Dryden, New York
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Dryden 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 Tompkins 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 United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. The population was 14,435 at the 2010 census. The town administers an area that includes two
villages 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 ...
, one also named
Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the peri ...
and one named Freeville, as well as a number of
hamlets A hamlet is a human settlement that is smaller than a town or village. Its size relative to a parish can depend on the administration and region. A hamlet may be considered to be a smaller settlement or subdivision or satellite entity to a lar ...
. The town is on the county's eastern border, east 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 ...
, in the
Finger Lakes The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes located south of Lake Ontario in an area called the ''Finger Lakes region'' in New York, in the United States. This region straddles the northern and transitional ...
region.


History

The region was part of the
Central New York Military Tract The Military Tract of Central New York, also called the New Military Tract, consisted of nearly of bounty land set aside in Central New York to compensate New York's soldiers after their participation in the Revolutionary War. Establishment Th ...
, land given as compensation to soldiers of the
American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
.
Robert Harpur Robert Harpur (January 25, 1731 Ballybay, County Monaghan, Ireland - April 15, 1825) was an Irish-American teacher, politician, pioneer, and landowner. He participated in surveying lands within the Central Military Tract in New York State and is ...
, a Clerk in the office of the New York State Surveyor General who named numerous New York townships in 1790 based on his own
classical studies Classics or classical studies is the study of classical antiquity. In the Western world, classics traditionally refers to the study of Classical Greek and Roman literature and their related original languages, Ancient Greek and Latin. Classics ...
, named Dryden for
John Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the per ...
(1631–1700), the English poet and a translator of the classics (including the works of
Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: t ...
, with the town of Virgil being the next town east of Dryden). Dryden was also the translator of
Plutarch Plutarch (; grc-gre, Πλούταρχος, ''Ploútarchos''; ; – after AD 119) was a Greek Middle Platonist philosopher, historian, biographer, essayist, and priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. He is known primarily for his ''P ...
's work ''Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans'', which Harpur likely sourced for many of the names in the Military Tract. The first settler arrived around 1797. The town of Dryden was established in 1803 from the town of
Ulysses Ulysses is one form of the Roman name for Odysseus, a hero in ancient Greek literature. Ulysses may also refer to: People * Ulysses (given name), including a list of people with this name Places in the United States * Ulysses, Kansas * Ulysse ...
. In 1856, some areas in the far southwest part of Dryden were ceded to the growing village of
Caroline, New York Caroline is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 3,282 at the 2010 census. The Town of Caroline is on the county's southeast border and is southeast of Ithaca. History The area was first settled ''circa'' 179 ...
, created from the Town of Spencer in 1811. In 2009, Dryden's Southworth Library sold an original manuscript of an Abraham Lincoln speech that had been delivered at the White House after his re-election. The document had been in the library's possession since 1926. It sold for $3.44 million, a record-high selling price for an American historical document at an auction. The Dryden District School No. 5 was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1984, as was the
Ellis Methodist Episcopal Church Ellis Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as Ellis Hollow Community Church, is a historic Methodist Episcopal church located at Ellis Hollow in Tompkins County, New York. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Th ...
in 1993. The Village of the Damned is on Investigative Discovery and is about Dryden, NY


