Bath is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States. It covers an area of 96.3 square miles (249 km²) and had a population of 11,426 in 2020. The largest community within the town is the Village of Bath, which has an area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) and had a population of 5,641 in 2000. The village serves as the county seat of Steuben County. The town is located in the central part of the county, northwest of the city of Elmira. The town and village are named either after the city of Bath in England or after Lady Bath, who was the daughter of a landowner.

History

The town was founded in 1793 as part of a land investment by William Pulteney, a wealthy British man. It was named after Bath, Somerset, England, where he owned large estates. The town was created in 1796 along with Steuben County and became the first town of the county. Over time, it gave land to seven other towns. The Lackawanna Railroad built its main line through Bath and opened a station there in 1882.

The first jailhouse was built in 1796 using logs, located just west of Pulteney Square. Later, it was replaced with a stronger building made of stone.

In 1828, a brick courthouse was built but was destroyed by fire. The same design was used to rebuild it on the same foundation.

Geography

The United States Census Bureau reports that the town covers an area of 96.3 square miles (249.4 km²), with 96.0 square miles (248.6 km²) being land and 0.3 square mile (0.8 km²) (0.32%) being water.

Interstate 86, also known as the Southern Tier Expressway, runs through the town. New York State Route 54 and New York State Route 415 cross at Bath village. New York State Route 53 begins at NY-415 in the community of Kanona. New York State Route 226 passes through Savona.

The Cohocton River flows through the town, passing the hamlet of Kanona and the villages of Bath and Savona.

• Bath village
• Buck Settlement – A small community in the southwest part of the town.
• Coss Corners – A place located south of Unionville on County Road 10.
• Dudley Settlement – A hamlet south of Bath village, between Unionville and East Union.
• East Union – A hamlet south of Bath village.
• Haverling Heights – A community next to the northern side of Bath village.
• Kanona – A hamlet northwest of Bath village near Interstate 86. The village is centered at the intersection of NY-53, NY-415, and County Road 14.
• Knight Settlement – A location in the northwest part of the town on County Road 15.
• Savona village
• Sonora – A hamlet near the eastern edge of the town.
• Thomas Corners – A place in the southwest part of the town.
• Unionville – A hamlet south of Bath village on County Road 10.

This climate region has large temperature changes between seasons, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes very cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bath has a humid continental climate, labeled "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics

According to the 2000 census, the town had 12,097 people, 4,905 households, and 3,050 families. The population density was 126 people per square mile (48.6 per square kilometer). There were 5,402 housing units, with an average density of 56.3 per square mile (21.7 per square kilometer). The racial makeup of the town was 96.04% White, 1.79% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race made up 0.70% of the population.

Of the 4,905 households, 28.5% had children under 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples, 11.9% had a female householder without a husband, and 37.8% were non-families. Thirty-one point six percent of households included only one person, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.34 people, and the average family size was 2.90 people.

The population was distributed as follows: 23.4% were under 18, 7.7% were 18 to 24, 25.9% were 25 to 44, 24.5% were 45 to 64, and 18.5% were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median household income was $32,508, and the median family income was $39,625. Males earned a median income of $30,456, while females earned $25,160. The per person income in the town was $16,939. Approximately 10.5% of families and 14.5% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under 18 and 7.5% of those 65 or older.

Arts and culture

• The Bath VA Medical Center – Was created in 1877 and officially opened in 1879 as the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home.
• Bath National Cemetery – Was part of the New York State Soldiers and Sailors Home and joined the National Cemetery system in 1930.
• Steuben County Fairgrounds – Begun in 1819, the county fair takes place every August. The venue also holds the annual Steuben County Dairy Festival in June to honor the area's strong dairy industry.

Notable people

• George Brinski, also known as Beniski, Benninsky, and Brinske, served as a substitute soldier during the Civil War for Grover Cleveland, who later became president
• Joseph James DeAngelo, serial killer
• Richard William Davis, child killer
• Jermain Wesley Loguen, Black minister and educator, lived in Bath from 1843 to 1846
• Dutch Hoag, champion automobile racing driver