Dansville is a village in the town of North Dansville in the eastern part of Livingston County, New York, United States. As of the as of 2000[update] census, the village population was 4,832.[1] The village is named after Daniel Faulkner, an early settler.[citation needed] Interstate 390 passes next to the west side of the village.
History
Daniel Faulkner founded the village in 1795. When Livingston County was created, the village was in the town of Sparta. Dansville became an incorporated village in 1845.
A spa, which opened in 1854, drew many prominent people for the water cure. Located in the "Castle on the Hill," the spa operated for many years under several owners.
Past residents of note
Clara Barton visted Dansville in 1866 to give a lecture and later in 1873, where she stayed at the Home On the Hillside to recouperate from the toil of nursing soldiers in the Franco-Prussian War. Between 1876 and 1886, she maintained a residence in Dansville. From here she ran the effort to form the American Red Cross and to get the United States government to recognize it and join the Geneva Convention which would make them a part of the International Red Cross. Thus, the first American Red Cross chapter was established in the village[2] in 1881[citation needed] and is still located on 57 Elizabeth Street.[2]
Millard Fillmore the former President of the United States, resided in the village for several months.[citation needed]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²), all of it land.
Besides Interstate 390, New York State Route 36, New York State Route 63 New York State Route 256, and New York State Route 436 pass through the village.
The village of Dansville is located in a glacially formed valley common throughout Western New York.
The village is north of Stony Brook State Park.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of as of 2000[update], there were 4,832 people, 1,976 households, and 1,246 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,042.4 people per square mile (787.2/km²). There were 2,090 housing units at an average density of 883.4/sq mi (340.5/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.78% White, 1.26% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 1.30% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.
There were 1,912 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,903, and the median income for a family was $41,519. Males had a median income of $31,699 versus $25,256 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,994. About 12.3% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Additional facts about Dansville
Dansville Municipal Airport (DSV) is a general aviation airport located north of the village. The airport was opened in 1927, primarily by the efforts of World War I aviator Lynn Pickard. A Balloon Festival is held at the airport in early September.
Dansville is at the northern edge of the range of the American dogwood (Cornus florida), and celebrates this with a Dogwood Festival each spring.
Castle on the Hill – a former water cure facility that resembles a castle overlooking Dansville from the hillside. Founded in 1858 by Dr. James Caleb Jackson as the "Our Home on the Hillside", the original building burned in 1882. The present building opened in 1883. It has changed hands several times, becoming a physical fitness hotel (the Physical Culture Hotel) where the rich and famous came from New York City and Philadelphia to "get away from it all". The building now stands vacant.
A grant from NYS for $2.5 million was approved in Jan. 2008 to renovate the former "Jackson Health Resort"
A branch of Genesee Community College is located in Dansville.
A small yet respectable library does small business lending free books, while the Home Video and Blockbuster movie rentals do outstanding business.
References
External links
