Delhi, New York

Delhi is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 4,795 at the 2020 census. The town is in the east-central part of the county and contains the village of Delhi. The State University of New York at Delhi is located in the town.

The town is named after the city of Delhi, the capital of India. The name was in honor of founder Ebenezer Foote, who was known as "The Great Mogul". Another founder, Erastus Root, a rival of Foote, is responsible for the pronunciation. Root preferred the name "Mapleton". When he learned the town was to be named Delhi, he exclaimed, "Delhi, Hell-high! Might as well call it Foote-high." Another explanation of its pronunciation is "Because it’s HIGH on the DELaware River."

The town is the setting of the 1959 novel My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.

History
Delhi was formed from the towns of Kortright, Middletown, and Walton, on March 23, 1798. It was named after Delhi in India.

Geography
The town is in the center of Delaware County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 167.3 sqkm, of which 166.3 sqkm is land and 1.0 sqkm, or 0.62%, is water. The West Branch Delaware River flows through the center of the town. The Little Delaware River enters the West Branch from the east, just south of Delhi village.

2000
As of the census of 2020, there were 4,795 people, 1,520 households, and 928 families residing in the town. The population density was 74.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,893 housing units at an average density of 29.03 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 80.33% White, 9.05% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.02% from other races, and 5.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 8.20% of the population.

There were 1,520 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.7% were married couples living together, 31.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.72.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 12.1% under the age of 18, 39.12% from 18 to 24, 14.31% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $63,333, and the median income for a family was $84,038. The per capita income for the town was $16,842. About 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Delhi

 * Delhi – a village in the center of the town
 * East Delhi – a hamlet northeast of Delhi village. The Christian Church and Fitches Covered Bridge are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
 * Fraser – a hamlet southwest of Delhi village on NY 10
 * West Delhi – a hamlet west of Delhi village. Located here is the West Delhi Presbyterian Church, Manse, and Cemetery, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Landmarks

 * Delaware County Courthouse
 * Gideon Frisbee House, where Delaware County was formed in 1797, now the site of the Delaware County Historical Association
 * Soldiers Monument, erected to honor Civil War veterans, on the Courthouse Square
 * Delhi Village Hall, formerly the Delaware County Courthouse, where trials were held during the Anti-Rent War
 * Fitches Covered Bridge, built in 1870
 * The Judge Gideon Frisbee House, Murray Hill, and Sherwood Family Estate are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Education

 * Delaware Academy (K-12)
 * State University of New York at Delhi