The area was first settled around 1788. The town of Fenton, then called Port Crane, was formed from the town of Chenango in 1855. The name was changed to Fenton in 1867. A small settlement within Fenton carried on the name of Port Crane, up to the present. The former Chenango Canal passed through the west side of the town, following the Chenango River. The town developed and prospered with the advent of the canal. While the canal was supplanted by the railroads, the town was bypassed by the trains. When the canal was gone, the prosperity in Port Crane left with it. Today, Port Crane is but a shadow of its former self.
To the east is the town of Colesville, to the west is the town of Chenango, and to the northwest is the town of Barker. The towns of Kirkwood and Dickinson are on the south side. The town of Greene in Chenango County borders Fenton to the north.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,909 people, 2,763 households, and 1,947 families residing in the town. The population density was 210.1 people per square mile. There were 2,941 housing units at an average density of 89.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 97.52% White, 0.87% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. There were 2,763 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couplesliving together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93. In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males. The median income for a household in the town was $39,622, and the median income for a family was $45,869. Males had a median income of $37,800 versus $25,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,780. About 4.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Chenango Lake - The larger of two scenic wooded lakes in the Chenango Valley State Park, used for swimming and boating.
Fenton - A location on NY-369 near the state park.
Hillcrest - A suburban residential community east of the Chenango River neighboring Chenango Bridge and Port Dickinson.
Lily Lake - The smaller of two lakes, north of Chenango Lake, known for its scenic beauty and good fishing.
North Fenton - A hamlet at the junction of NY-79 and NY-369 by the north town line. It was originally called "Ketchums Corners."
Pleasant Hill - A hamlet in the south part of the town on County Road 193.
Port Crane - A hamlet near the Chenango River and the south town line, near the intersection of NY-369, NY-7, and I-88. It was formerly a port on the now-defunct Chenango Canal and was named after Jason Crane, a canal engineer. It now carries on the original name for the whole town.
Quinneville - A hamlet at the north town line on NY-79.
Wyman Corner - A hamlet in the southeast part of the town.
Notable person
Billy Martin, baseball legend, second baseman and New York Yankees manager; operated and lived on a farm in Port Crane after retiring. It was on that road where his fatal car accident occurred on Christmas Day in 1989.
