Worcester 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
Otsego County, New York
Otsego County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,524. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name ''Otsego'' is from a Mohawk or Oneida word meaning "place of the rock."
History
In 178 ...
, United States. The population was 2,220 at the 2010 census. Worcester is on the southeastern border of the county and is northeast of
Oneonta. The Worcester Central School District presently has 369 students enrolled in grades K-12.
History
Settlement began on Schenevus Creek around 1788. The town was established from part of the town of
Cherry Valley in 1797. In 1808, the towns of
Decatur,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, and
Westford were formed from part of Worcester.
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 , of which is land and (0.32%) is water.
Interstate 88 passes through the central part of the town, following the same course as
New York State Route 7
New York State Route 7 (NY 7) is a state highway in New York in the United States. The highway runs from Pennsylvania Route 29 (PA 29) at the Pennsylvania state line south of Binghamton in Broome County, New York, to Ver ...
. Both highways follow the course of Schenevus Creek across the town. The southern town line is the border of
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
and
Schoharie counties. The
highest point
A list of highest points typically contains the name, elevation, and location of the highest point in each of a set of geographical regions. Such a list is important in the sport of highpointing. A partial list of highpoint lists is below:
World ...
in Otsego County is located near the eastern border of the town, east of
East Worcester.
The East Worcester Fish and Game Club is in the East Worcester-Decatur area. It is known to locals as "The Lake", which is home to a variety of different fish that are native to the area and is a popular location for fishing. The club also holds many functions such as fishing derbies, cook outs, clam bakes, and dances.
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 2,207 people, 911 households, and 600 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 47.2 people per square mile (18.2/km
2). There were 1,201 housing units at an average density of 25.7 per square mile (9.9/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.46%
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 ...
, 0.59%
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 ...
, 0.50%
Native American, 0.23%
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 ...
, 0.23% 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 1.00% 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 ...
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 0.95% of the population.
There were 911 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,506, and the median income for a family was $35,903. Males had a median income of $28,102 versus $19,583 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 $15,752. About 7.4% of families and 10.3% 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 14.5% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Worcester
*Barton Corners – 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, northeast of South Worcester.
*Brighton – A location east of Worcester hamlet.
*Calcutta – A location north of East Worcester on County Route 38.
*Caryl Lake – A small lake west on a hill northeast of Worcester hamlet; former water supply; named for Isaac Caryl, a settler.
*
East Worcester – A hamlet in the eastern part of Worcester on NY-7.
*Hudson Lake – A small lake south of Schenevus Creek.
*Lutheranville Hill – Highest elevation in Otsego County, east of East Worcester between Brooker Hollow Road and the county line.
*
Pine Hill – An elevation located northeast of South Worcester.
*
Pine Mountain – An elevation in the northeastern corner of Worcester.
*
South Hill – An elevation in the west-central part of Worcester.
*South Worcester – A hamlet at the southern town line on County Route 39 and Charlotte Creek. The
South Worcester Historic District 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 1992.
*
Strain Mountain – An elevation in the southern part of the town, northeast of South Worcester.
*
Stone Quarry Hill – An elevation located northwest of East Worcester.
*Tuscan – A location west of Worcester hamlet.
*
Worcester
Worcester may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England
** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament
* Worcester Park, London, Engla ...
– A hamlet located on NY-7 and Schenevus Creek in the western part of the town. The
Worcester Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
*Snob's Knob – A section of town deemed "affluent".
Notable person
*
Mary Gage Day
Mary Gage Day (, Gage; June 20, 1857 – March 7, 1935) was an American physician and medical writer. Day published several papers on Locoweed, including two articles in the ''New York Medical Journal'', from which the definition of "Loco Disease" ...
(1857–1935), physician, medical writer
In popular culture
Location of the convenience store in the season 1
Mr. Show with Bob and David
''Mr. Show with Bob and David'', also known as ''Mr. Show'', is an American sketch comedy series starring and hosted by Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. It aired on HBO from November 3, 1995, to December 28, 1998.
Cross and Odenkirk introduced m ...
sketch "Change for a Dollar"
References
External links
Worcester Historical Society webWorcester Central School web
{{authority control
Towns in Otsego County, New York
Populated places established in 1788
1788 establishments in New York (state)