Birdsall, New York

Birdsall is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 221 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John Birdsall, a circuit judge. Birdsall is in the northeast part of Allegany County.

History
The area that is now Birdsall was first settled circa 1816. The town of Birdsall was created in 1829 from parts of the towns of Almond and Allen. From 1882 to April 1, 1947, Birdsall was located on the main line of the Pittsburg, Shawmut & Northern Railroad and predecessors. It was abandoned on the latter date by the U. S. Interstate Commerce Commission to promote the use of highway truck transportation in the area.

In 1980, the Fire Department of Birdsall was started by William Timberlake. He and Dale Wheeler were able to get the first fire truck donated from the Egypt, New York Fire Department for $1.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 93.4 km2, of which 93.0 km2 is land and 0.4 km2, or 0.47%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 268 people, 111 households, and 72 families residing in the town. The population density was 7.5 people per square mile (2.9/km2). There were 229 housing units at an average density of 6.4 per square mile (2.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.64% White, 1.87% African American, 0.37% Native American, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 111 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 32.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,705, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $29,286 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,859. About 17.2% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 50.0% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Birdsall

 * Birdsall – The hamlet of Birdsall is on County Road 16 (Dalton Road) in the western half of the town.
 * Black Creek – A stream that flows past Birdsall village.
 * Grove – A hamlet at the north town line.
 * Hiltonville – A location near the eastern town line.
 * Keaney Swamp – An extensive bog near the northern town line.
 * Scholes – A location by the south town line on County Road 16 (Dalton Road).