Ossining (town), New York
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Ossining is a town located in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 36,534. It contains two villages, the Village of Ossining and part of Briarcliff Manor, the rest of which is located in the Town of Mount Pleasant.
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Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.4 km² (15.6 mi²). 30.3 km² (11.7 mi²) of it is land and 10.1 km² (3.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 25.06% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 36,534 people, 12,355 households, and 8,537 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,205.6/km² (3,123.0/mi²). There are 12,733 housing units at an average density of 420.2/km² (1,088.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 70.26% White, 14.28% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 4.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 7.34% from other races, and 3.21% from two or more races. 19.93% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 12,355 households out of which 33.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% are married couples living together, 10.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% are non-families. 25.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.64 and the average family size is 3.14.
In the town the population is spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 106.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 105.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $65,485, and the median income for a family is $81,943. Males have a median income of $51,286 versus $40,618 for females. The per capita income for the town is $34,195. 8.4% of the population and 5.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Frederick Philipse bought the area which presently constitutes the Town of Ossining from the Sint Sinck Indians in 1685. His manor extended from Spuyten Duyvil Creek on the border between present day Manhattan and The Bronx to the Croton River.
The last lord of the manor, also named Frederick Philipse, was a Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War, so the State of New York confiscated the manor in 1779.
In 1813, the village of Sing Sing was incorporated.
In 1845, the New York State Legislature created a new town out of the northern part of what had been the Town of Mount Pleasant. A local Indian authority suggested the town be named Ossinsing, a different form of the name Sing Sing. One year later the last "s" was removed for ease in pronunciation.
In 1901, to prevent confusion of goods made in the village with prison-made items, local officials had the village name changed to Ossining as well.
In 1902 an area east of the village of Ossining, then known as Whitson's Crossing, was incorporated as the village of Briarcliff Manor.
External links
- Ossining.com: Ossining, NY's Hometown Web-newspaper (http://www.Ossining.com/)
- Ossining's business directory (http://Shop.Ossining.com/)
- Town of Ossining web site (http://www.townofossining.com/)
- Village of Ossining official website (http://www.village.ossining.ny.us/)