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Nunda, New York
Nunda, New York is located in New York
Nunda, New York
Nunda, New York
Location in New York
Nunda, New York is located in the United States
Nunda, New York
Nunda, New York
Location in the United States
Country United States
State New York
County Livingston
Government
 • Type Town Council
Area
 • Total 37.12 sq mi (96.14 km2)
 • Land 37.09 sq mi (96.07 km2)
 • Water 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation
930 ft (280 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 3,064
 • Estimate 
(2016)
2,966
 • Density 79.96/sq mi (30.87/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST)
ZIP Code
14517
Area code(s) 585
FIPS code 36-051-54089
GNIS feature ID 979298

Nunda (pronounced "none-day") is a small town located in Livingston County, New York, United States. In 2010, about 3,064 people lived there. Nunda is known for its friendly welcome signs that say, "Welcome to Nunda, a Nice Place to Live."

The name "Nunda" comes from Nunda-wa-ono. This was the name given by the Seneca people, a Native American group who once lived in the hills and valleys of this area. In the Seneca language, "Nunda" means something related to hills. A common translation is "Where the valley meets the hills." The town of Nunda is on the southwest edge of Livingston County. It also includes a village that is also called Nunda.

Nunda's Early History

In 1790, there were two small Seneca villages in the area. They were located on what is now State Street. The first settlers arrived in Nunda around 1806, near where the village of Nunda is today.

The town of Nunda was officially created in 1808. It was formed from a part of the town of Angelica. This happened before Livingston County was even created. In 1827, a part of Nunda was used to create the new town of Portage.

How Nunda Got Its Name

The area was first called "Nunda Valley." But in 1824, Charles H. Carroll shortened the name to "Nunda." The village of Nunda was also first called "Nunda Valley" when it became an official village. It was later renamed "Nunda" in 1939. On March 11, 2008, the town of Nunda celebrated its 200th birthday!

Population Growth Over Time

In 1808, only three pioneer families lived in what is now Nunda. By 1830, the population grew to 1,291 people. By 1840, there were 2,636 residents. The population reached its highest point, almost 4,000 people, in the 1840s. This was when the Genesee River Canal was built through the town. The canal was used until 1878. After the canal closed, the population dropped to less than 3,000 by the early 1880s.

Famous People from Nunda

  • Chester B. Bowen: He was a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. He won the Medal of Honor, a very brave award. Chester was born in Nunda in 1842.
  • Helen Hunt Jackson: A famous author who lived in Nunda for a short time.
  • Gustavus A. Palmer: Born in Nunda in 1805, he was a colonel in the Patriot War. After the war, he named his home in Illinois Nunda Township after his birthplace.

Nunda's Geography

Nunda covers about 96.1 square kilometers (or 37.1 square miles) of land. Only a very small part, about 0.07 square kilometers, is water.

The southern border of the town is also the border of Allegany County.

Roads and Transportation

Two main roads cross in Nunda village: New York State Route 436 (which runs east-west) and New York State Route 408 (which runs north-south). New York State Route 70 also goes through the southern part of the town.

Interstate 390 is a major highway that passes about 3 miles northeast of Nunda. This highway helps people travel north to the city of Rochester and southeast to the beautiful Finger Lakes Region.

Neighboring Towns

Nunda shares its borders with several other towns:

Nunda's Population

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,188
1830 1,291 8.7%
1840 2,637 104.3%
1850 3,128 18.6%
1860 2,849 −8.9%
1870 2,686 −5.7%
1880 2,790 3.9%
1890 2,426 −13.0%
1900 2,397 −1.2%
1910 2,361 −1.5%
1920 2,272 −3.8%
1930 2,100 −7.6%
1940 2,113 0.6%
1950 2,272 7.5%
1960 2,309 1.6%
1970 2,574 11.5%
1980 2,692 4.6%
1990 2,931 8.9%
2000 3,017 2.9%
2010 3,064 1.6%
2016 (est.) 2,966 −3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 3,017 people living in Nunda. There were 1,131 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 842 of these were families. The average household had 2.63 people, and the average family had 3.02 people.

About 38.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most people in Nunda were White (97.88%). The median age in the town was 36 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36 and half were older.

The median income for a household in Nunda was $40,665. This is the middle income for all households. For families, the median income was $44,677. About 9.1% of all people in Nunda lived below the poverty line.

Communities and Places in Nunda

The Town of Nunda includes several smaller communities and interesting spots:

  • Barkertown: A small community located southeast of Nunda village.
  • Coopersville: Another small community found northeast of Nunda village.
  • Dalton: This is a community in the southwest part of the town. Part of Dalton is also in the town of Portage. You can find it on Route 408.
  • East Hill: This used to be a community in the southeast part of the town.
  • Nunda: This is the main village within the town of Nunda, located near the western town line.
  • Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area: This is a state-protected area for wildlife. It's in the southeast part of the town and is a great place for nature lovers.

Schools in Nunda

The town of Nunda is part of the Keshequa Central School District. This district includes Dalton Elementary School and the Nunda Middle School/High School. The word "Keshequa" comes from the Seneca language and means "Spear in the Creek."

See also

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

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