Warsaw, New York

This article is about the town. For the village, see Warsaw (village), New York.

Warsaw, New York
Town
Monument Circle Historic District
Location within Wyoming County and New York
Coordinates: 42°44′24″N 78°07′59″W
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Wyoming County
Founded	1804
Area [1]
• Total	35.47 sq mi (91.86 km^2)
• Land	35.42 sq mi (91.73 km^2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km^2)  0.14%
Elevation	1,020 ft (310 m)
Population  (2020)[2]
• Total	5,316
• Density	150.10/sq mi (57.95/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	14569
Area code	585
FIPS code	36-121-78344
GNIS feature ID	0968827[3]

Wyoming County Courthouse

Augustus Frank House

Warsaw is a town in Wyoming County, in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 5,316 at the 2020 census.^[2] It is located approximately 37 miles east southeast of Buffalo and approximately 37 miles southwest of Rochester. The town may have been named after Warsaw, Poland.

The Town of Warsaw is centrally located in the county and contains a village, also called Warsaw. The village is the county seat of Wyoming County.

History

Perspective map of Warsaw from 1885 with list of landmarks by L.R. Burleigh. Inset image of Warsaw Salt Cos. Works

The Town of Warsaw was founded in 1803 from the Town of Batavia (in Genesee County). In 1812, part of Warsaw was used to form the new town of Town of Middlebury. Again in 1814, Warsaw was reduced to form the Town of Gainesville.

Abolitionism

In the decades before the American Civil War, Warsaw was a center of abolitionist sentiment and activity. Warsaw's local anti-slavery society was formed in 1833, the same year as the American Anti-Slavery Society. Several homes and churches are documented to have participated in the Underground Railroad.^[4][5] In November 1839 the anti-slavery Liberty Party was formed in a meeting at Warsaw's Presbyterian Church.^[4] The area sent abolitionists Seth M. Gates and Augustus Frank to serve in the United States Congress.^[4][5] An anti-slavery newspaper called The American Citizen was published in Warsaw.^[5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.5 square miles (92 km²), of which 35.4 square miles (92 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.14%) is water.

Oatka Creek flows northward through the Wyoming Valley in the town. U.S. Route 20A crosses the town.

