Seneca Falls, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Seneca Falls
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Seneca Falls Canal Harbor
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 Seneca Falls, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Seneca |
| Settled | 1790 |
| Established | March 26, 1829 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 27.46 sq mi (71.12 km2) |
| • Land | 24.22 sq mi (62.72 km2) |
| • Water | 3.24 sq mi (8.40 km2) |
| Elevation | 449 ft (137 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,027 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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8,940 |
| • Density | 372.74/sq mi (143.92/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13148
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| Area codes | 315 and 680 |
| FIPS code | 36-66333 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0964826 |
| Website | http://www.senecafalls.com/ |
Seneca Falls is a town located in Seneca County, New York, in the United States. In 2020, about 9,027 people lived there.
The town of Seneca Falls is found east of Geneva, New York. It is in the northern part of the Finger Lakes region, known for its beautiful lakes.
Seneca Falls is a very important historical place. It is located along a part of the famous Erie Canal. Many people call it the 'birthplace of women's rights'. This is because the first women's rights convention was held here in 1848. Some also believe the town inspired "Bedford Falls" in the classic 1946 movie It's a Wonderful Life.
Contents
Discovering Seneca Falls: A Look at Its Past
Early History and Native Americans
The land where Seneca Falls is now was once home to the Cayuga tribe. These Native Americans were visited by Jesuit missionaries in the 1600s. Later, in 1779, during the American Revolution, Cayuga villages were attacked. This happened during the Sullivan Expedition.
How Seneca Falls Became a Town
After the American Revolution, this area became part of the Central New York Military Tract. This land was set aside for soldiers who had fought in the war.
A canal was finished in 1818. This canal made it possible to travel by boat between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake. This waterway then connected to the larger Erie Canal in 1828.
The town of Seneca Falls was officially created in 1829. It was formed from a part of the Town of Junius. A smaller community within the town became its own village in 1831.
The Birthplace of Women's Rights
A very important event happened in Seneca Falls on July 19–20, 1848. This was the Seneca Falls Convention. It was the first meeting organized by women to specifically talk about women's rights.
In 2010, the people of the Village of Seneca Falls voted to join with the larger Town of Seneca Falls. This change became official in 2012.
Today, a major company called Goulds Pumps has its main office in Seneca Falls. They are a leading maker of pumps.
Exploring the Geography of Seneca Falls
Seneca Falls covers about 27.4 square miles (71.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 24.2 square miles (62.7 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 3.2 square miles (8.4 square kilometers), is water.
Lakes and Rivers
Part of the eastern border of the town is along Cayuga Lake. The Seneca River and the Cayuga-Seneca Canal flow through the town. There are plans to create a walking trail along this historic canal. The eastern part of the town includes the Montezuma Marsh. This is a large wetland area at the northern end of Cayuga Lake.
Major Roads and Highways
Two main highways, US Route 20 and NY-5, run east and west across the town. New York State Route 89 goes north and south along the shore of Cayuga Lake. New York State Route 414 also runs north and south, but it shares the road with US-20 and NY-5 for a bit. New York State Route 318 meets US-20/NY-5 in the northeast part of the town.
Population and People of Seneca Falls
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 2,602 | — | |
| 1840 | 4,281 | 64.5% | |
| 1850 | 4,296 | 0.4% | |
| 1860 | 5,960 | 38.7% | |
| 1870 | 6,860 | 15.1% | |
| 1880 | 6,853 | −0.1% | |
| 1890 | 6,901 | 0.7% | |
| 1900 | 7,305 | 5.9% | |
| 1910 | 7,407 | 1.4% | |
| 1920 | 7,179 | −3.1% | |
| 1930 | 7,166 | −0.2% | |
| 1940 | 7,352 | 2.6% | |
| 1950 | 7,845 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 9,264 | 18.1% | |
| 1970 | 9,900 | 6.9% | |
| 1980 | 9,886 | −0.1% | |
| 1990 | 9,384 | −5.1% | |
| 2000 | 9,347 | −0.4% | |
| 2010 | 9,040 | −3.3% | |
| 2020 | 9,027 | −0.1% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 8,940 | −1.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Seneca Falls had a population of 9,040 people. Most of the people (93.6%) were non-Hispanic white. Other groups included African-American, Native American, Asian, and Hispanic residents.
In 2000, there were 9,347 people living in the town. About 29.8% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.38 people. The average family had 2.91 people.
The median age in the town was 37 years old. This means half the people were younger than 37 and half were older. About 23.6% of the population was under 18.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,245. This means half the households earned more than this amount and half earned less.
Places and Neighborhoods in Seneca Falls
- Bridgeport – A small community by the lake, east of the main Seneca Falls area on NY-89.
- Cayuga Lake State Park – A state park located on the shore of Cayuga Lake.
- Finger Lakes Regional Airport (0G7) – An airport for smaller planes, southeast of the main Seneca Falls area.
- Halsey Corner – A spot in the northeast part of the town, located on US-20/NY-5.
- Lehigh Valley Junction – A small community north of the main Seneca Falls area.
- Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – A protected area for wildlife, partly in the eastern end of the town.
- Montezuma Wildlife Management Area – Another state-protected area for wildlife in the east of the town.
- Nichols Corner – A location on the northern border of the town, on NY-318.
- Seneca Falls – This is the main developed area of Seneca Falls. It was once a separate village.
Schools and Learning in Seneca Falls
Public Schools
The public schools in Seneca Falls are part of the Seneca Falls Central School District. This district has four schools:
- Frank M. Knight Elementary School teaches students from kindergarten to second grade. It has about 300 students.
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton School is for students in grades 3 to 5. It also has about 300 students.
- Seneca Falls Middle School serves students in grades 6 to 8. About 350 students attend this school.
- Mynderse Academy is the high school for grades 9 to 12. In 2006, it had around 511 students.
Private Schools
- Finger Lakes Christian School (FLCS) is a private Christian school. It teaches students from Pre-K all the way to 12th grade. It opened in 1990 and has about 100 students.
Colleges
- Northeast College of Health Sciences moved to Seneca Falls in 1991. It was known as New York Chiropractic College (NYCC) back then. The college bought the old Eisenhower College campus. It is known as one of the top chiropractic colleges.
Transportation in Seneca Falls
The main roads that go through Seneca Falls are New York State Route 5 and U.S. Route 20. They run from east to west.
Years ago, the New York Central Railroad used to have daily passenger train service. Trains ran between Syracuse and Rochester and stopped in Seneca Falls until 1958.
See also
In Spanish: Seneca Falls para niños
