Edmeston, New York
Edmeston is a town located in Otsego County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 1,826. The Town of Edmeston is at the western county line. Edmeston is also the name of the largest hamlet in the town. The town is south of Utica. Geography. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The total area is 0.11% water. The major water features are: The elevation of the town varies by approximately : from just under  above sea level at the Unadilla River in the southwestern corner of the town, to just over at peaks near Taylor Hill and Summit Lake in the northeastern corner. New York State Route 80 passes through the southeastern part of the town. History. The town of Edmeston, in Otsego County, extends to the west as far as the Unadilla River, a line that was established by the 1768 Treaty of Fort Stanwix between the British and the Iroquois, negotiated by Sir William Johnson. The town's name came from the brothers, Robert and William Edmeston, who had been granted of  land in what is now the northwest corner of the town. The hamlets of West Edmeston and South Edmeston are situated in the Unadilla Valley, while the hamlet of Edmeston lies in the Wharton Valley. Earlier settlers came from New England; for most of the settlers, it was planned as a stopover on their way west. A strong Baptist influence came with the settlers. Universalists, Methodists and Roman Catholics soon arrived. The town was established from the Town of Burlington in 1808. Dairy farming has historically been the main business of the area. Cheese factories, creameries, livery stables, blacksmith shops , and tanneries were created to support the dairy industry. One room schoolhouses were scattered throughout the town. By damming the creeks, power was created for foundries and mills. Hop growing and maple syrup production were seasonal occupations. Each of the town's communities developed business districts and became self-sufficient. The last spike of the Edmeston branch of the Ontario & Western RR from New Berlin, was driven at Edmeston in January 1889, but a rumored extension to Richfield Springs was never built. Then cars, buses and trucks arrived on the scene. Dams were washed out and electricity became available. The  hamlets evolved into bedroom communities. The one room schoolhouses closed and the Central School was developed in the hamlet of Edmeston. Today residents go in all four directions for employment. NYCM Insurance not only provides positions for many of the locals but also for hundreds that commute into the community each day. On the eastern side of the town is the Pathfinder Village (home for Down syndrome residents) that provides more employment. The population of the town has not increased much through the years. It still remains largely rural. Organizations like the local Rotary Club, American Legion and Fire and  Emergency Squads have active volunteers that provide community needs in lieu of governments in the hamlets. Edmeston Central School is the center of activities. Demographics. As of the census of 2000, the town of Edmeston contained: The population density was 40.9 people per square mile (15.8/km). There were 821 housing units at an average density of 18.4 per square mile (7.1/km). The racial makeup of the town was: There were 658 households, out of which: The spread of the population of Edmeston was: "Edmeston population distribution (2000 Census)" The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females , there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males. In the town of Edmeston, median income: The per capita income for the town was $17,507. 13.6% of the population and 8.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty,