Shelby, New York
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Shelby is a town located in southwest corner of Orleans County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 5,420.
The Town of Shelby was incorporated in 1818 by a partition of the Town of Ridgeway.
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Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 121.0 km² (46.7 mi²). 120.0 km² (46.3 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.79% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 5,420 people, 2,005 households, and 1,337 families residing in the town. The population density is 45.2/km² (117.0/mi²). There are 2,133 housing units at an average density of 17.8/km² (46.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 89.70% White, 7.01% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 3.28% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,005 households out of which 31.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% are married couples living together, 11.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% are non-families. 28.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.52 and the average family size is 3.09.
In the town the population is spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $34,091, and the median income for a family is $40,972. Males have a median income of $32,087 versus $21,299 for females. The per capita income for the town is $17,154. 13.7% of the population and 8.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.4% of those under the age of 18 and 3.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Communities and locations in Shelby
- Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge -- Part of the refuge is in Shelby.
- Medina - The south part of the Village of Medina is in the town.
- Millville -- several water-powered mills gave the community its name. It is located in the northeast corner of the town on Route 31A.
- East Shelby -- Located on the border with the Town of Barre.
- Oak Orchard River -- This stream is usually called the Oak Orchard Creek in this area.
- Oak Orchard State Wildlife Management Area - partly in the south part of the town.
- West Shelby -- In the southwest corner of the town by the Iroquois Refuge.
- Shelby Center -- Joseph Ellicott, an agent of the Holland Land Company, purchased land near here in order to use a waterfall on Oak Orchard River. This hamlet is south of Medina on Route 63.
- Shelby Basin -- A former wide part of the Erie Canal, where barges could turn is west of Medina.
- Tonawanda State Wildlife Management Area - partly in the south part of the town.
External link
- Shelby history (http://www.orleanshistory.org/Towns/shelby.htm)