A year later, Gilbert Curtiss built the Excelsior Elevator across from the rail depot. The Curtisses' agricultural business would grow to include a poultry farm that was considered the largest in the nation by the early 20th century.<ref>[http://www.niagara2008.com/history109.html Niagara County Historical Society's Bicentennial Moments - The Niagara Poultry Farm of Ransomville] Niagara County Historical Society. Retrieved October 22, 2012.</ref>

In the 20th century, the town's claim to poultry fame faded with the development of new techniques and the opening of larger facilities. In 1924, the Volunteer Fire Company was formed with 24 charter members and Dr. John C. Plain as its president. A first fire hall was built in 1925 and then replaced by the current facility in 1960. Original equipment included a motorized chemical pumper rig, which replaced the hand-drawn cart.<ref>[http://ransomvillevfc.com/history/ History of Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company] Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company. Retrieved October 24, 2012.</ref> In 1933, Harold Bass opened the Bass [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] Dealership,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160409204748/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-22763647.html HAROLD C. BASS, OWNED FORD AGENCY - The Buffalo News] Highbeam Research. Retrieved October 24, 2012</ref> which was soon joined by Richard Coulter's [[Chevrolet]] dealership.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160327053409/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-21663843.html Richard C. Courter, auto dealer and marina operator ; Nov. 4, 1917 -- Nov. 15, 2007 - The Buffalo News] Highbeam Research. Retrieved October 24, 2012</ref> In 1954, Ed Ortiz and his brother opened the Ransomville Speedway for dirt track racing. The brothers moved the track outside of town to its current location in 1958.<ref>[http://www.stockcarracing.com/featurestories/scrp_0802_ransomville_speedway/viewall.html Ransomville Speedway] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310132005/http://www.stockcarracing.com/featurestories/scrp_0802_ransomville_speedway/viewall.html |date=2012-03-10 }} June Boone. Stock Car Racing. February 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2012.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 1316
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,488 people, 488 households, and 386 families residing in the hamlet. The population density was {{convert|240.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 504 housing units at an average density of {{convert|81.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the community was 97.04% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.08% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.21% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.07% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.27% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.34% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 488 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 17.2% 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 2.82 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the community, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $48,000, and the median income for a family was $53,239. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $25,227 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $22,063. None of the families and 2.8% of the population were living below the [[poverty line]], including no under eighteens and 3.4% of those over 64.

The hamlet is served by the [http://ransomvillevfc.com/ Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company] with their station located on [[NY Route 93]] Youngstown-Lockport Road. The [http://www.uppermountainfire.com Upper Mountain Fire Company] of [[Lewiston, New York]] provides Advanced Life Support services to Ransomville.

==Religion==
Despite its small size there are numerous places of worship in Ransomville.<ref>[https://maps.google.com/maps?near=Ransomville,+NY&geocode=&q=church&f=l&sll=43.242202,-78.910847&sspn=0.068027,0.140934&ie=UTF8&ll=43.214685,-78.913937&spn=0.06518,0.140934&t=h&z=13 "Map of Ransomville."] Google Maps. Retrieved 2008-01-27.</ref> These include [http://www.rfmconnect.org Ransomville Free Methodist Church], Ransomville United Methodist Church, Fillmore Chapel, Ransomville Baptist Church and Church of the Immaculate Conception.

==Notable people==
*[[Willis W. Bradley]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
*[[Chuck Hossfeld]], NASCAR driver
*[[Charlie Rudolph]], NASCAR driver
*[[Steve Geltz]], Major League Baseball Pitcher
*[[Killing of George Smith|George Smith]], an accused murderer shot by townsfolk in 1896
*[[Steve Lewis Jr.]], racing driver
*[[Billy Quarantillo]], Mixed Martial Arts fighter

==References==
<references />

==External links==

* [http://www.ransomvillespeedway.com/ Ransomville Speedway]
* [http://www.uppermountainfire.com Upper Mountain Fire Company]
* [http://www.wilson.wnyric.org Wilson Central School]
* [http://www.rfmconnect.org Ransomville Free Methodist Church]

{{Niagara County, New York}}

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[[Category:Hamlets in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Niagara County, New York]]
[[Category:Hamlets in Niagara County, New York]]