Climate

Climate data for Warsaw 6 SW, New York, 1991–2020 normals, 1952-2020 extremes: 1820ft (555m)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	64 (18)	69 (21)	80 (27)	86 (30)	88 (31)	92 (33)	99 (37)	91 (33)	95 (35)	83 (28)	76 (24)	70 (21)	99 (37)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	52.8 (11.6)	51.4 (10.8)	61.8 (16.6)	75.6 (24.2)	81.4 (27.4)	84.7 (29.3)	85.6 (29.8)	83.9 (28.8)	81.8 (27.7)	75.0 (23.9)	64.7 (18.2)	54.1 (12.3)	87.1 (30.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	27.7 (−2.4)	29.9 (−1.2)	37.9 (3.3)	51.3 (10.7)	64.1 (17.8)	72.2 (22.3)	76.0 (24.4)	75.1 (23.9)	67.9 (19.9)	56.2 (13.4)	43.8 (6.6)	33.1 (0.6)	52.9 (11.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)	20.3 (−6.5)	21.8 (−5.7)	29.3 (−1.5)	41.6 (5.3)	54.3 (12.4)	63.0 (17.2)	67.1 (19.5)	66.0 (18.9)	58.6 (14.8)	47.7 (8.7)	36.5 (2.5)	26.6 (−3.0)	44.4 (6.9)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	13.0 (−10.6)	13.6 (−10.2)	20.6 (−6.3)	32.0 (0.0)	44.5 (6.9)	53.9 (12.2)	58.2 (14.6)	56.9 (13.8)	49.3 (9.6)	39.2 (4.0)	29.3 (−1.5)	20.0 (−6.7)	35.9 (2.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−6.4 (−21.3)	−4.3 (−20.2)	2.5 (−16.4)	18.7 (−7.4)	30.5 (−0.8)	40.8 (4.9)	47.9 (8.8)	46.7 (8.2)	37.3 (2.9)	27.4 (−2.6)	14.4 (−9.8)	2.6 (−16.3)	−9.6 (−23.1)
Record low °F (°C)	−30 (−34)	−28 (−33)	−18 (−28)	5 (−15)	20 (−7)	29 (−2)	36 (2)	30 (−1)	25 (−4)	7 (−14)	−4 (−20)	−23 (−31)	−30 (−34)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.53 (90)	2.72 (69)	3.10 (79)	3.51 (89)	3.95 (100)	4.28 (109)	4.38 (111)	4.01 (102)	4.06 (103)	4.34 (110)	3.69 (94)	3.62 (92)	45.19 (1,148)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	36.9 (94)	27.5 (70)	21.8 (55)	7.2 (18)	0.2 (0.51)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.6 (1.5)	13.0 (33)	34.7 (88)	141.9 (360.01)
Source 1: NOAA(1981-2010 Snowfall)[6][7]
Source 2: XMACIS2 (records & monthly max/mins)[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	1,658		—
1830	2,474		49.2%
1840	2,841		14.8%
1850	2,624		−7.6%
1860	2,958		12.7%
1870	3,143		6.3%
1880	3,227		2.7%
1890	4,468		38.5%
1900	4,341		−2.8%
1910	4,308		−0.8%
1920	4,396		2.0%
1930	4,361		−0.8%
1940	4,452		2.1%
1950	4,585		3.0%
1960	4,803		4.8%
1970	4,721		−1.7%
1980	5,074		7.5%
1990	5,342		5.3%
2000	5,423		1.5%
2010	5,064		−6.6%
2020	5,316		5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census^[10] of 2000, there were 5,423 people, 2,113 households, and 1,354 families residing in the town. The population density was 153.1 inhabitants per square mile (59.1/km²). There were 2,232 housing units at an average density of 63.0 per square mile (24.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.29% White, 0.39% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.

There were 2,113 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,699, and the median income for a family was $42,647. Males had a median income of $31,672 versus $21,691 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,279. About 8.5% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Town of Warsaw is governed by a town council elected by popular vote.

Position	Officeholder	Term Length (in years)
Mayor	Joe Robinson
Councilperson	Shani Jones	4
	David Mateer
	Chris Lonneville
	Kevin B. Zeches
Supervisor	Rebecca Ryan	4
Deputy Supervisor	Shani Jones
Clerk/Tax Collector	Cathy Smith	4
Justice	Robert Fusani
	Ronald Errington
Assessor	Countywide Real Property Tax Services
Supt. of Highways	Jeff Royce	4
Registrar	Cathy Smith
Historian	Sally Smith
Zoning Officer	Robert Martin
Library Trustees	Linda Wick	3
	Deborah N. Gillen

Communities and locations in the Town of Warsaw

• East Warsaw – a community east of the village
• Monument Circle Historic District – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[11]
• Newburg – a hamlet near the south town line on Route 19
• Oatka – a hamlet southeast of Warsaw village
• Perry - Warsaw Municipal Airport ( 01G ) – a general aviation airport east of the village of Warsaw on Route 20A
• Pierce Corners – a settlement in the northwest part of the town
• Rock Glen – a hamlet south of Warsaw village on Route 19
• Seth M. Gates House – a historic house in Warsaw^[12]
• South Warsaw – a hamlet south of Warsaw on Route 19
• Thompsons Crossing – a hamlet in the northwest part of the town
• Warsaw – village of Warsaw on Route 20A

Education

Most of the town is in Warsaw Central School District. Other parts of the town are in Wyoming Central School District, Perry Central School District, and Letchworth Central School District.^[13]

