Portland, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Portland, New York
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Location within Chautauqua County and New York
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 Portland, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Chautauqua |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 34.18 sq mi (88.53 km2) |
| • Land | 34.12 sq mi (88.36 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 784 ft (239 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,366 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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4,344 |
| • Density | 136.74/sq mi (52.79/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14769
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| Area code(s) | 716 |
| FIPS code | 36-013-59421 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979388 |
Portland is a small town located in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. It's a place where people live and work, governed by a local council.
In 2020, about 4,366 people lived here. The town is right on the beautiful shore of Lake Erie. It is located southwest of a larger town called Dunkirk.
Contents
History of Portland
The first people settled in the Portland area in 1804. The town of Portland was officially created in 1813. It was formed from a larger area that was once part of the town of Chautauqua.
Over time, Portland's size changed. Parts of it were used to create two new towns. These were Ripley in 1816 and Westfield in 1829.
In 1872, Portland was the location of a sad train accident. A book about the history of families in Portland was published in 1873. It was called Historical Sketches of the Town of Portland, New York.
Geography of Portland
Portland covers a total area of about 88.53 square kilometers (34.18 square miles). Most of this area, about 88.36 square kilometers (34.12 square miles), is land. Only a small part, about 0.17 square kilometers (0.06 square miles), is water.
Major roads cross the northern part of the town. These include the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) and US 20. Another important road, NY 5, runs along the shore of Lake Erie.
Communities and Places in Portland
Portland is made up of several smaller communities and interesting places:
- Brocton – This village is in the eastern part of the town. Near Brocton is the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility. This is a special place where people who have broken the law go to learn new skills and get back on track.
- Greencrest – A small community right on the shore of Lake Erie, located in the northeast.
- Green Hills – Another small community also on the shore of Lake Erie.
- Lake Erie State Park – A beautiful park next to Lake Erie. It is in the northeast part of the town.
- Portland – This is the main community where the town's government offices are located. It's on Route 20, west of Brocton.
- Skinner Switch – A specific spot located west of the main Portland community.
- Van Buren Point – A community on the Lake Erie shore in the northeast, just east of Greencrest.
- Vineyard – A small community located northwest of Brocton.
- West Portland – A community on Route 20, close to the western border of the town.
Population and People
The number of people living in Portland has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population from different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,162 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,771 | 52.4% | |
| 1840 | 2,136 | 20.6% | |
| 1850 | 1,905 | −10.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,984 | 4.1% | |
| 1870 | 1,887 | −4.9% | |
| 1880 | 2,014 | 6.7% | |
| 1890 | 2,423 | 20.3% | |
| 1900 | 2,690 | 11.0% | |
| 1910 | 3,058 | 13.7% | |
| 1920 | 3,140 | 2.7% | |
| 1930 | 3,001 | −4.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,965 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,339 | 12.6% | |
| 1960 | 3,605 | 8.0% | |
| 1970 | 3,802 | 5.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,433 | 16.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,832 | 9.0% | |
| 2000 | 5,502 | 13.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,827 | −12.3% | |
| 2020 | 4,366 | −9.6% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 4,344 | −10.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The people who live at the Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility are included in these population numbers.
In the year 2000, there were 5,502 people living in Portland. These people lived in 1,655 households. A household is a group of people living together in one home. Most households, 1,161 of them, were families.
The people in Portland come from different backgrounds. In 2000, most residents (about 83%) were White. About 12% were African American. Smaller numbers were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 8.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had about 2.57 people. The average family had about 3.08 people. About 33% of households had children under 18 living with them.
The population also varied by age. About 21% of the people were under 18 years old. About 11% were 65 years old or older. The average age in Portland was 33 years.
In 2000, the average income for a household in Portland was $30,909 per year. For families, the average income was $37,006. About 11.2% of all people in Portland lived below the poverty line. This means they had a very low income.
Famous People from Portland
Some notable people have connections to Portland:
- David B. Hulburt – He was born in Portland. He later became a state legislator in Wisconsin. He was also a surveyor and a farmer.
- Darren Manzella – He lived in Portland. He was a sergeant and a medic in the United States Army. He was also known as an activist for gay rights.
See also
In Spanish: Portland (Nueva York) para niños
