Town in New York, United States
Seneca Falls is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 8,942 at the 2020 census.[3]
The Town of Seneca Falls contains the former village also called Seneca Falls. The town is east of Geneva, New York, in the northern part of the Finger Lakes District.
Seneca Falls is a historic location along a branch of the Erie Canal and is often referred to as the 'birthplace of women's rights', where the 1848 women's rights convention was held. Many also believe it to have been the inspiration for the fictional town of "Bedford Falls", portrayed in filmmaker Frank Capra's classic 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life.[4]
History
The region is the former realm of the Cayuga tribe, who were visited by Jesuit missionaries during the 17th century. Cayuga villages were attacked and destroyed by the Sullivan Expedition of 1779 in retaliation for plundering and killing new colonists.
The region became part of the Central New York Military Tract, reserved for veterans, after the conclusion of the American Revolution.
A canal was completed in 1818 allowing transit between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake. This canal was connected to the Erie Canal in 1828.
The town was established in 1829 from part of the Town of Junius. The community of Seneca Falls in the town set itself apart by incorporating as a village in 1831.
The Seneca Falls Convention held July 19–20, 1848, was the first women's rights convention organized by women explicitly for the purpose of discussing women's rights as such.[5]
On March 16, 2010, the people of the Village of Seneca Falls voted to dissolve the village into the Town of Seneca Falls, effective in 2012.[6]
Goulds Pumps, a leading manufacturer of pumps, is headquartered in Seneca Falls.[7]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.4 square miles (71 km2), of which 24.2 square miles (63 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2), comprising 11.63%, is water.
The east town line is partly defined by Cayuga Lake. The Seneca River/Cayuga-Seneca Canal passes across the town. More recently, efforts are underway to complete a scenic trail along the historic canal. The eastern section of the town is part of Montezuma Marsh, an extensive wetland at the north end of Cayuga Lake.
Conjoined US Route 20 and NY-5 form an east–west highway across the town. New York State Route 89 is a north–south highway by the shore of Cayuga Lake. New York State Route 414 is also a north–south highway, but has an east–west orientation while conjoined with US-20 and NY-5. New York State Route 318 intersects US-20/NY-5 in the northeast corner of the town.
Demographics
Historical population
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1830 | 2,602 | | — |
|---|
| 1840 | 4,281 | | 64.5% |
|---|
| 1850 | 4,296 | | 0.4% |
|---|
| 1860 | 5,960 | | 38.7% |
|---|
| 1870 | 6,860 | | 15.1% |
|---|
| 1880 | 6,853 | | −0.1% |
|---|
| 1890 | 6,901 | | 0.7% |
|---|
| 1900 | 7,305 | | 5.9% |
|---|
| 1910 | 7,407 | | 1.4% |
|---|
| 1920 | 7,179 | | −3.1% |
|---|
| 1930 | 7,166 | | −0.2% |
|---|
| 1940 | 7,352 | | 2.6% |
|---|
| 1950 | 7,845 | | 6.7% |
|---|
| 1960 | 9,264 | | 18.1% |
|---|
| 1970 | 9,900 | | 6.9% |
|---|
| 1980 | 9,886 | | −0.1% |
|---|
| 1990 | 9,384 | | −5.1% |
|---|
| 2000 | 9,347 | | −0.4% |
|---|
| 2010 | 9,040 | | −3.3% |
|---|
| 2020 | 8,942 | | −1.1% |
|---|
| 2021 (est.) | 8,906 | [3] | −0.4% |
|---|
|
As of 2010 Seneca Falls had a population of 9,040. The ethnic and racial makeup of the population was 93.6% non-Hispanic white, 1.3% African-American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Indian, 1.3% other Asian, 0.2% non-Hispanic from some other race, 1.4% from two or more races, 1.0% Puerto Rican and 0.7% other Hispanics.[9]
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 9,347 people, 3,796 households, and 2,440 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.6 inhabitants per square mile (148.9/km2). There were 4,167 housing units at an average density of 171.9 per square mile (66.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.86% White, 0.87% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.52% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 3,796 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91.
The town's population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,245, and the median income for a family was $48,565. Males had a median income of $36,631 versus $25,094 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,462. About 9.7% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Public schools
Seneca Falls Central School District
The public school system for Seneca Falls and its nearby villages is provided by the Seneca Falls Central School District. This district has four schools.[11] The current superintendent is Michelle Reed.
- Frank M. Knight Elementary School is a public school which handles grades K-2 in the Seneca Falls Central School District. It has an enrollment of about 300 students. The current principal is Janet Clendenen.[12]
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton School is a public school which handles grades 3–5. It has an enrollment of about 300 students. The current principal is Amy Hibbard.[13]
- Seneca Falls Middle School is a public school which handles grades 6–8. Enrollment is around 350 students. The current principal is Kevin Rhinehart.[14]
- Mynderse Academy is a public school which handles grades 9–12. The enrollment is around 511 students as of 2006. The current principal is Faith Lewis.[15]
Private schools
- Finger Lakes Christian School (FLCS) is a private Christian Pre-K through 12th grade school in Seneca Falls. Established in 1990, the school enrolls approximately 100 students.[16]
Transportation
New York State Route 5 and U.S. Route 20 run east–west through the town.
The New York Central Railroad operated daily passenger train service on its Auburn Road division between Syracuse and Rochester until 1958, making a station stop at Seneca Falls.[18][19]
