Brewerton, New York

A neighborhood in Brewerton.

Brewerton is a hamlet (and census-designated place) located in the Town of Cicero in Onondaga County, New York, and the Town of Hastings in Oswego County, New York, USA. The population was 3,453 at the 2000 census.

Brewerton is an important community at the west end of Oneida Lake at its outlet into the Oneida River.

History

The village is sited near the former Fort Brewerton, erected in 1759 to defend the passage from Albany to the port of Oswego. Settlers arrived in 1789 to engage in the fur trade.

"Brewerton" is also the name of a chipped stone projectile point found by archaeologists as a relic of prehistoric natives in New York.

Interstate 81 cutting through Brewerton near Oneida Lake.

In the decades leading up to the Revolutionary War, a group of British Loyalists settled on the southern shore of the Oneida River, opposite of Fort Brewerton. During this time, a feud developed between the agrarian and pluralistic Loyalists and the opportunistic fur traders that frequently stayed in the fort. The anit-British tensions that spread throughout the colonies exacerbated these fealings. Fearing that fur traders were sympathetic to the impending revolution, the Loyalists began construction on their own fort directly across the river from Fort Brewerton (which they also called Fort Brewerton). Though common in name, the original Fort Brewerton was superior in every other respect, as the newer fort didn't include such common ammenities as windows and lockable doors. Clearly not content with their fort for protection, a small group, led by Brutus Shantz (a former barrister) and Theodore Leone (a retired admiral from the Royal navy), crossed the river in an attempt to catch the fur-trappers off guard and seize their encampment. Surrounding Fort Brewerton in the early morning, the loyalists opened fire and almost overwhelmed the traders within the fort. However, a small band of traders returing from a trip in western New York heard the ruckus and came to the aid of their fellow beaver trappers. This group, which included such stalwarts of Brewerton history like Kyle Santimaw, George Walker and Errant Fish, quickly subdued the loyalist insurgency and drove them back across the Onedia River. The next day, Jesus Neighbors led a counter-attck and overwhelmed the loyalists. The field on which this second skirmish took place is commemorated with a merry-go-round that exists to this day in Oneida Shores Park.

This rivalry was rekindled during the Revolutionary War. As a large battalion of the Continental Army was fighting in Eastern New York (near Albany), the British army deployed a battalion of their own to attack from the West. This regiment sailed up the St. Lawrence seaway with the intention of accessing the Onieda river and establishing a beachead on the eastern shore of Onieda Lake. From here they would have marched due East and engaged with the insurgent forces. However, when rumors of a large British fleet sailing toward Onieda Lake reached Brewerton, loyalists and revolutionaries sprung into action. Those sympathetic with the rebellion formed a militia with hopes of firing upon the boats before they left the narrow river and entered the larger Lake. Loyalists, for years subdued by defeat, formed a militia of their own to ensure that the British reached their destination. As the Onieda River is narrow at its mount on Onieda Lake, both sides quickly caught wind of what the other was doing, and a fire fight broke out with both sides firing from opposite sides of the river. Errant Fish, the hero from the earlier skirmish, led a band of sympathizers across the river in an attempt to storm up the embankments and take the loyalists by shear force. However, Bartholomul Shantz, son of Brutus, held of the attack and felled the mighty Fish. During the battle, a British scout boat sailing ahead of the armada stumbled into the fray. The boat was caught in the cross-fire and the leiutenant on board was shot by Robert Neighbors, son of Jesus. After running aground, the others in the scout boat returned to inform the encroaching British Fleet of the skirmish. They floatilla turned around and anchored in Lake Ontario until the end of the skirmish was confirmed. However, new orders arrived before confirmation was received, and the fleet ventured elsewhere. The skirmish in Brewerton did end, but not with a clear victor. Wood from the British scout boat was used in the construction of a bridge connecting the two sides of the Onieda River. This initial bridge was shortlived, as Danny Santimaw, a hopeful Continental Army recruit, burnt the bridge down a month after it was constructed.

Geography

Brewerton is located at 43°14′15″N 76°8′22″W (43.237428, -76.139369)Template:GR. Brewerton in located on the Oneida River on the west end of Oneida Lake.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the region has a total area of 8.6 km² (3.3 mi²). 8.2 km² (3.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (5.11%) is water.

The village is next to the border of Oswego County, New York.

Brewerton has the largest Elementary school in the Central Square School District, which is the largest school district in the State of New York by land.

Both US Route 11 and Interstate 81 pass through the village, connecting it to Watertown to the north and Syracuse to the south.

In Recent years, the town of Brewerton has become a major port for fishing on the already popular Oneida Lake. This is due to the recent Bass Masters outings at Oneida Shores County Park.

Brewerton is now a center in the growth of housing developments Mirrolago and Champlain at the lake.

Photo of Champlain at the Lake new housing development in Brewerton, NY.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 3,453 people, 1,376 households, and 961 families residing in the community. The population density was 421.9/km² (1,091.9/mi²). There were 1,502 housing units at an average density of 183.5/km² (474.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.93% White, 0.72% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 1,376 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $43,061, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $39,239 versus $27,654 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,327. About 6.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.