Le_Roy_(town),_New_York

Le Roy (town), New York

Le Roy or more commonly LeRoy is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 7,790 at the 2000 census. The town is named after one of the original land owners, Herman Le Roy.

The Town of Le Roy lies on the eastern edge of Genesee County. Within the town is a village, also called Le Roy.

History

The town was first settled in 1793. The Town of Le Roy was established in 1812 from part of the Town of Caledonia (Livingston County) as the "Town of Bellona." The name was later changed to "Le Roy" in 1813.

Le Roy is the birthplace of Jell-O gelatin dessert. The Jell-O museum is also located in Le Roy.

It was also the home of Calvin Keeney, who was the first breeder to successfully produce a stringless green bean.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 42.2 square miles (109.2 km²), all of it land.

The east town line is the border of Monroe County and Livingston County.

Oatka Creek flows northward through the town and was a source of water power for early mills. The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) passes across the north part of the town. The western terminus of Interstate 490 is also here.

The town rests atop the Onondaga Limestone Formation which forms an escarpment that faces north and runs east/west, just north of the village. The limestone rock is highly fossiliferous, of Devonian age, and extensively quarried. It is used for road building as crushed rock, and for the manufacture of portland cement. In the eastern part of the township is a community named Lime Rock.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,790 people, 3,037 households, and 2,034 families residing in the town. The population density was 184.7 people per square mile (71.3/km²). There were 3,219 housing units at an average density of 76.3/sq mi (29.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.01% White, 1.87% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 3,037 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,690, and the median income for a family was $49,189. Males had a median income of $36,810 versus $23,024 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,342. About 3.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Le Roy

Fort Hill -- A hamlet in the northwest part of the town, north of Le Roy village on Route 19. It is the site of a prehistoric Indian village.
Le Roy -- The Village of Le Roy on Route 5 and Oatka Creek.
Le Roy Airport (5G0) -- A small general aviation airport east of the village on Route 5.
Lime Rock -- A hamlet on Route 5 near the eastern town line, east of Le Roy village.