Notable people

• James C. Adamson, former NASA astronaut and retired Colonel of the United States Army^[14]
• Edward J. Boomer, former Wisconsin State Assemblyman^[15]
• Earl Alonzo Brininstool, cowboy poet^[16]
• Barber Conable (1922 – 2003) - Ten-term United States Congressman and later World Bank President.^[17]
• Ice Box Chamberlain, former MLB pitcher^[18]
• Ben Doller, poet, writer^[19]
• James Rood Doolittle (January 3, 1815 – July 27, 1897), U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, District Attorney of Wyoming County, NY; Colonel of the New York State Militia;^[20]
• Sydney Nettleton Fisher, Middle East historian^[21]
• Jabez G. Fitch, U.S. Marshal for Vermont^[22][23]
• Augustus Frank (1826 – 1895) was a United States Representative from New York during the American Civil War^[24]
• Merrill Edwards Gates, ninth President of Rutgers College (now Rutgers University), sixth President of Amherst College^[25]
• Seth M. Gates, former US Congressman^[26]
• Lester H. Humphrey, former New York State Senator^[27]
• Andrew J. Lorish (November 8, 1832–August 11, 1897), a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in the American Civil War, died in Warsaw, New York.
• John Warwick Montgomery (born 1931) - Emeritus Professor of Law and Humanities, writer, lecturer, and public debater in the field of Christian apologetics^[28]
• William Patterson, former US Congressman^[29]
• Diann Roffe, former World Cup alpine ski racer^[30]
• Martin Smallwood, former football coach^{[citation needed]}
• Zera Luther Tanner, former naval commander, inventor^[31]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
2. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Warsaw town, Wyoming County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Warsaw, New York
4. "The Abolitionist Tour". Warsaw NY History. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
5. "The Underground Railroad". Go Wyoming. Wyoming, NY Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
6. "Warsaw 6 SW, New York 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved January 17, 2024.
7. "Warsaw 6 SW, New York 1981-2010 Monthly Normals". Retrieved January 17, 2024.
8. "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "Monument Circle Historic District". The Gombach Group. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
12. "The Gates House Museum". Warsaw Historical Society. 1968. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
13. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wyoming County, NY" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 21, 2024. - Text list
14. Ellis, Lee (2004). Who's who of NASA Astronauts. Americana Group Publishing. p. 203. ISBN 9780966796148. James C. Adamson warsaw new york.
15. "Official Directory". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin. 1874. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
16. "A Guide to the Earl Alonzo Brininstool Collection, 1850-1945". The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
17. "Barber Conable: 7th President of the World Bank Group, 1986 - 1991". The World Bank. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
18. "Ice Box Chamberlain". SABR. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
19. "Ben Doller". Poets.org. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
20. "DOOLITTLE, James Rood, (1815 - 1897)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
21. "RG 30/187 - Sydney Nettleton Fisher (1906-1987)". Oberlin College Archives. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
22. Wyoming County Historian (1975). "Biography, Jabez G. Fitch". Historical Wyoming. Vol. 22–26. Warsaw, NY: Wyoming County (NY) Historical Society. p. 7 – via Google Books. The article stated that in an early period of the Revolution Fitch entered naval service of his country and continued in the navy until the recognition of American independence.
23. "Newspaper Index, Entry for Jabez Fitch". Journal of the Western New York Genealogical Society. Buffalo, NY: Western New York Genealogical Society. 1980. p. 55 – via Google Books.
24. "FRANK, Augustus, (1826 - 1895)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
25. "Merrill Edwards Gates". Rutgers. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
26. "GATES, Seth Merrill (1800 - 1877)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
27. Lyon, J.B. (March 17, 1902). Proceedings of the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York on the Life, Character and Public Services of Lester Hayden Humphrey: Albany. J.B. Lyon. p. 12.
28. "John Warwick Montgomery Web Site". JWM Web Site. December 3, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
29. "PATTERSON, William, (1789 - 1838)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
30. "Diann Roffe-Steinrotter". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
31. Mooney, James L. (1976). Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Government Printing Office. p. 42. ISBN 9780160020384.

External links

• City-Data.com
• ePodunk