Beacon, New York
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Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 13,808. Located on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, Beacon is noted for its proximity to Bannerman's Castle and West Point, as well as Dia: Beacon, a modern art museum. James Forestal, former Secretary of Defense, was a resident of the city. Also world champion boxer Melio Bettina and famous actor Gloria Swanson were residents. According to the city's homepage, the City of Beacon (http://www.cityofbeacon.org/) "is located 59 miles north of New York City and approximately 90 miles south of Albany."
Commuter service to New York City is available via the Beacon train station, served by Metro-North Railroad.
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Geography
Beacon is located at 41°30'15" North, 73°57'56" West (41.504243, -73.965576)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²). 12.4 km² (4.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.25% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 13,808 people, 5,091 households, and 3,360 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,115.3/km² (2,891.6/mi²). There are 5,406 housing units at an average density of 436.7/km² (1,132.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 68.37% White, 19.65% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 6.92% from other races, and 3.44% from two or more races. 16.90% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 5,091 households out of which 34.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% are married couples living together, 16.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% are non-families. 28.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.23.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $45,236, and the median income for a family is $53,811. Males have a median income of $40,949 versus $29,154 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,654. 11.0% of the population and 9.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.1% of those under the age of 18 and 6.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
According to the city's homepage, the City of Beacon (http://www.cityofbeacon.org/) was, "Incorporated on May 15,1913, by combining the old villages of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan, the City of Beacon was so named to commemorate the historic Beacon fires which blazed forth from the summit of the Fishkill Mountains warning the Revolutionary Armies of the movement of the British Troops.
From 1902 to 1975, The Mount Beacon Incline Railway, the steepest incline railway in existence (a 65% grade), took an estimated 3 million people up to the 1,540-foot summit of Mount Beacon. This tourist attraction was later destroyed by fire and vandalism. There is a movement to restore it.
External links
- City of Beacon (http://www.cityofbeacon.org/)
- City of Beacon Fire Department (http://www.beaconfd.org/)