Cato, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cato, New York
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Location within Cayuga County and New York
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 Cato, New York
Location in New York
Cato, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Cayuga |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.2 sq mi (93.7 km2) |
| • Land | 33.6 sq mi (87.1 km2) |
| • Water | 2.5 sq mi (6.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 420 ft (130 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,443  |
| • Density | 75/sq mi (29.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13033
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| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-011-12969 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978801 |
Cato is a town located in Cayuga County, New York, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,443 people lived there. The town was named after Cato the Elder, a famous Roman leader. This name was chosen by surveyors of the area, who often used classical names for towns.
The town of Cato includes part of a village also called Cato. It also contains the entire village of Meridian. Cato is located northwest of the city of Syracuse.
Contents
History of Cato
Early Settlers in Cato
The land where Cato is located was set aside for soldiers who fought in the American Revolution. This area was known as the Central New York Military Tract. People started moving into the town in the early 1800s. After the War of 1812, even more people came to live in Cato.
How Cato Town Was Formed
The town of Cato was officially created in 1802. It was formed from a part of the town of Aurelius. Over the years, Cato's size changed as new towns were created nearby.
For example, the town of Sterling was formed from part of Cato in 1812. Later, in 1821, the towns of Conquest, Ira, and Victory were also created from parts of Cato. In 1824, a small piece of the town of Ira was given back to Cato.
Famous People from Cato
Cato has been home to some notable individuals:
- Howard Frank Mosher – A well-known novelist.
- Regan Smith – A professional NASCAR driver.
- Josh Warner – A professional football player who played for the Chicago Bears.
Geography of Cato Town
Land and Water Areas
The town of Cato covers a total area of about 36.2 square miles (93.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 33.7 square miles (87.2 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 2.5 square miles (6.6 square kilometers), is water. Water makes up about 7% of the town's total area.
Borders and Rivers
Cato is on the eastern side of Cayuga County. This means its eastern border is also the border of Onondaga County. The southern edge of the town is marked by the Seneca River, which is also part of the Erie Canal.
Villages and Roads
The village of Cato is located along the northern border of the town. Half of this village actually extends into the town of Ira to the north. The village of Meridian is entirely within the town of Cato, located east of Cato village.
Two important roads meet in Cato village:
- New York State Route 34 – Runs north and south.
- New York State Route 370 – Runs east and west.
Another road, New York State Route 176, starts at NY-370, just east of Meridian.
Lakes and Other Locations
- Cato – A village partly in Cato town and partly in Ira.
- Cross Lake – A large lake on the eastern border of the town.
- Meridian – A village located entirely within the town of Cato.
- Otter Lake – A lake found south of Meridian.
- Parker Pond – A small lake near the southeastern part of Cato village.
- Whitford's Airport – Also known as "Weedsport Airport," it is a small airport near the southern border of the town.
Population of Cato
How Many People Live Here?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,075 | — | |
| 1820 | 4,021 | 274.0% | |
| 1830 | 1,782 | −55.7% | |
| 1840 | 2,380 | 33.6% | |
| 1850 | 2,247 | −5.6% | |
| 1860 | 2,350 | 4.6% | |
| 1870 | 2,091 | −11.0% | |
| 1880 | 2,059 | −1.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,996 | −3.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,624 | −18.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,569 | −3.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,394 | −11.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,286 | −7.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,458 | 13.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,513 | 3.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,815 | 20.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,975 | 8.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,139 | 8.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,452 | 14.6% | |
| 2000 | 2,744 | 11.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,537 | −7.5% | |
| 2020 | 2,443 | −3.7% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,433 | −4.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,744 people living in Cato. These people lived in 994 households, and 747 of these were families. The average number of people in each household was about 2.76.
Age and Income
The population of Cato includes people of all ages. In 2000, about 29% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age in the town was 37 years.
The median income for a household in Cato was $43,281. For families, the median income was $49,028. About 8.3% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 9.5% of those under 18 and 11.7% of those 65 or older.
See also
In Spanish: Cato (pueblo) para niños
