Ransomville, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ransomville, New York
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| Nicknames:
Ransomtucky
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| Motto(s):
A Great Place To Grow
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Location in Niagara County and the state of New York.
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 Ransomville, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Niagara |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.90 sq mi (15.29 km2) |
| • Land | 5.90 sq mi (15.29 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 325 ft (99 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,316 |
| • Density | 222.90/sq mi (86.06/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14131
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| Area code(s) | 716 |
| FIPS code | 36-60598 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0962190 |
| Website | https://www.townofporter.net |
Ransomville is a small community called a hamlet in Niagara County, New York, United States. It is also a place that the government counts for population numbers, known as a census-designated place. In 2010, about 1,419 people lived there.
Ransomville is mostly in the Town of Porter. Some parts also stretch into the Town of Wilson and Town of Cambria. It is located north of the City of Niagara Falls. Ransomville is part of the larger Buffalo–Niagara Falls area. You can find it in the southeast corner of the Town of Porter, along New York State Route 93.
Contents
About Ransomville
Ransomville is located at coordinates 43.236955 degrees north and -78.915327 degrees west. According to the United States Census Bureau, the total area of Ransomville is about 6.2 square miles (16 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.
How Ransomville Started
Ransomville was founded in 1842 by the Ransom and Curtiss families. It was named after William Henry Harrison Ransom. The Curtiss family, led by brothers Gideon and Capt. Gilbert Curtiss, were among the first to settle here in the 1820s. They helped connect Ransomville with nearby towns.
W.H.H. Ransom came to Niagara County in 1839. He built a farm with his wife, Elisa Estes Ransom. In 1846, he bought a general store from his uncle, Jehiel Ransom. His uncle had been in the area since 1826 and worked as the postmaster. W.H.H. Ransom had 13 children and passed away in Ransomville in 1889.
Growing Over Time
Ransomville began as a farming community. Some of the first businesses were log taverns built by Gideon Curtiss. The first tavern was built in 1817, and another in 1825. A cemetery was started by 1821. In 1840, the Ransomville House was built as a larger hotel. By 1860, the village map showed two doctors, two blacksmiths, a bootmaker, a carriage maker, a harness maker, a grocer, a lumber mill, and a general store.
Early settlers from the Curtiss family helped clear and build roads. These roads connected Ransomville to Youngstown to the west, along the ridge to the south, and to Lake Ontario to the north. In 1876, a railroad line was extended, connecting Ransomville with Lewiston to the west and Syracuse to the east. This made it easier to transport goods.
A year later, Gilbert Curtiss built the Excelsior Elevator, a large building for storing grain, near the train station. The Curtiss family's farming business grew. Their poultry farm became one of the largest in the nation in the early 1900s.
In the 1900s, Ransomville's fame for poultry farming decreased as new methods and larger farms developed elsewhere. In 1924, the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company was formed. They built their first fire hall in 1925, which was replaced by a new one in 1960. They started with a motorized fire truck.
In 1933, Harold Bass opened a Ford car dealership. Soon after, Richard Coulter opened a Chevrolet dealership. In 1954, Ed Ortiz and his brother opened the Ransomville Speedway for dirt track racing. They moved the track to its current location outside of town in 1958.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 1,316 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the year 2000, there were 1,488 people living in Ransomville. Most people were White (97.04%). A small number were African American (1.08%), Native American (1.21%), or Asian (0.07%). Some people were from other backgrounds or a mix of two or more races. About 0.67% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The community had 488 households. About 37.9% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (63.3%) were married couples. The average household had 2.82 people.
The Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company serves the hamlet. Their station is on NY Route 93 Youngstown-Lockport Road. The Upper Mountain Fire Company from Lewiston, New York also helps Ransomville with advanced medical services.
Places of Worship
Even though Ransomville is a small place, it has several churches. These include the Ransomville Free Methodist Church, Ransomville United Methodist Church, Fillmore Chapel, Ransomville Baptist Church, and Church of the Immaculate Conception.
Famous People from Ransomville
- Willis W. Bradley – A person who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.
- Chuck Hossfeld – A NASCAR race car driver.
- Charlie Rudolph – Another NASCAR race car driver.
- Steve Geltz – A pitcher in Major League Baseball.
- Steve Lewis Jr. – A racing driver.
See also
In Spanish: Ransomville para niños
