Hopewell, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hopewell, New York
Town
Hopewell, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Ontario
Government
• Type	Town Council
Area
• Total	35.70 sq mi (92.45 km2)
• Land	35.68 sq mi (92.40 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	833 ft (254 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,931
• Estimate  (2022)	3,921
• Density	110.19/sq mi (42.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	36-35551
GNIS feature ID	0979074

Hopewell is a town in Ontario County, New York, United States. It's located in the north central part of the county, just east of the City of Canandaigua. In 2020, about 3,931 people lived there.

History of Hopewell

Hopewell has a long and interesting history. Long ago, a Seneca Indian village called Onnaghee was located here. This village was left empty before 1750. Its people likely moved to start the village that became Canandaigua.

The area was first settled by Europeans in 1789. It was part of a large land deal called the Phelps and Gorham Purchase of 1788. The land was first known as the "District of Easton," then "Lincoln."

Many of the first settlers came from New England. Some early pioneers included Daniel Gates, Ezra Platt, and William Wyckoff.

In 1807, the town's name changed to "Gorham." This was to honor Nathaniel Gorham, who was part of the land purchase. The Town of Hopewell was officially created on March 29, 1822. It was formed from the northern part of the Town of Gorham.

The first town meeting was held on April 17, 1823. People elected the first town officers to help run the town. These roles included a Supervisor, Town Clerk, and Assessors. They also elected Highway Commissioners to manage roads.

Between 1830 and 1890, Hopewell's population changed. It went from 2,202 people in 1830 down to 1,655 in 1890.

In 1825, the county bought land in Hopewell. They built a home for people who needed help. Today, this land is still owned by Ontario County. It is used for the County Health Facility and other county offices.

In 1844, a group called the Fourier Society started a special community in Hopewell. It was called the Ontario Union. This community was based on the ideas of a French thinker named Charles Fourier. People in the community worked together. They made chairs, built things, and worked with metal.

Notable People from Hopewell

Hopewell has been home to several famous people:

• George R. Babcock – He was a New York State Senator.
• Henry Morrison Flagler – Born in Hopewell in 1830, he was a very important businessman. He is known as the "Father of Miami."
• Frederick Follett – He was a journalist, newspaper editor, and politician.
• Daniel Myron LeFever – Born in Hopewell in 1835, he was an American gunmaker. He invented the hammerless shotgun.
• Edyth Walker – Born in Hopewell in 1867, she was a famous American opera singer. She performed at the Metropolitan Opera.

Geography of Hopewell

Hopewell covers about 35.7 square miles (92.45 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part is water.

Several important roads run through Hopewell. New York State Route 21 meets New York State Route 488 in Chapin. Also, NY 5 and US 20 run together through the southern part of the town.

Hopewell is located near the northeastern end of Canandaigua Lake. This lake is one of the beautiful Finger Lakes in New York.

Population Changes in Hopewell

The population of Hopewell has changed a lot over the years. In 2000, there were 3,346 people living in the town. There were 1,244 households, which are groups of people living in one home.

About 98% of the people were White. A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000, about 24% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in Hopewell was 39 years. The median income for a household was about $41,604. This means half of the households earned more, and half earned less. About 7.6% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Communities and Locations in Hopewell

Hopewell has several smaller communities and interesting spots:

• Aloquin – This is a small village, called a hamlet, in the southeast part of town. It's located on NY-5 and US-20.
• Canandaigua Lake Outlet – This is a stream that flows through the northwest part of the town.
• Chapin (formerly "Chapinville") – Another hamlet in the northwest. It's where Routes 21 and 488 meet. Even though a railroad was built here, its business boom didn't last long.
• Ennerdale – A hamlet south of Hopewell Center. It's located on what used to be Ennerdale Road, now County Road 47.
• Hopewell Center (or "Hopewell") – This hamlet is near the middle of the town. You can find it where County Roads 4 and 47 cross.
• Lewis – This is an old historic spot in the southeast part of the town.
• Littleville – A hamlet on the northern town line. In 1791, Oliver Phelps built a grist mill here. A grist mill grinds grain into flour. The hamlet is named after Norman C. Little, who ran the mill and a store.

Climate

Schools and Colleges in Hopewell

Hopewell does not have its own school district. Instead, students in Hopewell attend schools in several nearby districts:

• City of Canandaigua School District
• Gorham-Middlesex (Marcus Whitman) School District
• Manchester-Shortsville (Red Jacket) School District
• Phelps-Clifton Springs (Midlakes) School District

Hopewell is also home to the Finger Lakes Community College.

Fun Facts About Hopewell

• Hopewell hosts the Pageant of Steam. This is an event where people show off old steam engines and other antique machinery.
• The Constellation Brands - Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center is located in Hopewell. This is a large outdoor concert venue where many famous musicians perform.
• The Finger Lakes Community College has its main campus in Hopewell.

See also

In Spanish: Hopewell (Nueva York) para niños