Danby, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Danby, New York
Town
Danby, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Tompkins
Area
• Total	53.77 sq mi (139.28 km2)
• Land	53.55 sq mi (138.70 km2)
• Water	0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2)
Elevation	1,532 ft (467 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,457
• Estimate  (2021)	3,423
• Density	66.01/sq mi (25.49/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	36-19620
GNIS feature ID	0978882

Danby is a small town located in Tompkins County, New York, United States. It is found in the southern part of the county, just south of the city of Ithaca. In 2020, about 3,457 people lived in Danby.

History of Danby

Early Settlers and Land

For hundreds of years, the Cayuga people lived on the land where Danby is today. They are one of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee. In 1779, during a military campaign, many Native American people were forced to leave Upstate New York.

The land that became Danby was later sold in 1794. It was part of a very large area called the Watkins and Flint Purchase. The first European-American settlers, like Isaac and John Dumond, arrived in Danby in 1795.

Forming the Town

The town of Danby was officially created on February 22, 1811. It was formed from a part of the town of Spencer. At first, Danby was part of Tioga County. However, in 1822, it became part of Tompkins County.

Over the years, Danby's borders changed a bit. In 1839, some land from the town of Caroline was added. Later, in 1856, a small part of Danby became part of the town of Dryden.

Important Roads

In 1811, a major road called the Ithaca-Owego Turnpike was finished. It went right through Danby. This road connected Cayuga Lake with the Susquehanna River. Today, New York State Route 96B follows a similar path. It is still an important road connecting Ithaca to other communities.

Famous People from Danby

Danby has been home to some interesting people throughout history:

• Prince and Lement Duplex were an African American couple. Prince was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. They moved to Danby from Connecticut in 1811.
• William Grant Egbert was a talented violinist. He was born in Danby. In 1892, he started the Ithaca Conservatory of Music. This school later became Ithaca College.
• Wilson Greatbatch was an engineer and inventor. He held over 325 patents for his inventions. He lived in Danby while studying at Cornell University in the late 1940s.
• Samuel Parker was a minister. He was ordained in Danby in 1812. He wrote a book about his trip to the Pacific Northwest in 1835.

Geography of Danby

Location and Waterways

Danby is located in New York State. It is often considered part of the Finger Lakes Region. However, it is sometimes also included in the Southern Tier Region.

The town has a special feature related to water. A "drainage divide" runs through Danby. This means that water in the northern part of town flows north into Cayuga Lake and then into Lake Ontario. Water in the southern part flows south into the Susquehanna River and eventually into Chesapeake Bay.

Land Features

Danby is on the northern edge of the Allegheny Plateau. This plateau is part of the larger Appalachian Mountains. The town has three main types of land:

• A deep valley in the western part, called the Cayuga Inlet valley.
• The western slopes of the Sixmile Creek valley in the northeastern part.
• A high, flat area (plateau) in the middle of the town. This area rises to Ithaca's South Hill in the north.

Elevations and Size

The land in Danby varies greatly in height. The lowest point is about 450 feet above sea level. This is where Cayuga Inlet crosses the northern town line. The Town Hall in Danby Hamlet is around 1230 feet high. The highest points are Dawes Hill and Roundtop, both over 1800 feet. Because of its hills and valleys, Danby is sometimes called the 'Danby Highlands'.

The United States Census Bureau states that Danby covers about 53.8 square miles (139.28 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water.

Population of Danby

How Many People Live Here?

According to the 2010 census, there were 3,007 people living in Danby. These people lived in 1,187 households. About 830 of these were families.

Who Lives in Danby?

Most people in Danby are White (about 93.65%). There are also people who are African American, Native American, and Asian. Some people are from Hispanic or Latino backgrounds.

About 33.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (56.6%) were married couples. The average household had 2.53 people. The average family had 2.94 people.

The population's age range was spread out. About 24.5% of people were under 18. About 9.9% were 65 years or older. The average age in Danby was 40 years old.

Communities and Places in Danby

Here are some of the communities and interesting spots you can find in Danby:

• Danby - This is the main village, or hamlet, in the center of the town.
• West Danby - Another hamlet located in the southwestern part of the town.
• South Danby - A small hamlet found in the southeastern section of the town.
• Caroline Depot - An area near the border with Caroline. It used to be a hamlet in the 1800s and early 1900s.
• Jennings Pond - This is a part of Buttermilk Falls State Park. It is located in the central part of Danby, close to the main Danby hamlet.
• Point O' Rocks – A specific spot within Danby State Forest. It is near the meeting point of Michigan Hollow and Bald Hill Road.
• Bald Hill - This area is in the central part of Danby. It was once a community. Now, it is part of Danby State Forest.
• White Hawk – This is an ecovillage, which is a community designed to be very environmentally friendly. It is located south of Ithaca.

Transportation in Danby

Roads

• New York State Route 96B (also known as Danby Road) runs north and south through the middle of the town. This road generally follows the path of the old Ithaca-Owego Turnpike from 1811.
• New York State Routes 34 and 96 also run north and south. They go through the western part of Danby, following the Cayuga Inlet valley.

Railroads

• A Norfolk Southern Railway train line goes through the western part of Danby. It runs through the Cayuga Inlet valley. This railroad was built in 1871. There used to be a train station in West Danby. Passenger trains stopped running here in the 1940s.
• Another old train line used to cross the northeastern part of Danby. This was originally built in 1834. It was one of the first railroads in the United States! This line was closed down in 1956.

Hiking Trails

• The Finger Lakes Trail is a long hiking trail that crosses Danby. It goes from east to west through the Danby State Forest.

See also

In Spanish: Danby (Nueva York) para niños