Candor is a

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

in Tioga County,

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

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

village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...

named Candor. The town is south of Ithaca.

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 org ...

). 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'', which caused controversy for how it portrayed the politics of the Candor community and for how it failed to sufficiently anonymize residents.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, 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 (state), New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with Interstate 86 (Pe ...

intersects New York State Route 96B in Candor village. The West Branch of Owego Creek defines the eastern town line.

Demographics

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 5,317 people, 2,022 households, and 1,457 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 2,234 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 97.25%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 0.85%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.26% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino 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 recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

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 average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

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 ...

, 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.

Communities and locations in the Town of Candor

* 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 Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

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 ( ; Unami language, Lenape: ) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, crossing three lower Northeastern United States, Northeast states (New York, Pennsylvani ...

. *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 (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 * Garrett Zacharias, racing driver

In popular culture

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

References

External links

Town and Village of Candor

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