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Benson, New York
Location in Hamilton County and the state of New York.
Location in Hamilton County and the state of New York.
Country United States
State New York
County Hamilton
Government
 • Type Town Council
Area
 • Total 83.20 sq mi (215.48 km2)
 • Land 82.62 sq mi (213.98 km2)
 • Water 0.58 sq mi (1.50 km2)
Elevation
2,313 ft (705 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 192
 • Estimate 
(2016)
181
 • Density 2.32/sq mi (0.90/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code 36-041-05958
GNIS feature ID 0978723

Benson is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 192 at the 2010 census. The town is on the southern border of Hamilton County and is northwest of Schenectady. The current Town Supervisor is John M. Stortecky .

History

Benson was formed in 1860 from the towns of Hope and Mayfield (now in Fulton County). Benson once possessed an iron mine.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 83.2 square miles (215 km2), of which, 82.7 square miles (214 km2) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) of it (0.61%) is water.

The Sacandaga River defines the town line in the southeast part of the town.

The south town line is the border of Fulton County.

New York State Route 30 passes through the southeast corner of Benson.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 380
1870 320 −15.8%
1880 402 25.6%
1890 322 −19.9%
1900 299 −7.1%
1910 143 −52.2%
1920 119 −16.8%
1930 69 −42.0%
1940 89 29.0%
1950 85 −4.5%
1960 87 2.4%
1970 89 2.3%
1980 156 75.3%
1990 168 7.7%
2000 201 19.6%
2010 192 −4.5%
2016 (est.) 181 −5.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 201 people, 80 households, and 58 families residing in the town. The population density was 2.4 people per square mile (0.9/km2). There were 160 housing units at an average density of 1.9 per square mile (0.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.00% White, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 80 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,250, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $39,375 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,992. None of the families and 2.4% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 6.8% of those over 64.

Communities and locations in Benson

  • Benson – The hamlet of Benson, located on Benson Road at the junction of North Road near the south town line.
  • Devorse Creek – A tributary of the Sacandaga River, flowing northward out of Benson.
  • Silver Lake – A lake near the west town line.
  • Upper Benson – A small hamlet at the west end of Benson Road at Washburn Road and near the south town line.
  • Woods Lake – A small lake northeast of Upper Benson.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Benson (Nueva York) para niños

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