Lakeland, New York

Lakeland, New York
Census-designated place
Location inOnondaga Countyand the state ofNew York.
Coordinates:43°5′36″N76°14′45″W
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Onondaga
Area
• Total	1.49 sq mi (3.86 km2)
• Land	1.49 sq mi (3.86 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	479 ft (146 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	2,556
• Density	1,714.29/sq mi (661.71/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4(EDT)
FIPS code	36-40607
GNISfeature ID	0954952

Lakelandis ahamlet(andcensus-designated place) inOnondaga County,New York,United States. The population was 2,786 at the 2010 census. The community name is derived from its location next toOnondaga Lake.

The community is in the northwest part of the town ofGeddes.

History

From the latter part of the nineteenth century through the early years of the twentieth century, Lakeland was home to several upscale hotels and a small amusement park along the shores ofOnondaga Lake.These were served by a trolley car line fromSyracuse.However, the resort area began to decline beforeWorld War Iand was gone by theGreat Depression.The former resort area is now largely covered byInterstate 690and parking areas for theNew York State Fair,whose permanent grounds are at the southern edge of Lakeland.

1943 industrial waste flood

OnThanksgiving Dayin 1943, 40,000 tons ofindustrial wasteconsisting ofcalcium carbonateandmagnesiaflooded Lakeland. The industrial waste broke through a waste bed retaining wall at theSolvay Process Companyplant. Two square miles were covered by the waste, which reached as much as eight feet deep in some places.The Post-Standardreported in 1993 that "every tree, shrub or blade of grass within a square mile was dead". Parked cars were mired and flooded by the waste, including one car at the fairgrounds that was swept 1,000 feet.

All available Onondaga County Sheriff's Office deputies, as well as nearby fire departments,Solvaypolice, theNew York State Police,theAmerican Red Cross,and Solvay Process crews were called in to contain the flood and rescue residents. Volunteers from theSPCAwere also present to help rescue animals and livestock. The Red Cross operated a shelter at the State Fair Hotel. There were no reported fatalities, but there were a few people injured, such as an auxiliary military policeman from Solvay Process who was treated for acid burns and two frozen toes after rescuing numerous stranded residents using a rowboat. Several animals, pets, and livestock were also rescued, though a pig, several geese and ducks, and hundreds of chickens drowned in the sludge. 55 residents were left homeless as a result of the flood.

The waste was initially intended to be removed by dumping truckloads ofcindersinto the waste until it solidified enough to be shoveled out, but that plan was scrapped in favor of dissolving the waste using water and eventually pumping it intoNinemile Creek,which flows into Onondaga Lake. The cleanup process took two months to complete. The houses affected by the flood, now destroyed and worthless, were purchased by Solvay Process and demolished.

An investigation launched by Solvay Process into the incident reported that the dykes at the plant were built of old Solvay waste, not dirt, and that they were built too rapidly. The investigation also stated that the demand for production duringWorld War IIwas too great and help was too limited. After the incident, Solvay Process moved their waste beds away from the shoreline of Onondaga Lake.

Most of the affected area is now a parking lot for the fairgrounds.

Community

The community includes a few gas stations, various food outlets, two churches, a few small restaurants, a car dealership, a credit union, Solvay Middle School, a hotel, and a golf course. All are within minutes of theNew York State Fair.

Geography

Lakeland is located at43°5′36″N76°14′45″W(43.093266, -76.245718).

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the CDP has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all land.

Lakeland comprises the area along roughly the northern half of the southwest side ofOnondaga Lake(which runs northwest to southeast).

Interstate 690passes through the community.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	2,556		—
U.S. Decennial Census

As of thecensusof 2000, there were 2,852 people, 1,076 households, and 800 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,882.4 inhabitants per square mile (726.8/km²). There were 1,111 housing units at an average density of 733.3 per square mile (283.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.39%White,0.21%African American,0.18%Native American,0.60%Asian,and 0.63% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 1,076 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% weremarried couplesliving together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $47,378, and the median income for a family was $54,667. Males had a median income of $41,159 versus $25,755 for females. Theper capita incomefor the CDP was $21,000. About 4.0% of families and 4.9% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The school district isSolvay Union Free School District.