Decatur, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Decatur, New York
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Decatur, Otsego County, NY
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Otsego |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.76 sq mi (53.76 km2) |
| • Land | 20.56 sq mi (53.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.51 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,100 ft (640 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 353 |
| • Estimate
(2016)
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339 |
| • Density | 16.49/sq mi (6.37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
12197
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| Area code(s) | 607 |
| FIPS code | 36-19895 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978890 |
The Town of Decatur is a small town in Otsego County, New York, United States. It's located on the eastern side of the county. In 2020, about 374 people lived there. The town is named after Stephen Decatur, a famous naval hero from early American history.
Contents
History of Decatur
People started settling in the area around 1790. The town of Decatur was officially formed in 1808. It was created from a part of the Town of Worcester.
The land in Decatur is quite hilly, with narrow valleys. Important streams like Oak Creek and Parker Creek flow through the area. The very first settlement was made by Jacob Kinney in 1790.
Some important early residents include:
- Nahum Thompson: He was the first merchant (shop owner) in town.
- David Tripp: He was the first supervisor, like a mayor for the town.
- Lemuel Fletcher: He was the first town clerk, keeping official records.
- Samuel Turber: He taught the first school around 1798.
- John Champion: He built the first grist mill, which grinds grain into flour.
- James Stewart: He built the first carding mill, which prepares wool for spinning.
A famous inventor, Lewis Edson Waterman, was born in Decatur in 1837. He invented the "Waterman Ideal Fountain Pen," which was a big deal for writing at the time!
Geography of Decatur
Decatur covers an area of about 20.8 square miles (53.76 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
The eastern border of the town is also the border of Schoharie County.
Who are some famous people from Decatur?
- John Van Voorhis: He was a former US Congressman. This means he was a representative in the United States government.
- Bruce Ritter: He was a Roman Catholic Priest and founded an organization called Covenant House. This group helps young people who are homeless.
How many people live in Decatur?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 926 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,110 | 19.9% | |
| 1840 | 1,071 | −3.5% | |
| 1850 | 927 | −13.4% | |
| 1860 | 902 | −2.7% | |
| 1870 | 802 | −11.1% | |
| 1880 | 779 | −2.9% | |
| 1890 | 597 | −23.4% | |
| 1900 | 559 | −6.4% | |
| 1910 | 476 | −14.8% | |
| 1920 | 422 | −11.3% | |
| 1930 | 336 | −20.4% | |
| 1940 | 324 | −3.6% | |
| 1950 | 279 | −13.9% | |
| 1960 | 254 | −9.0% | |
| 1970 | 281 | 10.6% | |
| 1980 | 312 | 11.0% | |
| 1990 | 356 | 14.1% | |
| 2000 | 410 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 353 | −13.9% | |
| 2016 (est.) | 339 | −4.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2000 census, there were 410 people living in Decatur. There were 158 households, and 117 of these were families.
About 29% of the households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (66.5%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.59 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 23.9% of the people were under 18. The median age was 42 years old.
Communities and locations in Decatur
Here are some of the smaller communities and places you can find in the Town of Decatur:
- Algerine Hill – This is a hill located south of Furnaceville.
- Bear Swamp Pond – A small pond found on the northern border of the town.
- Decatur – This is the main village or hamlet of the town. It's where County Roads 37 and 39 meet.
- Elliot Hill – Another hill, located east of Gothicville.
- Furnaceville – A small community in the southeastern part of the town.
- Gothicville – A community in the northeastern part of the town, located on County Road 38.
See also
In Spanish: Decatur (Nueva York) para niños