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 94.2 square miles (243.9 km2), of which, 93.9 square miles (243.1 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km2) of it (0.31%) is water. The east town line is the border of
Cortland County Cortland County is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of Cortland County was 46,809. The county seat is Cortland, New York, C ...
, where it borders
Virgil, New York Virgil is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 2,401 at the 2010 census. The name is from the Roman poet Virgil. The town is in the southwestern part of Cortland County and is south of the city of Cortland. Hist ...
and
Harford, New York Harford is a town in Cortland County, New York, United States. The population was 943 at the 2010 census. Harford is in the southwestern corner of Cortland County and is south of Cortland. History Harford was in the former Central New York ...
. Continuing clockwise, bordering towns are
Caroline, New York Caroline is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 3,282 at the 2010 census. The Town of Caroline is on the county's southeast border and is southeast of Ithaca. History The area was first settled ''circa'' 179 ...
,
Danby, New York Danby is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 3,457 at the 2020 census. The town is in the southern part of the county and is south of the city of Ithaca. History The Cayuga people, one of the Six Nations of ...
,
Ithaca (town), New York Ithaca is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Tompkins County, New York, Tompkins County, New York (state), New York, United States. The town's population was 22,283 at the 2020 census. The town is in the central part of the coun ...
,
Lansing (town), New York Lansing () is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 11,691 at the 2020 census. The town is named after John Lansing. People from Lansing were early settlers of Lansing, Michigan, and named it after their homet ...
, and
Groton (town), New York Groton is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 5,950 at the 2010 census. The name is taken from Groton, Massachusetts. The Town of Groton contains a village, also called Groton. The town is in the northeast c ...
.
New York State Route 13 New York State Route 13 (NY 13) is a state highway that runs mainly north–south for between NY 14 in Horseheads and NY 3 west of Pulaski in Central New York in the United States. In between, NY 13 intersects with ...
intersects
New York State Route 38 New York State Route 38 (NY 38) is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Owego in Tioga County. The nort ...
at Dryden village.
New York State Route 79 New York State Route 79 (NY 79) is a east–west state highway in the Southern Tier of New York, in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at the intersection with NY 414 near the southern end of Seneca Lake ju ...
crosses the southwest part of the town, and New York State Route 366 crosses the central part and intersects NY-38 in Freeville. A small part of
New York State Route 34B New York State Route 34B (NY 34B) is a north–south state highway located within Tompkins and Cayuga counties in Central New York in the United States. Its northern terminus is located at a junction with NY 34 by the hamlet of F ...
crosses the northwest corner of Dryden. Cascadilla Creek flows out the west side of Dryden, as does Fall Creek and, in the far southwest corner of the town, Six Mile Creek. Virgil Creek is a major tributary of Fall Creek, entering it in Freeville after passing through the village of Dryden.


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 2010, there were 14,435 people, 6,016 households, and 3,555 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 153.9 people per square mile (57.3/km2). There were 6,418 housing units at an average density of 68.4 per square mile (25.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.7%
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 ...
, 4.2%
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 ...
or
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 ...
, 1.2% Native American, 2.7%
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 ...
, 0.1%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, and 1.2% 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 ...
.
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 ...
or
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 3.1% of the population. There were 6,016 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% 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, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.85. In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 21, 7.6% from 20 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $60,514, and the median income for a family was $72,596. Males had a median income of $46,587 versus $45,200 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 $30,866. About 4.4% of families and 9.5% 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 11.3% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over. Of the population 25 years and over, 23.5% had a graduate or professional degree, 20.2% had a bachelor's degree, 9.1% had an associate's, 18.7% had matriculated at a college, 21.3% had a high-school diploma, and 7.2% had not graduated from high school. More than half of all housing units in the town were built between 1970 and 2000. Of the total housing stock, the median value was $155,800, and the median monthly rent was $771.


Communities and locations in the town of Dryden

*Bethel Grove – 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 ...
on NY-79 in the southwest part of the town. *
Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the peri ...
– A village located on NY-13. * Dryden Lake – A small
lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
near the east town line. *Dryden Lake
Wildlife Management Area A Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a protected area set aside for the conservation of wildlife and for recreational activities involving wildlife. New Zealand There are 11 Wildlife Management Areas in New Zealand: * Horsham Downs Wildlife Ma ...
– A conservation area by the east town line. *Ellis (or "Ellis Hollow") – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town. The
Ellis Methodist Episcopal Church Ellis Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as Ellis Hollow Community Church, is a historic Methodist Episcopal church located at Ellis Hollow in Tompkins County, New York. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Th ...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. *Etna – A hamlet located near Ithaca. * Freeville – A village located on NY-38. *Hibbards Corners – A location in the western part of the town. *Howland Corners – A location at the west town line on NY-34B. *Lacy Corners – A hamlet north of Dryden village. *Malloryville – A location in the northeast part of Dryden. *Peruton – A location by the north town line. *Red Mills – A hamlet northeast of Freeville. *Smith Corners – A location at the west town line south of Howland Corners. *
Varna Varna may refer to: Places Europe *Varna, Bulgaria, a city in Bulgaria **Varna Province **Varna Municipality ** Gulf of Varna **Lake Varna **Varna Necropolis *Vahrn, or Varna, a municipality in Italy *Varniai, a city in Lithuania * Varna (Šaba ...
– A hamlet located near the west town line on NY-366. *West Dryden – A hamlet in the northwest part of Dryden. The West Dryden Methodist Episcopal Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. *Willow Glen – A location west of Dryden village on NY-13.


Notable people

*
Cueball Carmichael Chris Jackson (born June 10, 1960) is an American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter, known by his ringname Cueball Carmichael, who competes in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit. He has wrestled and won titles in the ...
(born 1960), professional wrestler and trainer


References


External links


Town of Dryden
{{authority control Towns in Tompkins County, New York Populated places established in 1803 1803 establishments in New York (state)