Skaneateles is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,112 at the 2020 census. The name is from the Iroquois term for the adjacent Skaneateles Lake, which means "long lake." The town is on the western border of the county and includes a village, also named Skaneateles. Both the town and village are southwest of Syracuse.
History
The area was part of the former Central New York Military Tract. The town of Skaneateles was formed in 1830 from the town of Marcellus. Early turnpikes facilitated development. The town was noted for participation in reform movements before the Civil War.
The Skaneateles Community in 1843 acquired and successfully operated a large farm and developed small industries. It ultimately failed because of internal difficulties, as well as external concern about its unorthodox social practices. Locally it was sometimes called "No God," because of the atheistic views of members. The Skaneateles Community published a newspaper, the "Comunitist" between 1844 and 1846, when the community dissolved. Buildings are extant, known as "Community Place," now serving as a bed-and-breakfast.
Some Skaneateles men volunteered for the ill-fated Upper Canada Rebellion (1837) to liberate Canada and were imprisoned by the British in Australia. Quaker congregations were involved in abolition activity. Underground Railroad sites have been documented in Skaneateles. Although the larger city of Syracuse nearby was known nationally as a center of abolition and Underground Railroad activity, Skaneateles was said (by Beauchamp, an early historian) to have "eclipsed Syracuse as an anti-slavery town."
On July 4, 1876, resident John Dodgson Barrow delivered the centennial address in Skaneateles recounting the history of the village up to that time. In 1891, he had it printed in Syracuse as a 20-page book.
The Brook Farm, Community Place, and Kelsey-Davey Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 48.8 square miles (126.3 km2), of which 42.7 square miles (110.5 km2) (87.49%) is land and 6.1 square miles (15.8 km2) (12.51%) is water.
Demographics
thumb|right|Farms and rolling hills surround Skaneateles Lake.
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,323 people, 2,881 households, and 2,082 families residing in the town. The population density was 171.7 people per square mile (66.3/km2). There were 3,233 housing units at an average density of 75.8 per square mile (29.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.99% White, 0.10% Black or African-American, 0.10% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 2,881 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $57,550, and the median income for a family was $69,023. Males had a median income of $51,621 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,624. About 1.8% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
thumb|right|High pasture, west side of lake
thumb|right|Residents and visitors stroll along Skaneateles' pier, just off Clift Park in the village of Skaneateles, for the best view of antique boats during Skaneateles' annual Antique and Classic Boat Show.
Communities and locations in the Town of Skaneateles
Highland Way – A neighborhood just east of Skaneateles village on Onondaga Rd.
Jones Beach – A hamlet on the east shore of Skaneateles Lake on NY-41.
Long Bridge – A hamlet at the north town line, north of Mottville.
Mandana – A hamlet down the west side of the lake.
Mottville – A hamlet two miles north of Skaneateles village on Jordan Street and north of Willow Glen.
Shepard Settlement – A farming hamlet.
Skaneateles – A village at the north end of Skaneateles Lake.
Skaneateles Falls – A hamlet northwest of Skaneateles village on Skaneateles Creek.
Thornton Grove – A lakeshore neighborhood on the west shore of the lake south of Winding Way.
Thornton Heights – A lakeshore neighborhood on the west shore of the lake home of the Veggie Stand.
Wicks Corners – A neighborhood on the west town line, northwest of Skaneateles village.
Willow Glen – A neighborhood on Old Seneca Turnpike, north of Skaneateles village.
Winding Way – A neighborhood on the west shore of Skaneateles Lake.
Notable people
John Dodgson Barrow (1824-1906), Hudson River School artist
Mary Elizabeth Beauchamp (1825–1903), educator and author
Neilia Hunter Biden (July 28, 1942 – December 18, 1972), first wife of Joe Biden, mother of Beau Biden and Hunter Biden
Barry Crimmins (1953-2018), comedian, activist
Clara Cannucciari (1915-2013), web vlogger, author
Sheldon Dibble (1809-1845), missionary
Searles G. Shultz, (April 29, 1897 – January 23, 1976) American Lawyer and Politician
Marshall I. Ludington, (July 4, 1839 - July 26, 1919) Quartermaster General of the United States Army
James Reuel Smith (1852–1935) photographer who worked in the late 19th C. to early 20th C., known for his documentary photographs of springs and wells in New York City.
