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Greenwood, New York
Greenwood, New York is located in New York
Greenwood, New York
Greenwood, New York
Location in New York
Country United States
State New York
County Steuben
Area
 • Total 41.35 sq mi (107.09 km2)
 • Land 41.34 sq mi (107.07 km2)
 • Water 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation
2,014 ft (614 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 771 Decrease
 • Estimate 
(2021)
762
 • Density 18.77/sq mi (7.25/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
14839
Area code(s) 607
FIPS code 36-30741
GNIS feature ID 0979025

Greenwood is a small town located in Steuben County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 771 people lived there. It is known for its beautiful natural areas and history.

Discovering Greenwood's Past

Greenwood has a long and interesting history. In the 1700s, a special road was made through the area for early travelers. However, no one settled there permanently at that time.

First Settlers and Early Industries

The first people to make Greenwood their home arrived around 1820. One of the first important businesses was making salt. Today, Greenwood is famous for deer hunting. The town even says it's the best place in New York State for deer hunting!

How Greenwood Was Formed

Greenwood became an official town in 1827. It was created from parts of two other towns, Canisteo and Troupsburg. Later, in 1845, some of Greenwood's land was used to form the Town of West Union. But in 1848, Greenwood got some land back from the Town of Jasper.

The Railroad and Its Impact

For many years, from 1896 to 1936, a train line called the New York & Pennsylvania Railway served Greenwood. This train helped people and goods travel to and from the town. However, after big floods in 1935, the railway was damaged. It was eventually closed down in 1936. Losing the train service made it harder for businesses in Greenwood to grow.

Changes in Farming and Land Use

In the early 1900s, farming was the main way people made a living in Greenwood. Over time, farming became less common, just like in many other rural areas. Now, many of the old farmlands have grown back into forests.

Road Planning and Town Growth

In the 1960s, a major highway called the Southern Tier Expressway (now Interstate 86) was being planned. The planners decided to build the road through the Hornell-Arkport area instead of through Jasper and Greenwood. This was because they thought Hornell had more potential for future growth. The old road through Greenwood is now New York State Route 417.

The Greenwood Press Story

In 1967, a librarian named Harold Mason started a company in Greenwood called the Greenwood Press. This company specialized in reprinting books that were no longer available. He sold the company in 1969. Today, it is known as the Greenwood Publishing Group. However, it has not been connected to the town of Greenwood since the 1970s.

School System Changes

In 2004, Greenwood's schools joined with the larger school system in the nearby town of Canisteo. This helped combine resources for students.

Understanding Greenwood's Geography

Greenwood covers an area of about 41.3 square miles (107 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land.

Key Roads and Routes

Two important roads meet just north of Greenwood village. These are New York State Route 248, which runs north and south, and New York State Route 417.

Neighboring Towns

Greenwood shares its borders with several other towns:

Population and People of Greenwood

Historical population
Census Pop.
1830 852
1840 1,138 33.6%
1850 1,185 4.1%
1860 1,306 10.2%
1870 1,394 6.7%
1880 1,386 −0.6%
1890 1,312 −5.3%
1900 1,129 −13.9%
1910 1,111 −1.6%
1920 941 −15.3%
1930 968 2.9%
1940 914 −5.6%
1950 872 −4.6%
1960 839 −3.8%
1970 845 0.7%
1980 883 4.5%
1990 898 1.7%
2000 849 −5.5%
2010 801 −5.7%
2020 771 −3.7%
2021 (est.) 762 −4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 849 people living in Greenwood. These people made up 325 households and 231 families. The population density was about 20.6 people per square mile.

Who Lives in Greenwood?

Most people in Greenwood are White (98.23%). A small number of people are African American, Native American, or from other backgrounds. About 0.24% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Households and Families

About 32% of households in Greenwood had children under 18 living there. Most households (59.1%) were married couples. About 25.8% of households were individuals living alone. The average household had 2.61 people.

Age Groups in Greenwood

The population of Greenwood is spread across different age groups. About 27.1% of residents were under 18 years old. About 13.2% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 38 years.

Communities and Locations in the Town of Greenwood

  • Bennetts – A small community located on State Route 248, right at the northern edge of the town.
  • Bennetts Creek – This is a stream that flows north through the middle of the town. It eventually joins the Canisteo River.
  • Greenwood – This is the main hamlet or village of Greenwood. It is found where State Routes 417 and 248 meet, in the eastern part of the town.
  • Rough and Ready – Another small community located south of Greenwood village, close to the southern border of the town.
  • West Greenwood – A community on State Route 417. It is west of Greenwood village and near the western edge of the town.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Greenwood (Nueva York) para niños

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