Afton, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Afton, New York
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Location in Chenango County and the state of New York.
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Location of New York in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Chenango County |
| Incorporated | 1857 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 46.70 sq mi (200.2 km2) |
| • Land | 46.07 sq mi (119.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.63 sq mi (1.63 km2) |
| Elevation | 989 ft (301 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,769 |
| • Density | 60.10/sq mi (23.21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13733
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| Area code(s) | 607 |
| FIPS code | 36-017-00353 |
Afton is a small town in Chenango County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 2,769 people lived there. Afton is in the southeastern part of Chenango County. It was created from part of the town of Bainbridge in 1857.
The town gets its name from Afton Water, a river in Scotland. A famous poet named Robert Burns wrote about this river. Afton is bordered by Bainbridge and Coventry to the north. To the east, it borders Delaware County. To the west and south, it borders Broome County.
Inside the town of Afton, there is also a village that shares the same name, Afton. This village is located in the southeastern part of the county, northeast of Binghamton.
Contents
Afton's Past: A Look at Its History
When Afton Was First Settled
People first started living in the Afton area around 1786. The town of Afton was officially formed in 1857. It was created from a part of the nearby town of Bainbridge.
How Afton Got Its Name
Long ago, Bainbridge and Afton were one big town called Jericho. One winter was so harsh that people in the area now known as Afton were starving and freezing. The people in what is now Bainbridge refused to help them. When spring arrived, there were hard feelings between the two groups. Because of this, the town of Jericho split into two separate towns.
Afton got its name from a line in a poem that the townspeople loved. It was also given a name starting with "A" so it would appear before "Bainbridge" on state lists. Before it was called Afton, it was known as "Clinton," named after General George Clinton. People also jokingly called it "Jockey Port" because there was a horse racetrack in Afton. It was also known as "South Bainbridge" because it was the southern part of Bainbridge.
Important Events in Afton's History
Joseph Smith, who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was married to Emma Hale in Afton. Their wedding took place where the Afton Fairgrounds and Raceway are today.
Afton was also a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape from the Southern states to freedom. Some houses in Afton, like one on Pleasant Avenue, even have secret rooms and staircases that were used for this purpose.
Afton's Location and Landscape
Where is Afton Located?
Afton covers a total area of about 46.70 square miles (120.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 46.07 square miles (118.7 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.63 square miles (1.8 square kilometers), is water.
Rivers and Roads in Afton
The Interstate 88 highway runs through the town. The Susquehanna River also flows through Afton. New York State Route 7 and New York State Route 41 meet in the village of Afton.
The western and southern borders of Afton are also the border of Broome County. The eastern border of the town is the border of Delaware County.
Who Lives in Afton?
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Afton has changed over the years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,992 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,931 | −3.1% | |
| 1880 | 2,248 | 16.4% | |
| 1890 | 2,083 | −7.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,920 | −7.8% | |
| 1910 | 4,203 | 118.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,840 | −56.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,871 | 1.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,848 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,047 | 10.8% | |
| 1960 | 2,245 | 9.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,464 | 9.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,728 | 10.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,972 | 8.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,977 | 0.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,851 | −4.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,769 | −2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,977 people living in Afton. The town had 1,186 households and 829 families. The average household had about 2.50 people. The average family had about 2.98 people.
Age Groups in Afton
In 2000, about 25.8% of the people in Afton were under 18 years old. About 14.8% were 65 years old or older. The average age of people in Afton was 39 years.
Places and Communities in Afton
- Afton – This is a village located near the center of the town. It's on NY Route 7 and next to the Susquehanna River.
- Bettsburg – A small community (called a hamlet) near the southern border of the town. It's on NY-41 and named after a local merchant, Peter Betts.
- East Afton – Another hamlet located in the southeastern part of the town.
- Middle Bridge – This hamlet is northeast of Afton village. It's on County Road 39, on the south side of the Susquehanna River.
- Nineveh – A hamlet located right on the town line, on NY-7.
- Nineveh Junction – This hamlet is in the southwestern part of the town.
- North Afton – A hamlet near the northern border of the town, north of Afton village on NY Route 41. It was once called "Ayrshire."
Notable Person from Afton
- Elijah Easton – He was a farmer who was born in Afton. He later served in the government for both Wisconsin and Minnesota.
See also
In Spanish: Afton (pueblo) para niños
