DeWitt, New York

History

DeWitt was part of the Central New York Military Tract. The first settlers arrived around 1789.

The original Erie Canal progressed through the town in 1825. DeWitt was formed in 1835 from the Town of Manlius and was named in honor of Moses DeWitt, a Major in the militia, judge of the county courts and one of the first settlers of the county.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.9 square miles (88 km²), of which, 33.8 square miles (88 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (0.15%) is water.

Highways

Interstate 481 is the major highway in DeWitt crossing the center of the town, turning northward along the east side of DeWitt. I-481 intersects Interstate 690 in the eastern part of the town and Interstate 90 (New York State Thruway) in the northern part of the town.

New York State Route 92 conjoined with New York State Route 5 intersects I-481 in the east part of DeWitt. New York State Route 91 has its northern terminus at New York State Route 173, which crosses the southern part of the town, at Jamesville. New York State Route 298 crosses the north part of the town while New York State Route 290 crosses the middle portion of the town. Other state routes of note include New York State Route 598 in the extreme northwest portion of town and New York State Route 635 which straddles the western town boundary with the city of Syracuse.

Bodies of water

Natural bodies of water in the Town of DeWitt include:

Butternut Creek, flowing from south of Jamesville Reservoir, under the Erie Canal, and north to Oneida Lake

Meadow Brook, tributary of Butternut Creek, flowing east from Syracuse to DeWitt

Glacier Lake, Clark Reservation State Park, Jamesville

Ley Creek (South Branch), flowing north and west from near Erie Boulevard in DeWitt, ultimately to Onondaga Lake

Erie Canal

The Long Level section of the Old Erie Canal runs through DeWitt, which in turn is part of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Demographics

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 24,071 people, 10,068 households, and 6,503 families residing in the town. The population density was 711.0 people per square mile (274.6/km²). There were 10,694 housing units at an average density of 315.9 per square mile (122.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.70% White, 4.89% African American, 2.98% Asian, 0.56% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 10,068 households out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,759, and the median income for a family was $60,325. Males had a median income of $45,926 versus $29,797 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,198. About 4.7% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

As of July 2009, the population was 24,422, up 1.5% from 2000, with the average household income at $57,273. The average condo value in 2009 was $142,735.

Government

Officials in the Town of DeWitt are elected at-large. Current offices are:

Town Supervisor (2 year term of office)

Town Clerk (2 year term of office)

Six Town Councilors (4 year term of office)

Two Town Justices (4 year term of office)

Town Highway Superintendent (2 year term of office)

The Town Hall is located at 5400 Butternut Drive, East Syracuse, NY 13057-8510.

Economy

Aspen Dental has its headquarters in the town, near East Syracuse.

The Carrier Corporation's engineering and design center, known locally as "Carrier Campus", is located in DeWitt.

Hanson Aggregates owns and operates the Jamesville Quarry.

Communities and places

Village

East Syracuse – A village east of the Eastwood neighborhood of the city of Syracuse.

Hamlets

Collamer (formerly "Brittons Settlement") – A hamlet in the northeast part of DeWitt on NY 298.

DeWitt (formerly "Youngsville" and "Orville") – The hamlet of DeWitt is near the town center on NY 5.

Franklin Park – A suburban hamlet in the northwest part of DeWitt.

Lyndon Corners – A hamlet in the eastern portion of town.

Jamesville – A hamlet in the south of DeWitt on NY-173.

Oot Park – A hamlet by the east town line

Other

DeWitt Acres, next to Shoppingtown Mall.

Messina Springs – a small community near East Syracuse settled in the early 19th century

Morehouse Flats – An early community located north of Jamesville.

Syracuse Hancock International Airport – Half the airport is in the northwest part of DeWitt.

Visitor attractions

National historic sites

Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

Dr. John Ives House, Jamesville

Saint Mark's Church, Jamesville

Southwood Two-Teacher School, Jamesville

State parks and historic sites

Clark Reservation State Park – a state park south of Syracuse.

Old Erie Canal State Historic Park – a state historic park originating near the Town offices in central DeWitt, continuing on to Rome, New York; includes:

Canal Landing Park

Cedar Bay Park

Municipal parks

Butternut Creek Recreation and Nature Trail – a 67-acre, partially developed area off of Kinne Road, near Wegmans DeWitt

Fiddlers Green Park – a small, developing park in the hamlet of Jamesville

Maxwell Park – "a 105-acre park" in East Syracuse

Ryder Park and Recreation Area – "a 12-acre park located next to the DeWitt Town Hall"

Willis Carrier Recreation Center and Park – a 22-acre park next to Carrier Campus

Other

DeWitt Community Library – the public library which serves DeWitt and Jamesville as part of the Onondaga County Public Library System

Drumlins Country Club – owned by Syracuse University, including two 18-hole golf courses, one public and one private

Education

School districts

Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District, headquartered in DeWitt, serves portions of the Town.

East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District, headquartered in the Town of Manlius, serves portions of the Town of DeWitt.

Other

Other schools in the Town of DeWitt include:

Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School

Christian Brothers Academy

Le Moyne College

Manlius Pebble Hill School