Phelps 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 Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 6,637 at the 2020 census. The Town of Phelps contains a village called Phelps. Both are north of

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

History

The town was part of the Phelps and Gorham Purchase. The region was first settled around 1788. The town was formed in 1796 and was formerly known as "Sullivan." The town of Phelps is named after one of the original proprietors. The community was incorporated in 1855.

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 65.3 square miles (169.0 km²), of which 65.0 square miles (168.3 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.7 km²) (0.43%) is water. The eastern town line is the border of Seneca County and the northern town line is the border of Wayne County.

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 2020, there were 6,637 people, 2,659 households, and 1,957 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 2,817 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.09%

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 ...

, 0.26%

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 ...

, 0.14% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.78% 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 1.23% of the population. There were 2,659 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% 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 3.03. In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $47,246, and the median income for a family was $53,854. Males had a median income of $34,792 versus $26,498 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 $21,297. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% 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 ...

, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

The town of Phelps was formerly a major center for the production of

sauerkraut Sauerkraut (; , ) is finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria. It has a long shelf life and a distinctive sour flavor, both of which result from the lactic acid formed when the bacteria ferment the sugar ...

, earning the distinction of sauerkraut capital of the world. The town holds a sauerkraut-themed festival every year during the first weekend of August. 2020 would have been the festival's 54th anniversary, if not for COVID-19.

Museums and other points of interest

The Phelps Community Historical Society and Howe House Museum . The First Baptist Church of Phelps, Harmon Cobblestone Farmhouse and Cobblestone Smokehouse, Dr. John Quincy Howe House, Phelps Town Hall, William Huffman Cobblestone House, St. John's Episcopal Church and Philetus Swift House are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

Transportation

The New York State Thruway (

Interstate 90 Interstate 90 (I-90) is an east–west transcontinental freeway and the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It begins in Seattle, Washington, and travels through the Pacific Northwest, Mountain states, Mountain West, Great Pla ...

) passes through the town north of Phelps village and Clifton Springs. New York State Route 96 parallels the Thruway and intersects two north–south highways in the western part of the town: New York State Route 88 and New York State Route 488.

Notable people

* Joe Gleason, former MLB pitcher * Paul D. MacLean (1913–2007), neuroscientist, born in Phelps * Bellamy Partridge, author of ''Country Lawyer'', a bestselling biography of his father who had practiced in Phelps * Charles C. Stevenson, fifth Governor of

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

; born in Phelps

Communities and locations in the Town of Phelps

* Clifton Springs – The smaller, and eastern, part of the Village of Clifton Springs is located by the west town line. *Dobbins Corners – A hamlet on the east town line *East X – A location near the east town line, west of Dobbins Corners *Five Points – A location near the east town line, south of West Junius *Five Waters Corners – A location on NY-88 in the northern part of the town *Fort Hill – A hamlet in the south part of the town *Gypsum – A hamlet at the western town line on County Road 27 *Knickerbocker Corner – A hamlet west of Phelps village at the junction of NY-96 and NY-488 *Melvin Hill – A hamlet in the south part of the town *Oaks Corners – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town on County Road 23. It is named after Pioneer Jonathan Oaks *Orleans – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on NY-488 * Phelps – The Village of Phelps is on NY-96 near the center of the town *Phelps Junction – A hamlet northwest of Phelps village *Pierson Corners – A location by the south town line *Thompson – A hamlet on the east town line, north of West Junius *Unionville – A hamlet on NY-96 east of Phelps village * Warner Corners – A location east of Orleans on County Road 23 *West Junius – A hamlet near the east town line

References

External links

Town and Village of Phelps
{{authority control Rochester metropolitan area, New York Towns in Ontario County, New York Towns in New York (state)