Geddes, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geddes, New York
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Location in Onondaga County and the state of New York.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Onondaga |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.26 sq mi (31.75 km2) |
| • Land | 9.16 sq mi (23.71 km2) |
| • Water | 3.10 sq mi (8.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 371 ft (113 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,088 |
| • Density | 1,393.8/sq mi (538.20/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13219
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| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-28519 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978988 |
Geddes is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is located west of the city of Syracuse. About 17,000 people live there, according to the 2020 Census. Geddes is considered a western suburb of Syracuse.
Contents
How Did Geddes Get Its Name?
Geddes became a town in 1848. It was formed from a larger area called the Town of Salina. The town is named after James Geddes. He was an important early settler who moved to the area in 1794. James Geddes helped start the salt industry near Onondaga Lake.
There was also an older "Geddes Village." This village included parts of western Syracuse and an area called Tipperary Hill. The village square was near St. Mark's Circle. In 1886, this village, with almost 7,000 people, became part of the City of Syracuse.
Today, the Town of Geddes still includes the independent Village of Solvay. It also has the smaller communities called hamlets, such as Westvale and Lakeland. Geddes is the newest town in Onondaga County.
What is the Land Like in Geddes?
Geddes is located on the western side of Onondaga Lake. The northern part of the town is mostly flat. The southern part has rolling hills. In the southwest, you can find some rounded hills called knolls.
The Seneca River forms the northern border of Geddes. Onondaga Creek makes up part of its eastern border. Nine Mile Creek flows through the middle of the town, heading east. The soil in Geddes is made of clay and sandy loam. In 1859, the town had two Protestant churches, one Episcopalian and one Methodist Episcopalian.
What Industries Were Important in Early Geddes?
By 1859, several salt wells were active near the southwest end of Onondaga Lake. A coal depot for the S.B.& N.Y.R.R. was located on the Erie Canal. In the southeast part of town, there were large stone quarries.
Geddes also had a brewery and a distillery. Many salt works were operating within the town limits. In 1859, the population was 950 people.
How Did Syracuse China Start in Geddes?
In 1841, W. H. Farrar started a small pottery business in Geddes called Farrar Pottery. He had recently moved from Vermont. In 1868, Farrar sold his business. It later became the Empire Crockery Manufacturing Company.
On July 20, 1871, some local business people bought the pottery. They invested $50,000 and began making ceramic items for tables and bathrooms. At that time, the company's name changed to Onondaga Pottery Company (O.P.Co.). The company officially became Syracuse China in 1966. They were known for making fine china and dishes for restaurants and hotels.
Salt Production in Geddes
By 1874, the Ashton Salt Mill was operating in Geddes. The Saginaw Salt Works was also located southwest of the city in the Town of Onondaga. Other salt producers in the city limits included G. A. Porter & Company, Haskin's Salt Mill, and J. W. Barker & Company.
In 1878, Geddes was home to many salt companies. These included Western Coarse Salt Company and Geddes Coarse Salt Company. The Onondaga Coarse Salt Association made different types of salt. They produced dairy, table, common, fine, and fertilizing salts.
By 1879, other manufacturers were in Geddes. These included Onondaga Iron Works and Sterling Iron Ore Company. Both were run by J. J. Belden, who was the president.
What Important Institutions Were in Geddes?
The New York State Asylum for Idiots was located in the eastern part of Geddes. It was near the original border with Syracuse on Geddes Street. The facility was on Wilbur Avenue, close to Tipperary Hill. The chosen site was about a mile southwest of Syracuse. It was considered "one of the finest" locations in New York State.
The building was made of brick. It was described as "plain but substantial" and "admirably fitted" for its purpose. The institution was on the eastern slope of the hills in the western part of the city. It was about 1.5 miles south of Onondaga Lake. The asylum grounds covered about 65 acres. Most of this land was high, offering views of the city and lake. The main buildings could hold about 450 people.
What is the Geography of Geddes?
Geddes covers a total area of about 12.2 square miles (31.7 square kilometers). About 9.2 square miles (23.7 square kilometers) of this is land. The remaining 3.0 square miles (8.0 square kilometers) is water.
Geddes is located on the western shore of Onondaga Lake.
Major roads in Geddes include Interstate 690. This highway connects with New York State Route 695 and Interstate 90 (also known as the New York State Thruway) within Geddes. New York State Route 5, or West Genesee Street, is an important east-west road. New York State Route 297 is a shorter road that runs north and south.
How Many People Live in Geddes?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 2,011 | — | |
| 1860 | 2,528 | 25.7% | |
| 1870 | 4,505 | 78.2% | |
| 1880 | 7,088 | 57.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,571 | −77.8% | |
| 1900 | 4,387 | 179.2% | |
| 1910 | 5,959 | 35.8% | |
| 1920 | 7,995 | 34.2% | |
| 1930 | 10,210 | 27.7% | |
| 1940 | 11,237 | 10.1% | |
| 1950 | 13,284 | 18.2% | |
| 1960 | 19,679 | 48.1% | |
| 1970 | 21,032 | 6.9% | |
| 1980 | 18,528 | −11.9% | |
| 1990 | 17,677 | −4.6% | |
| 2000 | 17,740 | 0.4% | |
| 2010 | 17,118 | −3.5% | |
| 2020 | 17,088 | −0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2000 census, there were 17,740 people living in Geddes. There were 7,262 households and 4,807 families. The population density was about 1,920 people per square mile.
About 29% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 50.7% were married couples. About 11.7% had a female head of household with no husband present. The average household had 2.40 people, and the average family had 2.97 people.
The population was spread out by age:
- 23.3% were under 18
- 6.4% were from 18 to 24
- 25.5% were from 25 to 44
- 23.1% were from 45 to 64
- 21.7% were 65 or older
The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were about 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in Geddes was $41,852. For a family, it was $51,609. About 8.2% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 12.9% of those under 18 and 7.0% of those 65 or older.
What Communities Are in Geddes?
- Lakeland – A hamlet in the northwestern part of Geddes.
- Lakeside – A location north of Lakeland.
- Lindbergh Lawns – A location in the northern part of the town.
- Solvay – The Village of Solvay is in the southeastern part of Geddes.
- Westvale – A hamlet south of Solvay.
Notable People from Geddes
- Ellen Mitchell (1838–1920), a philosopher.
See also
In Spanish: Geddes (Nueva York) para niños
