Hammond, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hammond, New York
|
|
|---|---|
 Hammond, New York
Location in New York
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | St. Lawrence |
| Area | |
| • Total | 77.9 sq mi (202 km2) |
| • Land | 62.2 sq mi (161 km2) |
| • Water | 15.7 sq mi (41 km2) |
| Elevation | 358 ft (109 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,258 |
| • Density | 18.71/sq mi (7.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 36-31841 |
| GNIS feature ID | 979040 |
| Website | https://townofhammondny.com/ |
Hammond is a small town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 1,258 people lived here. The town is named after Abijah Hammond, an early landowner.
The Town of Hammond is in the northwestern part of St. Lawrence County. The Village of Hammond is located right in the middle of the town.
Contents
History of Hammond
How Hammond Town Began
The Town of Hammond was created in 1827. It was formed by combining parts of two other towns: the Town of Morristown and the Town of Rossie. Over time, the town's borders changed slightly with its neighbors.
A man named Alexander Macomb bought a lot of land in this area. This land was known as the Macomb purchase. Later, Abijah Hammond, a businessman from New York, bought this land. He then sold a large portion of it to David Parish. In 1814, a land office opened in Chippewa Bay, which is a community within Hammond today.
On March 30, 1827, the New York State Legislature officially made Hammond a town. It was named after Abijah Hammond. Interestingly, Hammond is older than the city of Chicago. At one point, it even had more people, but its location caused its population to decrease over time.
Early Settlers and Growth
The first person to live in Hammond was William McNeil from Vermont. He settled in Chippewa Bay. He lived in a cave that is no longer there, but a plaque marks the spot. A statue honoring him stands in front of the Hammond Museum.
By 1840, the town's population had grown by 240%. The first school was built between 1819 and 1820. The first church opened in 1821, and the first post office in 1822. Early homes were log shanties with thatched roofs. These were later replaced by houses made of wood and stone. Many of these stone houses, built by early Scottish families, are still standing today.
Geography of Hammond
Location and Size
The Village of Hammond is located at coordinates 44°26′56″N 75°41′39″W / 44.44889°N 75.69417°W. Its elevation is about 109 meters (358 feet) above sea level.
The town covers a total area of about 202 square kilometers (77.9 square miles). Most of this area, about 161 square kilometers (62.2 square miles), is land. The rest, about 41 square kilometers (15.7 square miles), is water.
Borders and Waterways
The northern border of Hammond is the international border with Ontario, Canada. This border is defined by the St. Lawrence River. The western border of the town touches Jefferson County.
Roads and Time Zone
New York State Route 37 is a main highway that runs through the center of the Village of Hammond. Another important road, New York State Route 12, follows the south bank of the St. Lawrence River. It connects Interstate 81 to NY-37.
Hammond is in the Eastern Standard Time zone.
Education in Hammond
Hammond Central School
[Hammond Central School] is the main public school in Hammond. It is a single-story building located on Main Street in the Village of Hammond. The school teaches students from Pre-Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.
About 300 students attend Hammond Central School. Each grade level has an average of 21 students. The school is known for its strong sports teams, even though it is a smaller school.
Demographics of Hammond
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 767 | — | |
| 1840 | 1,845 | 140.5% | |
| 1850 | 1,819 | −1.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,968 | 8.2% | |
| 1870 | 1,757 | −10.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,860 | 5.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,774 | −4.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,704 | −3.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,745 | 2.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,507 | −13.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,338 | −11.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,260 | −5.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,251 | −0.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,076 | −14.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,015 | −5.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,090 | 7.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,168 | 7.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,207 | 3.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,191 | −1.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,258 | 5.6% | |
In 2000, there were 1,207 people living in Hammond. There were 500 households and 339 families. The population density was about 7.23 people per square kilometer (18.71 per square mile).
Who Lives in Hammond
Most of the people in Hammond are White (97.18%). There are also small numbers of African American, Native American, and Pacific Islander residents. About 0.33% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
About 28.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (56.6%) were married couples. About 13.6% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.41 people.
The population is spread out by age. About 24.7% of residents are under 18. About 18.4% are 65 years or older. The average age in Hammond was 41 years old.
Economy and Industries
Past and Present Industries
Over the years, many small communities have grown within Hammond. Each often had its own businesses. The first Scottish settlers mainly raised sheep. This later changed into modern dairy farming, which is still important today. As major roads were built, tourism also became a big industry. Many vacation homes are rented out on Black Lake and the St. Lawrence River.
Hammond's history includes many different businesses:
- Glass factories and tanneries
- Restaurants and gas stations
- Auto repair shops and lumber yards
- A bowling alley, bank, and library
- Boat and marine services
- Blacksmiths and farm stores
- Stone quarries and milk processing plants
Railroads and Quarries
A railroad line used to run through the western part of the Village of Hammond. It was used until the mid-1960s. The original train station is still standing in the same spot.
Many old stone quarries can still be seen. A quarry on Oak Island in Chippewa Bay provided stone to build Boldt Castle. It even had its own railway to move stone to boats. Another quarry in South Hammond supplied sandstone for local roads. This quarry once employed about 600 men. The Town of Hammond Museum saved an original building from the South Hammond quarry and moved it to the museum property.
Today, the Village of Hammond also has a mason's lodge, a retirement home, several churches, and a town museum.
Communities and Landmarks
A "Hamlet" is a small community or populated place. Here are some notable locations within the Town of Hammond:
- Atlantis Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River near Chippewa Bay.
- Black Lake – A small part of this lake is in the town's eastern area.
- Big Island – Another island in the St. Lawrence River within Hammond.
- Black Bay – A bay on Black Lake near the eastern town line.
- Blind Bay – A small community off NY-12, with a bay, store, marina, and homes.
- Cedar Island – An island in Chippewa Bay on the St. Lawrence River.
- Cedar Island State Park – A state park located on Cedar Island.
- Chippewa Bay – A community on the shore of Chippewa Bay, on NY-12. It has year-round residents, summer homes, and a town dock. One of the town's post offices is here.
- Chippewa Creek – A stream near Chippewa Bay that drains into the bay.
- Chippewa Point – A piece of land that marks the northern end of Chippewa Bay.
- Crooked Creek – A stream near Chippewa Bay that drains into the bay.
- Crossover Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River with the "Crossover Is Lighthouse."
- Dark Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River. It has Singer Castle, a tourist attraction built in 1905 by Frederick Gilbert Bourne.
- Eric Corner – A location south of Chippewa Bay on County Road 6.
- Hammond – The main village, located in the center of the town on NY-37.
- Hemlock Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River in the northwestern part of town.
- Little Hammond – A small community of mostly summer homes on Chippewa Bay.
- Mink Island – An island with 13 unique cottages, located near Schermerhorn Landing.
- North Hammond – A community north of the Village of Hammond on County Road 3.
- Oak Island – An island in the St. Lawrence River near Schermerhorn Landing.
- Oak Point – A community on NY-12 along the St. Lawrence River. It has homes, rentals, and a town boat launch.
- Oakvale – A community southeast of South Hammond.
- Schermerhorn Landing – A community on Chippewa Bay, southwest of Chippewa Bay village.
- Sister Island Lighthouse – A lighthouse near Schermerhorn Landing, visible only from the water.
- South Hammond – A small community southwest of the Village of Hammond on NY-37.
- Saint Lawrence Seaway – This important waterway, operated by the U.S. Government, passes through the St. Lawrence River in the Town of Hammond.
