Laurens is 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 ...

in Otsego 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 263 at the 2010 census. The Village of Laurens is in the eastern part of the Town of Laurens. It is also north of the City of Oneonta.

History

Laurens is the oldest community in the town. Laurens set itself apart from the town by incorporating as a village in 1811. It was named for Revolutionary War hero

Henry Laurens Henry Laurens (December 8, 1792) was an American Founding Father, merchant, slave trader, and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laure ...

. In 1860, the village had a population of 726 and contained a tannery, an iron foundry, a sawmill, and a cotton mill that was powered by water from Gilbert Lake, north of the town line in New Lisbon. A sulfur spring is located north of the village. The

Southern New York Railroad The Southern New York Railway (SNY) was an electric rail line that provided passenger and freight service, but also provided electricity for customers along the line until 1924. The railway was previously called Oneonta Street Railway (1888-1897 ...

route passed through Laurens, the first car reaching Laurens from Oneonta on July 4, 1901. A logging operator named Emmons Peck from

Carbondale, Pennsylvania Carbondale is a city in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. Carbondale is located approximately 15 miles due northeast of the city of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The population was 8,828 at the 2020 census. The land area th ...

, would ship tanning bark and nine million feet of lumber from his mill at Gilbert Lake by horse and wagon to the Laurens station by 1909, employing many men.

Geography

Laurens is located at (42.5314, -75.0882). 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 village has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.3 km²), all land. The village is located at the junction of County Roads, 10, 11, and 12 and is near

Otego Creek Otego Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed August 8, 2011 tributary of the Susquehanna River in Otsego County, New York. Otego Creek rises in the Town of Otsego and ...

New York State Route 205 New York State Route 205 (NY 205) is a north–south state highway in central Otsego County, New York, in the United States. It extends from Interstate 88 (I-88) at exit 13 near the city of Oneonta to a junction with NY&nbs ...

runs just outside the eastern end of the village.

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 277 people, 114 households, and 77 families residing in the village. 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 2,215.8 people per square mile (822.7/km²). There were 130 housing units at an average density of 1,039.9 per square mile (386.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.56%

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 ...

, and 1.44% 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 1.44% of the population. There were 114 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% 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, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.88. In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males. The median income for a household in the village was $27,125, and the median income for a family was $27,500. Males had a median income of $25,179 versus $18,750 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 village was $15,527. About 24.4% of families and 17.9% 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 33.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 8.6% of those 65 or over.

References

External links

Village of Laurens, NY
{{authority control Villages in New York (state) Villages in Otsego County, New York