Galen, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Galen, New York
Town
Location in Wayne County and the state of New York.
Galen, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Wayne
Settled	1800
Established	February 14, 1812
Government
• Type	Town Board
Area
• Total	60.06 sq mi (155.55 km2)
• Land	59.48 sq mi (154.05 km2)
• Water	0.58 sq mi (1.50 km2)
Elevation	400 ft (122 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	4,290
• Estimate  (2016)	4,126
• Density	69.37/sq mi (26.78/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)	315 and 680
FIPS code	36-28013
GNIS feature ID	0978983
Website	http://townofgalen.org/

Galen is a town located in Wayne County, New York, in the United States. In 2010, about 4,290 people lived there. The town gets its name from Galen, a famous doctor from ancient times.

Galen is on the southern edge of Wayne County. It is also west of the city of Syracuse. The main ZIP Code for Galen is 14433, which is for the nearby village of Clyde.

History of Galen

Long ago, even before the French and Indian War, there was a French fort and a place for trading near the village of Clyde. People first started settling in this area around the year 1800. This early settlement was near a place called Marengo.

The town was part of a special area set aside for doctors and surgeons. These were people who served in the Colonial Army during the American Revolution. This land was used to pay them for their service.

Galen was officially formed in 1812. It was created from the Town of Junius in Seneca County. Later, in 1823, it became part of Wayne County. However, in 1824, a part of Galen was used to create the Town of Savannah.

The glass industry was very important in Galen's early days. It played a big role in the town's growth.

The Erie Canal's Impact

The Erie Canal is a famous waterway that runs through Galen. It even uses part of the Clyde River. Over time, the canal was changed and improved. This means you can still find parts of the original Erie Canal today.

One example is the old Lock 53 of the Enlarged Erie Canal. This lock was also called the Clyde Lock. It was built in 1841 and later doubled in size in 1874. This lock helped boats move up or down 4.63 feet (1.41 meters). You can find its remains near N.Y. Route 31 and Old Route 31, just west of Clyde.

Galen is also part of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. Another important spot is Erie Canal Lock 26. It is located southeast of Clyde and was built around 1912. This lock helps boats move 6 feet (1.83 meters) higher or lower.

Geography of Galen

The United States Census Bureau says that Galen covers about 60 square miles (155.5 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 59.4 square miles (154.05 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.6 square miles (1.5 square kilometers), is water.

The southern border of Galen is also part of the border between Wayne County and Seneca County. This border is shared with the Town of Junius.

New York State Route 31 is a main road that goes east and west through the town. It runs close to the Erie Canal. This highway crosses New York State Route 414 in the village of Clyde.

Population Information

Galen has seen its population change over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the town:

In 2010, there were 4,290 people living in Galen. There were 1,610 households and 1,117 families. The town had about 72 people per square mile (26.78 people per square kilometer).

Most of the people in Galen were White (92.8%). Other groups included Black or African American (3.2%), Native American (0.2%), and Asian (0.3%). About 3.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Age and Households

The population in Galen is spread out by age. About 29.3% of the people were under 20 years old. About 13.7% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 39 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 99.8 males.

In terms of households, 29.9% had children under 18 living with them. About 51.7% were married couples living together. The average household had 2.66 people, and the average family had 3.13 people.

The typical income for a household in Galen was $49,028. For families, the median income was $54,528. About 9.1% of all people in Galen lived below the poverty line. This included 13.5% of those under 18.

Communities and Locations in Galen

Galen is made up of several smaller communities and locations:

• Angells Corners — A small community in the southern part of the town, located on NY-414.
• Clyde — This is a village located where the Erie Canal and NY-31 meet.
• Fergusons Corners — A spot in the northwest part of the town, found on County Road 247.
• Hunts Corners — A location in the northeast corner of the town, on County Road 269.
• Lock Berlin — A small community in the western part of the town. It's on County Road 245, near the old route of the Erie Canal.
• Lockpit — A location in the southeast part of the town, also by the old Erie Canal route. It used to be called "Meadville."
• Marengo — A community in the southwest part of the town, west of Angells Corners.
• Noble Corner — A small community right on the eastern border of the town.
• Pangborn Corners — A location east of Hung Corner, also on the eastern town line.
• Shephards Corner — A community northeast of Clyde, on County Road 269.
• White Schoolhouse Corners — A location near Shephards Corner, where NY-414 and County Road 249 cross.

See also

In Spanish: Galen (Nueva York) para niños