Baldwin, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baldwin, New York
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 Baldwin, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Chemung |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.74 sq mi (66.66 km2) |
| • Land | 25.72 sq mi (66.61 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,020 ft (310 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 818  |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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805 |
| • Density | 31.54/sq mi (12.18/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) |
| ZIP code |
14861
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| Area code(s) | 607 |
| FIPS code | 36-015-04132 |
| Website | https://tobaldwin.com/ |
Baldwin is a small town located in Chemung County, New York, in the United States. In 2020, about 818 people lived here. The town got its name from two of its first settlers, Thomas and Waterman Baldwin. It is situated east of Elmira.
Contents
History of Baldwin
Early Settlers and Life
Baldwin was first settled around 1813. Charles and Warren Granger are thought to be the first white settlers in the area. They made their home in a place first called "Hammond Corners," which is now known as North Chemung. Traveling to this new land was tough because of thick forests, deep ravines, and swampy areas.
Soon after the Granger brothers, Henry Tice and his family arrived in 1815. Jason Hammond also came in 1815 with his five sons. Over the next few years, many more families moved to Baldwin from New England. These included the McCumbers, Whitakers, Collisions, Browns, Elstons, and Drakes. Many people living in Baldwin today are related to these early families.
The first church group was formed in 1818. They held worship services in people's homes. In 1852, a church was built in North Chemung that welcomed all faiths. This building is still used today as the United Methodist Church. Another church was built in Hicks in 1910 and is also still in use.
The first school in Baldwin started in 1819. John Tuthill Jr. taught children in a cabin. The first schoolhouse was built in 1821 near the North Chemung Cemetery. A new schoolhouse was built across the road in 1869. This building has been a store and a home. Now, it is used by the United Methodist Church for a local food pantry.
First Events in Baldwin
Here are some of the first events recorded in Baldwin's early days:
- The first child born was Simeon Hammond in 1815.
- The first death was Thomas Weaver in 1820. He was sadly killed by a falling log.
- The first wedding was Nicholas Patterson to Anna Tice in 1818.
- The first local doctor was Doctor J.W. Moore in 1836.
- Mail service began in 1843, with Anthony Collision as the first Postmaster.
Baldwin Becomes a Town
The town of Baldwin was officially created on April 7, 1856. It was formed from a part of the town of Chemung. The first town meeting happened on May 6, 1856. William H. Little was chosen as the first Town Supervisor.
In 1856, Baldwin was a small village. The 1860 census showed 274 people living there. There were several shops and businesses that helped the local farms. Sawmills were also important. Lumber was floated down Baldwin Creek to Elmira to be sold.
Social life was simple and local. For holidays, people would have community square dances with music and fun. Medicine shows and traveling salespeople were also exciting events for the people living there.
By 1875, Baldwin's population grew to 1,006 people. However, as factories grew in nearby cities, many people left Baldwin to find jobs. By 1911, the town's population had dropped to 476.
In 1956, the town celebrated its 100th anniversary with a parade and a dance. In 2006, Baldwin celebrated its 150th anniversary in a similar way. Many important local and state leaders attended.
In 2010, Baldwin's population was 832. Farming is still part of life for some people, but it is less common now. Many family farms, especially dairy farms, have closed because farming costs became too high. Most people in Baldwin now work in Elmira and other nearby towns.
Even today, you can find traces of Baldwin's past. Some old roads are now just paths for hikers through the woods. You can still see signs of old lumber mills along Baldwin Creek. Many old homes are still standing, and some are even lived in by the families who built them long ago.
Geography of Baldwin
The town of Baldwin is in the southeastern part of Chemung County. It is one of the smallest towns in the county. It shares borders with the towns of Erin and Van Etten to the north. To the east, it borders Barton in Tioga County. To the south and east, it borders Chemung, and to the west, it borders Elmira.
The main areas where people live are the small communities of North Chemung and Hicks. Hicks is in the far northeastern part of the town. North Chemung is closer to the center.
Baldwin covers about 25.8 square miles (66.7 km2) of land. Only 0.019 square miles (0.05 km2), or 0.08%, is water. Most of the town's land drains into the Chemung River. This river is a branch of the Susquehanna River. Baldwin Creek flows through the center and northwestern parts of the town. Wynkoop Creek drains the northeastern part around Hicks. Smaller creeks drain the southern part of the town into the Chemung River. The far eastern end of the town drains into Cayuta Creek, which also flows into the Susquehanna.
North Chemung is located on flat land between high hills. Because of this, its weather can change quickly. It was once known as "The Icebox of Chemung County." This was because its winter temperatures were often much colder than other places in Chemung County.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 918 | — | |
| 1870 | 969 | 5.6% | |
| 1880 | 968 | −0.1% | |
| 1890 | 733 | −24.3% | |
| 1900 | 664 | −9.4% | |
| 1910 | 476 | −28.3% | |
| 1920 | 503 | 5.7% | |
| 1930 | 483 | −4.0% | |
| 1940 | 457 | −5.4% | |
| 1950 | 557 | 21.9% | |
| 1960 | 735 | 32.0% | |
| 1970 | 889 | 21.0% | |
| 1980 | 892 | 0.3% | |
| 1990 | 829 | −7.1% | |
| 2000 | 853 | 2.9% | |
| 2010 | 832 | −2.5% | |
| 2020 | 818 | −1.7% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 805 | −3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the census in 2000, there were 853 people living in Baldwin. The population density was about 33.1 inhabitants per square mile (12.8/km2). There were 362 homes in the town.
The average age of people in Baldwin was 40 years old. About 23.4% of the population was under 18 years old.
Communities and Locations in Baldwin
- Baldwin Creek – A stream that flows out of the western side of the town.
- Hicks – A small community in the eastern part of the town, located on County Road 3.
- Maccombers Corners – A place on County Road 22, east of North Chemung.
- North Chemung – A community at the crossing of Country Roads 1 and 41. It was once known as Hammond's Corners.
- Wynkoop Creek – A stream that flows through the east of Baldwin.
- Cooperstown - An area near Oak Hill Road, off Hogback Road.
- Hemlock Grove - An area located between North Chemung and Little Road.
See also
In Spanish: Baldwin (Nueva York) para niños
