# Walworth, New York

Walworth is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States named after Reuben Walworth, a state official. The population was 9,449 at the 2010 census.
The Town of Walworth is on the western border of the county and is east of Rochester, New York. It has a hamlet, also called Walworth.

## History

The town was first settled in 1799 when four brothers named Andrew, John, Samuel, and Daniel Millet left their homes in Connecticut, traveled west and became the first settlers in what is now the hamlet of Walworth. There they built crude log cabins, the first dwellings in Walworth.
Stephen and Daniel Douglas, also from Connecticut, located in this area in 1800. Stephen Douglas built the first frame house on the southwest corner of the present four corners of the hamlet of Walworth. Soon after, they gave their name to this growing community and for a number of years it was known as Douglas Corners.
The Town of Walworth was created on April 5, 1830, when it was separated from the Town of Ontario by an act of New York State Legislature dated April 20, 1829, the last town formed in Wayne County. (Laws of the State of New York, Chapter 196)
Theron Yeomans of Walworth introduced Holstein cattle to the United States and was the first president of the Holstein-Friesian Association of America. Susan Cleveland, sister of President Grover Cleveland, married into the Yeomans family.
In 1934, a freeze killed many of the town's orchards, leading to a sharp decline in fruit growing.
In 2024, a traffic light issue at the town's center (441/Walworth-Ontario Rd) caused lots of frustration. (see more below)

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.9 square miles (88 km$^2$), of which 33.8 square miles (88 km$^2$) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km$^2$) (0.12%) is water.
The Town of Walworth is bordered by the towns of Ontario to the north, Marion to the east, Macedon to the south, and Penfield (Monroe County) to the west.
New York State Route 350 and New York State Route 441 intersect in the town. New York State Route 286 is another east–west highway, paralleling and north of NY-441, also ending at NY-350.

## Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,949 people, 3,356 households, and 2,694 families residing in the town. The population density was 278.7 inhabitants per square mile (107.6/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 96.5% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
There were 3,356 households, out of which 40.2% had people under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.4% under the age of 20, 3.6% from 20 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $76,146, and the median income for a family was $85,181. Males had a median income of $64,392 versus $41,594 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,551. About 1.0% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.

### Housing

There were 3,486 housing units at an average density of 102.8 per square mile (39.7/km$^2$); a total of 3.7% of housing units were vacant.
There were 3,356 occupied housing units in the town, of which 3,093 were owner-occupied units (92.2%), while 263 were renter-occupied (7.8%). The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% of total units. The rental unit vacancy rate was 12.9%.

## Communities and locations in the Town of Walworth

* Gananda — A planned community begun in 1971, located near the southern town line.
* Huddle — A hamlet by the southeast corner of the town on County Road 205 and south of Walworth hamlet.
* Lincoln — A hamlet on County Road 201 near the western town line.
* Walworth — The hamlet of Walworth is near the east town line on NY-441 and County Roads 205 and 207. It was once called "Douglass Corners" after two brothers who arrived in 1800 and built a tavern.
* West Walworth — A hamlet on County Road 204 near the western town line. It was settled circa 1805. Originally called Birch Bridge. Birthplace of Artist Charles Livingston Bull (1874–1932).

## School districts

Walworth is served by Wayne Central, Gananda Central and Penfield Central school districts.

## 2024 Traffic Light Debacle
### Overview

The traffic signal at the intersection of New York State Route 441 and Walworth-Ontario Rd in Walworth, NY, has been inoperative for several months as of late 2024. The signal currently operates as a flashing red for north-south traffic on Walworth-Ontario Rd and a flashing yellow for east-west traffic on Route 441. This configuration has led to significant delays for north-south travelers and raised safety concerns due to the lack of a full stop for opposing traffic on Route 441.

### Background

The malfunctioning signal has drawn criticism from local residents and commuters, as the town has acknowledged the need for a replacement but cited delays due to supply chain issues. Despite these delays, the town has not acted on suggestions from the public to borrow or purchase a temporary signal from neighboring municipalities. The lack of responsiveness has led to growing frustration among residents.

### Impact

Safety Concerns: Residents fear the risk of accidents at the intersection, given that drivers on Route 441 are not required to stop, while those on Walworth-Ontario Rd face delays.
Increased Travel Times: The flashing configuration causes bottlenecks for north-south traffic, significantly slowing travel times.

### Community Response

The issue has sparked conversations (mainly on the town facebook group) about municipal efficiency and priorities. Some residents have drawn ironic comparisons to notable historical events in Walworth, such as former President Grover Cleveland's visit to the town for his sister's wedding in 1885.

### Town Statements

Officials from the Town of Walworth have stated that a replacement signal is on order, though no estimated installation date has been provided. The delay is reportedly due to a lack of available traffic light components amid ongoing supply chain disruptions.

### Future Developments

As of November 2024, the timeline for resolving the traffic signal issue remains unclear. The matter has been discussed in town board meetings, but public dissatisfaction continues to grow as winter conditions exacerbate safety concerns.