Utica, New York
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- This article is about Utica in New York, USA. For other places with this name, see Utica.
Utica, New York is a city in New York State, the county seat of Oneida County in the USA.
The City of Utica is situated within the region referred to as the Mohawk Valley in Eastern New York State. Utica has an extensive park system, with winter and summer sports facilities.
Like many industrial towns and cities from New England through Upstate New York and into the Midwest, Utica has experienced a major reduction in manufacturing activity in the past several decades, and is in serious financial straits; many public services have been curtailed to save money. Suburbs in the region have begun to experience suburban sprawl; this is common in many Upstate New York cities, which are suffering from what the Sierra Club termed "sprawl without growth."
The arrival of a large number of Bosnian immigrants over the past several years has invigorated the economy while they constitute about 10% of the total population of Utica. Its economy is heavily dependent on commercial growth in its most significant suburbs, New Hartford and Herkimer.
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History
Founded in 1704 by Joseph Crandall, Utica was first settled in 1773 on the site of Fort Schuyler which was built in 1758 and abandoned after the French and Indian War. The city's name, said to have been picked at random from a hat, originates from the classical North African city of Utica (in present-day Tunisia). During the American Revolution the original settlement was destroyed in an attack by Tories and Native Americans, but was rebuilt after the Revolution. Utica was incorporated as a city in 1832
Utica's location on the Erie Canal stimulated its industrial development which was further enhanced as railroads and other canals were built. The middle section of the Erie Canal, from Utica to Salina, was in 1820 the first portion to open, and elaborate celebrations were held in the town. The First Maternal Association was founded in 1824.
The Utica Psychiatric Center, the first psychiatric center in New York State, opened in 1843.
Utica was ruled by Democratic Party machine politics for nearly 50 years following World War II. Although Utica had numerous mayors in the postwar period, the real boss of the city was Rufus Elefante. Elefante never held elected political office, but he and his cronies ran almost every aspect of the city's business from Marino's restaurant. He derived his power from Utica's large Italian-American immigrant population. The Italians received political favors from Elefante, and in exchange they voted in a block according to his wishes. At one time Utica was commonly referred to as "Sin City".
Geography
The Erie Canal, the Mohawk River, the New York Barge Canal, and the New York State Thruway pass through the north part of the city. The city is adjacent to the border of Herkimer County, New York.
Utica is located at 43°5'48" North, 75°13'55" West (43.096569, -75.231887)Template:GR in the Mohawk River Valley region of New York State.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 43.0 km² (16.6 mi²). 42.3 km² (16.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.57% water.
Demographics
| Historical populations[1] | |
|---|---|
| Census year | Population |
| 1840 | 12,782 |
| 1850 | 17,565 |
| 1860 | 22,529 |
| 1870 | 28,804 |
| 1880 | 33,914 |
| 1890 | 44,007 |
| 1900 | 56,383 |
| 1910 | 74,419 |
| 1920 | 94,156 |
| 1930 | 101,740 |
| 1940 | 100,518 |
| 1950 | 100,489 |
| 1960 | 100,410* |
| 1970 | 91,611* |
| 1980 | 75,632* |
| 1990 | 68,637* |
| 2000 | 60,651 |
| 2003 | 59,947 (Est.) |
| * Source document from Oneida County, not Census Bureau. Document here. | |
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 60,651 people, 25,100 households, and 14,231 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,432.3/km² (3,710.0/mi²). There were 29,186 housing units at an average density of 689.2/km² (1,785.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.42% White, 12.92% African American, 0.28% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.16% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 5.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 25,100 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,916, and the median income for a family was $33,818. Males had a median income of $27,126 versus $21,676 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,248. 24.5% of the population and 19.8% of families were below the poverty line. 38.0% of those under the age of 18 and 12.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Additional facts about Utica
As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 60,651. A 2003 estimate projected that Utica's population had shrunk to 59,947.
Frank Woolworth opened the first of many of his 5 and 10-cent Woolworth stores on February 22, 1879 in Utica.
Utica is the site of the Boilermaker Road Race and the Running Hall of Fame. Universities in Utica include Utica College, State University of New York Institute of Technology, Pratt at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, and Mohawk Valley Community College. Nearby colleges include Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, Herkimer County Community College in Herkimer, New York, and Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. The Stanley Theater of Utica is one of the best known theatres in the eastern U.S.
Several widely distributed beers are brewed at the historic F.X. Matt Brewery including Saranac, and Utica Club. Other famous sites include Utica Zoo, Munson Williams Art Museum, Children's Museum, Baggs Square and the Oriskany Monument.
Utica is the birth place of Isaac Singer, former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello, and James Schoolcraft Sherman, the 27th Vice President of the United States..
The current mayor is Timothy Julian, who took office in 2000. He was re-elected in 2003 for a full four-year term.
The Utica Zoo is home to the world's largest watering can. The 2,000 pound can is 15 feet 6 inches in height and 12 feet in diameter.
Throughout the summer, Utica has a celebration of Visual Arts, Performing Arts, History and Heritage, called Utica Monday Nite.
In the winter, Utica hosts Central New York's largest winter festival, Snowfari. The event draws thousands of winter recreational enthusiasts while raising funds for the Utica Zoo. Snowfari offers regional qualifiers for Winter Empire State Games events, SBX (snowboarder cross), mountain bike races, and The Cardboard Sled Race, to name a few events.
Open throughout the year, The Children's Museum of History, Natural History, Science and Technology attracts local visitors and global tourists.
Utica has many famous athletes to root for. Ex-Major Leaguers Andy Van Slyke, Dave Cash, and Mark Lemke are all from the area. NFL Defensive Lineman Will Smith played at Utica's Proctor High School.
Unique foods that are popular in the area include:
- Halfmoons (a black and white pastry made with a large (5") dark chocolate cake style cookie iced on one half with white cream frosting and the other half with dark chocolate frosting)
- Tomato Pie
- Chicken Rigatoni (Chicken Riggies as called by the locals)
- Greens
The Utica Crib was named for the New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica where it was heavily used in the 19th century to confine patients who refused to stay in their beds.
External links
- City of Utica, New York
- Utica Information
- Boilermaker 15K Road Race
- Utica Monday Nite
- The Children's Museum
- Greater Utica Rome Area Board of Realtors
- Utica Crib and more
Media Outlets
- Observer-Dispatch - Utica's daily newspaper
- The Daily Sentinel - Rome's daily newspaper
- The Evening Telegram - Herkimer's daily newspaper
- The Evening Times - Little Falls' daily newspaper
- The Oneida Daily Dispatch - Oneida's daily newspaper
- WKTV - Utica/Rome's NBC affiliate
- WUTR - Utica/Rome's ABC affiliate
- WTVH - Central New York's CBS affiliate
- WFXV - Utica/Rome's FOX affiliate
- WPNY - Utica/Rome's UPN affiliate
- WBU - Utica/Rome's WB affiliate
Educational institutions
- Hamilton College
- Herkimer County Community College
- Mohawk Valley Community College
- Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute
- SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome
- Utica School of Commerce
- Utica College of Syracuse University
- Colgate University
