Romulus, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Romulus, New York
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 Romulus, New York
Location in New York
Romulus, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Seneca |
| Settled | 1789 |
| Established | March 5, 1794 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 51.38 sq mi (133.08 km2) |
| • Land | 37.79 sq mi (97.88 km2) |
| • Water | 13.59 sq mi (35.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 758 ft (231 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,203 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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2,610 |
| • Density | 84.75/sq mi (32.72/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14541
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| Area code(s) | 315, 607 and 680 |
| FIPS code | 36-63440 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979431 |
| Website | http://www.romulustown.com/ |
Romulus is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 3,203 people lived here. The town is named after Romulus, a legendary founder of Rome. A clerk who liked classic stories chose the name. Romulus is in the middle of Seneca County, northwest of Ithaca, New York.
The town has a small community (called a hamlet and census-designated place) also named Romulus. The town's government offices are in nearby Willard.
Romulus is famous for the rare Seneca white deer. This is one of the largest groups of white deer in the world. They live on the land of the former Seneca Army Depot. This area is now a private wildlife refuge and conservation center. You can even take tours to see the deer!
Contents
History of Romulus
Before the American Revolution, the Cayuga and Seneca nations, part of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) group, lived here. French Jesuit missionaries visited the area in the 1600s. In 1779, the Sullivan Expedition destroyed native villages. This caused many Native Americans to leave. Romulus includes the area of Kendaia (Apple Town). This was an Iroquois (Seneca) village that its residents destroyed in 1779. They did this before the Sullivan Expedition arrived.
After the war, this land became part of the Central New York Military Tract. This land was given to veterans who fought in the American Revolution. Native Americans who returned were given land at the north end of Cayuga Lake. Part of this land was in the eastern side of what is now Romulus. The first non-native settlers arrived around 1789.
The town of Romulus was officially formed in 1794. At that time, it was part of Onondaga County. In 1800, a part of Romulus was used to create the town of Fayette. In 1830, the northern part of Romulus was used to form the town of Varick.
The town also has the former Seneca Army Depot. This was a military base built during World War II (1941-1990s) and closed in 2001. It was a big employer for people in Romulus and nearby areas. The Seneca Army Airfield, located on Route 96A, had a long runway for transport planes.
Willard State Hospital was a large mental hospital. In 1995, it became a state center for drug treatment. The town is also home to the Five Points Correctional Facility, which is a maximum security state prison for men.
Geography and Lakes
The town of Romulus is located between Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake. Its elevation is about 758 feet (231 meters) above sea level.
The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 51.4 square miles (133.08 square kilometers). About 37.8 square miles (97.88 square kilometers) is land. The remaining 13.6 square miles (35.20 square kilometers) is water. This means about 26.45% of the town's area is water.
Romulus is in the Finger Lakes region of New York. It sits right between two of these long, narrow lakes: Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake.
Several main roads run north-south through the town. These include New York State Route 89, New York State Route 96, New York State Route 96A, and New York State Route 414.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 3,698 | — | |
| 1830 | 2,089 | −43.5% | |
| 1840 | 2,235 | 7.0% | |
| 1850 | 2,050 | −8.3% | |
| 1860 | 2,170 | 5.9% | |
| 1870 | 2,223 | 2.4% | |
| 1880 | 2,765 | 24.4% | |
| 1890 | 2,852 | 3.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,895 | 1.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,803 | −3.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,754 | −1.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,856 | 3.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,865 | 0.3% | |
| 1950 | 4,263 | 48.8% | |
| 1960 | 3,509 | −17.7% | |
| 1970 | 4,284 | 22.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,464 | −42.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,532 | 2.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,036 | −19.6% | |
| 2010 | 4,316 | 112.0% | |
| 2020 | 3,203 | −25.8% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,610 | −39.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 4,316 people living in Romulus. There were 821 households and 576 families. The population density was about 114.2 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Romulus were white (66.5%). About 29.2% were black or African American. A small number were Native American (0.5%) or Asian (0.3%). About 2.8% were from other races, and 0.7% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 9.2% of the population.
About 30.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (55.4%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.71 people, and the average family had 3.20 people.
The population's age spread out. About 17.2% were under 20 years old. The largest group, 39.6%, was between 25 and 44 years old. The median age was 33.4 years.
Communities and Places in Romulus
- Cayuga Lake - This is the longest of the Finger Lakes. It is almost 39 miles long.
- Dean's Cove Boat Launch - A place on the west side of Cayuga Lake where you can launch boats. You can also go fishing here.
- Elm Beach – A spot on the west side of Cayuga Lake, south of Poplar Beach.
- Five Points Correctional Facility – A maximum security state prison located south of the Romulus hamlet.
- Hayts Corners – A small community in the southeast part of Romulus.
- Kendaia – A hamlet near Sampson State Park. It was built on the site of an old Seneca village.
- Marsh Corner – A place in the eastern part of the town.
- NY State Veterans Cemetery - This is the first New York State cemetery for veterans. It covers 162 acres next to Sampson State Park.
- Pontius Point – A piece of land that sticks out into Seneca Lake.
- Poplar Beach – A spot on the west side of Cayuga Lake.
- Romulus – This is the main community (hamlet) of Romulus. It is near the northern town line. It was once called "Romulusville."
- Romulus Center – A place in the middle of the town.
- Sampson State Park – A state park on the east side of Seneca Lake. It used to be a naval base during World War II and an air force base during the Korean War.
- Seneca Army Depot – The southern part of this former US Army base is in the town. It is now being used for other things. The famous Seneca White Deer live here. These white deer are special because of a natural genetic change. They have lived and grown in number on this 7,000-acre fenced area. The depot is now the Seneca White Deer wildlife refuge and conservation center.
- Seneca Lake – This is the deepest of the Finger Lakes. It is 618 feet deep at its deepest point.
- Tannery Corners – A place in the southeast of Romulus.
- Willard – A hamlet in the southwest corner of the town, on the shore of Seneca Lake.
- Willard Drug Treatment Center – This used to be a state mental hospital. It was later used as a drug treatment center. It was closed in March 2023.
Notable People from Romulus
- William Watts Folwell (1833-1929) - He was the first president of the University of Minnesota. He was born in Romulus.
- Mary Catherine Judd (1852-1929) - She was an educator, author, and worked for peace. She was born in Romulus.
- Jeptha Wade (1811-1890) - He was a businessman and helped start Western Union. He was born in Romulus.
See also
In Spanish: Romulus (Nueva York) para niños
