Early ownership of the area was primarily divided into the Livingstone patent, the Fisher and Norton tract, and the Randolph patent. The region was first settled around 1787. The town of Sanford was formed in 1821 from the town of Windsor.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,477 people, 983 households, and 694 families residing in the town. The population density was 27.5 people per square mile. There were 1,545 housing units at an average density of 17.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% White, 0.48% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population. There were 983 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couplesliving together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.99. In the town, the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.7 males. The median income for a household in the town was $33,309, and the median income for a family was $40,472. Males had a median income of $31,344 versus $20,365 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,083. About 12.9% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Sanford
Arctic Lake - A lake located in the northeast corner of the town.
Big Hollow - A valley north of Deposit.
Danville - A hamlet near the southern border of the town.
Deposit - The village of Deposit is partly in Broome County and partly in Delaware County. It is bypassed by NY Route 17, with access from Exits 83 and 84.
Gulf Summit - A hamlet in the southwest part of the town, south of NY-17.
Howes - A hamlet near the west town line in the north part of the town on NY-41.
McClure - A hamlet in the south part of the town with access from Exit 82 on NY-17. It was formerly known as "McClure Settlement", named after William McClure, surveyor and early settler.
North Sanford - A hamlet near the north and east town lines on County Road 241.
