Le Ray, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Le Ray, New York
|
|
|---|---|
 Le Ray, New York
Location in New York
Le Ray, New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Jefferson |
| Named for | Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, Comte de Chaumont |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 73.98 sq mi (191.61 km2) |
| • Land | 73.61 sq mi (190.64 km2) |
| • Water | 0.37 sq mi (0.97 km2) |
| Elevation | 459 ft (140 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 25,574 |
| • Density | 294.71/sq mi (113.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13637
|
| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-045-42015 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979141 |
Le Ray is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. It is home to over 25,000 people, according to the 2020 census. The town is named after Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, a French supporter of the American Revolution. You can find Le Ray in the central part of Jefferson County, just northeast of Watertown.
Contents
History of Le Ray
Early Settlements and Formation
Long ago, Native Americans lived in the area that is now Le Ray. We know this from archaeological finds.
In 1800, a large piece of land called Macomb's Purchase was bought by Gouverneur Morris and James Le Ray. People started settling here around 1802.
The town of Le Ray was officially formed in 1806. It was created from a part of the town of Brownville. At first, Le Ray was much larger. Over time, parts of Le Ray were used to create other towns. These new towns included Wilna, Alexandria, Theresa, Antwerp, and Philadelphia.
Fort Drum and Historic Sites
Many old settlements in Le Ray were later abandoned. This happened because of the creation of Fort Drum. Fort Drum is a large military base that now covers the eastern half of the town.
An important historical site in the area is the LeRaysville Archeological District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. It helps protect the history of the region.
Geography of Le Ray
Location and Size
Le Ray is located in Jefferson County, New York. The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 74 square miles (191.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. About 0.5% of the town's total area is water.
The Black River forms the southern border of the town.
Major Roads and Highways
Several important roads pass through Le Ray, making it easy to travel.
- U.S. Route 11 runs through the town from northeast to southwest.
- New York State Route 3 crosses the southeastern part of Le Ray.
- New York State Route 26 is a main road that goes north and south.
- New York State Route 37 also runs north and south in the western part of Le Ray.
- New York State Route 342 crosses the southern section of the town.
Population of Le Ray
Population Growth Over Time
The population of Le Ray has changed a lot over the years. Here's how it has grown:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 2,944 | — | |
| 1830 | 3,430 | 16.5% | |
| 1840 | 3,721 | 8.5% | |
| 1850 | 3,654 | −1.8% | |
| 1860 | 3,159 | −13.5% | |
| 1870 | 2,862 | −9.4% | |
| 1880 | 2,660 | −7.1% | |
| 1890 | 2,565 | −3.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,576 | 0.4% | |
| 1910 | 2,555 | −0.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,366 | −7.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,422 | 2.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,551 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,821 | 10.6% | |
| 1960 | 3,627 | 28.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,973 | 9.5% | |
| 1980 | 5,039 | 26.8% | |
| 1990 | 17,973 | 256.7% | |
| 2000 | 19,840 | 10.4% | |
| 2010 | 21,782 | 9.8% | |
| 2020 | 25,574 | 17.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 census, Le Ray had a population of 25,574 people. This was an increase from 21,782 people in 2010.
Who Lives in Le Ray?
In 2000, there were about 19,836 people living in Le Ray. The town had about 5,000 households. Many families lived there, with about 76% being married couples. Also, 58.9% of households had children under 18 living with them.
The average household had about 3 people. The average family had about 3.28 people.
The population of Le Ray is quite young. In 2000, about 27.8% of the people were under 18 years old. About 27.9% were between 18 and 24 years old. The median age was 23 years. This means half the people were younger than 23 and half were older.
Communities and Locations in Le Ray
Le Ray is made up of several smaller communities and specific locations:
- Black River – This is a village located on the southern border of the town, right along the Black River.
- Calcium – A small community, also called a hamlet, located west of Fort Drum.
- Doolins Crossing – You can find this spot near the eastern edge of the town.
- Dutch Settlement – This hamlet is in the northern part of Le Ray, along County Road 18.
- Evans Mills – A village in the middle of the town. It's on the western side of Fort Drum, north of U.S. Route 11.
- Five Corners – A location in the southwestern part of Le Ray.
- Fort Drum – A large military base that takes up the eastern half of the town.
- Gould Corners – This location is southeast of Evans Mills, right on U.S. Route 11.
- Gracey Corners – Another location in the southwest of Le Ray.
- Hall Corners – You can find this spot near the northeastern border of the town.
- Pine Plains – A location close to the eastern corner of the town.
- Westwood Corners – This spot is on U.S. Route 11, near the northeastern town line.
See also
In Spanish: Le Ray para niños
