Phelps, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phelps
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Crooked Bridge Park
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Location of New York in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Ontario |
| Area | |
| • Total | 65.24 sq mi (168.98 km2) |
| • Land | 64.95 sq mi (168.22 km2) |
| • Water | 0.29 sq mi (0.76 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,637 |
| • Density | 106.45/sq mi (41.10/km2) |
| Time zone | EST |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT |
| FIPS code | 36-069-57529 |
| Website | http://www.phelpsny.com/ |
Phelps is a town located in Ontario County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 6,637 people lived here. The Town of Phelps includes a smaller area called the Village of Phelps. Both are situated north of the city of Geneva.
Contents
History of Phelps
Early Settlement and Naming
The land where Phelps is located was once part of a large land deal known as the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. The first settlers arrived in this area around 1788.
The town was officially formed in 1796. It was first known as "Sullivan." Later, it was renamed Phelps after one of the original owners of the land. The community became an official village in 1855.
Geography of Phelps
Location and Size
Phelps covers an area of about 65.3 square miles (169.0 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 65.0 square miles (168.3 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 0.3 square miles (0.7 square kilometers) is water.
The eastern border of the town touches Seneca County. The northern border is shared with Wayne County.
People of Phelps
Population Overview
In 2020, the town of Phelps had a population of 6,637 people. There were 2,659 households and 1,957 families living in the town. The population density was about 108 people per square mile.
Most of the people living in Phelps are White (98.09%). Other groups include African American (0.26%), Native American (0.14%), and Asian (0.27%). About 1.23% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Family Life and Age Groups
About 34.9% of households in Phelps had children under 18 years old. Many households (60.6%) were married couples living together.
The population is spread across different age groups. About 27.1% of residents were under 18. About 11.6% were 65 years old or older. The average age in the town was 38 years.
Income and Economy
The average income for a household in Phelps was $47,246. For families, the average income was $53,854. The average income per person in the town was $21,297.
A small number of families (3.0%) and individuals (4.3%) lived below the poverty line. This included 4.8% of those under 18 and 5.8% of those 65 or older.
Arts and Culture in Phelps
Annual Events
Phelps was once very famous for making sauerkraut. It was even called the "sauerkraut capital of the world." To celebrate this history, the town holds a sauerkraut-themed festival every year. This fun event takes place during the first weekend of August. In 2020, the festival would have celebrated its 54th anniversary, but it was canceled due to COVID-19.
Historical Places to Visit
Phelps has many interesting historical buildings. You can visit the Phelps Community Historical Society and Howe House Museum to learn more about the town's past.
Several buildings in Phelps are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. These include:
- The First Baptist Church of Phelps
- The Harmon Cobblestone Farmhouse and Cobblestone Smokehouse
- The Dr. John Quincy Howe House
- The Phelps Town Hall
- The William Huffman Cobblestone House
- St. John's Episcopal Church
- The Philetus Swift House
Transportation in Phelps
Major Roads
The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) runs through the northern part of Phelps. This major highway passes north of the Village of Phelps and Clifton Springs.
New York State Route 96 also goes through the town. It runs parallel to the Thruway. Route 96 connects with two other main roads, New York State Route 88 and New York State Route 488, in the western part of the town.
Notable People from Phelps
Phelps has been home to several well-known individuals:
- Joe Gleason – A former pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB).
- Bellamy Partridge – A famous author. He wrote a bestselling book called Country Lawyer. This book was a biography about his father, who worked as a lawyer in Phelps.
- Charles C. Stevenson – The fifth Governor of Nevada. He was born in Phelps.
Communities and Locations in the Town of Phelps
The Town of Phelps includes several smaller communities and locations:
- Clifton Springs – A small part of this village is located near the western border of Phelps.
- Dobbins Corners – A small community on the eastern edge of the town.
- East X – A location near the eastern town line, west of Dobbins Corners.
- Five Points – A location near the eastern town line, south of West Junius.
- Five Waters Corners – Found on NY-88 in the northern part of the town.
- Fort Hill – A community in the southern part of the town.
- Gypsum – A community on the western town line, along County Road 27.
- Knickerbocker Corner – Located west of Phelps village, where NY-96 and NY-488 meet.
- Melvin Hill – A community in the southern part of the town.
- Oaks Corners – A community in the southeastern part of the town on County Road 23. It is named after an early settler, Jonathan Oaks.
- Orleans – A community in the southwestern part of the town on NY-488.
- Phelps – The main village, located on NY-96 near the center of the town.
- Phelps Junction – A community northwest of Phelps village.
- Pierson Corners – A location near the southern town line.
- Thompson – A community on the eastern town line, north of West Junius.
- Unionville – A community on NY-96, east of Phelps village.
- Warner Corners – A location east of Orleans on County Road 23.
- West Junius – A community near the eastern town line.
Images for kids
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Crooked Bridge Park
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Location of New York in the United States
See also
In Spanish: Phelps (Nueva York) para niños
