Candor is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

in Tioga County,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, United States. The population was 5,172 at the 2020 census. The Town of Candor has a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

named

Candor Candor or candour may refer to: * Candor or parrhesia, the quality of speaking candidly in rhetoric * ''Candour'' (magazine), a British far-right magazine * "Candour", a song by Neck Deep from their 2014 album ''Wishful Thinking'' * Duty of cand ...

. The town is south of

Ithaca Ithaca most commonly refers to: *Homer's Ithaca, an island featured in Homer's ''Odyssey'' *Ithaca (island), an island in Greece, possibly Homer's Ithaca *Ithaca, New York, a city, and home of Cornell University and Ithaca College Ithaca, Ithaka ...

History

Settlement of the town began around 1794 on land purchased as part of the Watkins and Flint Patent of 1794. The Town of Candor was formed from the Town of Spencer in 1811. Citizens wanted to name the town "Washington," but did not do so due to the existence of another town by that name in New York (

Dutchess County Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later organ ...

). The source of the name "Candor" is unknown. Candor was the community identified as "Springdale" in Vidich and Bensman's 1958 book, ''Small Town in Mass Society''.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of 94.6 square miles (245.0 km²), of which 94.5 square miles (244.8 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km²) (0.06%) is water.

New York State Route 96 New York State Route 96 (NY 96) is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 (Future I-86) in the South ...

intersects

New York State Route 96B New York State Route 96B (NY 96B) is a north–south state highway in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It connects NY 96 in the village of Candor in Tioga County to NY 13, NY 34, and NY 96 in the ...

in Candor village. The West Branch of Owego Creek defines the eastern town line.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 5,317 people, 2,022 households, and 1,457 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 56.2 people per square mile (21.7/km²). There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of 23.6 per square mile (9.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.25%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.85%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.26% Native American, 0.19%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.08% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.37% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 0.98% of the population. There were 2,022 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08. In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $37,633, and the median income for a family was $43,186. Males had a median income of $30,441 versus $22,324 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $16,967. About 6.6% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Candor is served by the

Candor Central School District Candor Central School District is a public school district located in Candor, New York, approximately 20 miles south of Ithaca, NY. The District serves students in the Town and Village of Candor, as well as parts of Owego to the South, Willse ...

Communities and locations in the Town of Candor

– The village of Candor is in the center of the town. *Catatonk – A

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

near the southern town line on NY-96. *Catatonk Creek – A stream that flows southward through the town toward the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River (; Lenape: Siskëwahane) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, overlapping between the lower Northeast and the Upland South. At long, it is the longest river on the East Coast of the ...

. *Fairfield – A hamlet east of Candor village near the eastern town boundary. *Gridleyville – A location northwest of Candor village on NY-96B. *Hubbardtown – A location south of Candor village on NY-96. *Perryville – A former location in the town, north of Candor village. *Upper Fairfield – A hamlet north of Fairfield. It was also called "Blinn's Settlement," "Honey Pot," and "East Candor." *Weltonville – A hamlet in the southeastern corner of the town on County Road 33. *West Candor – A location at the western town line on NY-96, partly in the Town of Spencer. *Willseyville – A hamlet in the northeastern part of the town on NY-96B. It was formerly called "Big Flatt."

Notable people

Sarah Warren Keeler Sarah Warren Keeler (3 May 1844 – 13 September 1899) was an American educator and teacher who founded and was principal of a school for the deaf-mute in New York. Keeler was born at Candor, Tioga County, New York in 1844. She graduated from th ...

(1844-1899), educator of deaf-mutes, born in Candor * Rodney_S._Rose, Methodist minister * Heather Stapleton, American environmental organic chemist and exposure scientist * Bayonne Whipple, actress, buried in Candor

In popular culture

* Harry Chapin's 1976 song, The Mayor of Candor Lied, references the town.

References

External links

Town and Village of Candor

Candor Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control Binghamton metropolitan area Towns in Tioga County, New York