Kirkwood, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kirkwood, New York
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| Motto(s):
A fine place to live. A good place to learn.
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Location of Kirkwood in Broome County, New York
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 Kirkwood, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Broome |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 31.21 sq mi (80.83 km2) |
| • Land | 30.81 sq mi (79.80 km2) |
| • Water | 0.40 sq mi (1.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,037 ft (316 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,495  |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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5,437 |
| • Density | 184.16/sq mi (71.10/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
13795-1520
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| Area code(s) | 607 |
| FIPS code | 36-007-39837 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979121 |
Kirkwood is a small town in Broome County, New York, in the United States. As of 2020, about 5,495 people lived there. The town is named after James P. Kirkwood, a smart civil engineer who helped build the local railroad.
Kirkwood is part of the Binghamton Metropolitan Area. It is about 10 miles southeast of the city of Binghamton. The town is also very close to the border of Pennsylvania. Major roads like Interstate 81 and New York Route 7 go right through Kirkwood.
Contents
Kirkwood's Past: A Look at History
Early Settlers and Native American History
Around 1781, a man named Jonathan Fitch built a gristmill (a mill that grinds grain) in the area. This was at a place now called Fivemile Point. He was the first person to settle there. Many more people came later and settled near the Susquehanna River. This helped the area grow into a good place for farming.
Before European settlers arrived, Native Americans lived along the Susquehanna River. You can still find some of their old tools and items there today. These artifacts show us about the area's history before colonial times.
Becoming an Independent Town
Kirkwood used to be part of a larger town called Conklin. However, the Susquehanna River separated the two areas. This made it very hard for the government to do its job. Bad weather for much of the year made this problem even worse.
Even though a bridge was built later, it was still difficult. So, in November 1859, people decided that Kirkwood should become its own independent town. Conklin remained a separate town on the other side of the Susquehanna River.
Recent Flooding Events
In June 2006 and September 2011, parts of Kirkwood faced big floods. The Susquehanna River overflowed its banks. This caused damage to hundreds of homes in the town.
Kirkwood's Location: Geography
The United States Census Bureau says that Kirkwood covers about 80.8 square kilometers (31.2 square miles). Most of this area, about 79.8 square kilometers (30.8 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.0 square kilometer (0.4 square miles), is water.
The southern edge of Kirkwood is the state line with Pennsylvania. Specifically, it borders Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
The Susquehanna River forms the western border of the town. Important roads like U.S. Route 11 and Interstate 81 run through Kirkwood. They follow the path of the Susquehanna River. Also, Interstate 86 (which is also New York State Route 17) crosses the northern part of the town.
Kirkwood's People: Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,389 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,402 | 0.9% | |
| 1880 | 1,344 | −4.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,119 | −16.7% | |
| 1900 | 918 | −18.0% | |
| 1910 | 852 | −7.2% | |
| 1920 | 899 | 5.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,237 | 37.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,150 | 73.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,997 | 39.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,651 | 55.2% | |
| 1970 | 5,687 | 22.3% | |
| 1980 | 5,834 | 2.6% | |
| 1990 | 6,096 | 4.5% | |
| 2000 | 5,647 | −7.4% | |
| 2010 | 5,857 | 3.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,495 | −6.2% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 5,437 | −7.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 5,651 people living in Kirkwood. These people lived in 2,247 households. About 31.3% of these households had children under 18 years old.
The average age of people in Kirkwood was 39 years old. About 24% of the population was under 18. About 15% of the population was 65 years or older.
Schools in Kirkwood
The main school district in Kirkwood is the Windsor Central School District. This district also serves other towns like Windsor and West Windsor.
The Susquehanna Valley Central School District covers the very southern part of Kirkwood. It also includes the towns of Conklin and Binghamton.
Kirkwood's Neighborhoods: Communities
Kirkwood is in the central part of Broome County. It is right next to the northeast bank of the Susquehanna River. The town's borders stretch from the city limits of Binghamton in the north to the Pennsylvania border in the south.
Here are some of the smaller communities, or hamlets, within Kirkwood, listed from north to south:
- Popes Ravine – This hamlet is in northwest Kirkwood. It is along the Susquehanna River and borders the city of Binghamton.
- Brookvale (once called "Stanley Hollow") – You can find Brookvale in northeast Kirkwood on County Road 52. While not officially recognized as a hamlet anymore, it is still a well-known community.
- Five Mile Point – This area is north of Kirkwood Center. It is close to where I-81 and NY 17 meet. It got its name because it is five miles from Binghamton's Broome County Courthouse.
- Kirkwood Center (also just "Kirkwood") – This is a small area in the geographical center of the town. It is along the western border, halfway between Binghamton and Kirkwood Village. It is also between US 11 and I-81.
- Langdon – This hamlet is north of Kirkwood Village, on County Road 32.
- Kirkwood Village – This is the largest hamlet in the town. It is located along the Susquehanna River bank and US 11.
- Riverside – This is the southernmost part of town. It is about a mile north of the Pennsylvania border and along US 11.
See also
In Spanish: Kirkwood (Nueva York) para niños
