The land that is now the town was formed by part of the Mayfield Patent of 1770; also the Daniel Claus Patent; McLeod's Patent; and significant portions of the Sacandaga Patent; the Glen, Bleecker, and Lansing Patent; and the Kingsborough Patent. First settlement began by Sir William Johnson in the spring of 1760. A section known as Philadelphia Bush formed in the southern part of the present town about 1765, and a settlement around the old Mayfield Corners began after Johnson erected a grist mill on the Mayfield creek, c.1773. The settlements were situated on the war path taken by Sir John Johnson and his raiding parties during the Revolutionary War, which devastated the early pioneers. A fort, known as the Sacandaga Blockhouse, was erected in May of 1779 to protect the remaining settlers from further raids. However, the Mayfield area was mostly abandoned by the end of the war. The town was established in 1793 from the town of Caughnawaga in Montgomery County before the formation of Fulton County in 1838. It was one of the first three such towns formed. Part of Mayfield was taken in 1805 to form the town of Wells (now in Hamilton County). An additional part of Mayfield was added to Wells in 1812. Mayfield was reduced once again in 1842 to form the town of Perth. The early economy was based on lumber and leather production. The Oliver Rice House located on Old NY 30 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.[4]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 6,432 people, 2,535 households, and 1,804 families residing in the town. The population density was 110.1 inhabitants per square mile (42.5/km2). There were 3,211 housing units at an average density of 55.0 per square mile (21.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.99% White, 0.39% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 2,535 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $37,982, and the median income for a family was $42,289. Males had a median income of $30,326 versus $22,105 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,972. About 5.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the town
Sign along northbound NY 30 in Mayfield entering Adirondack Park
Inhabited locations
Broadalbin– A small western part of the village of Broadalbin, located on NY-29, is inside the town of Mayfield.
Broadalbin Junction– A hamlet by the western town line on NY-30A southwest of Riceville.
Cranberry Creek– A hamlet in the northeastern corner of the town on NY-30. A stream called Cranberry Creek flows into Great Sacandaga Lake at the village.
Dennies Hollow– A hamlet north of Mayfield village on NY-30.
Jackson Summit– A location west of Mayfield village at the southern end of the Jackson Summit Reservoir.
Mayfield– The village of Mayfield is in the southeastern part of the town.
Munsonville– A hamlet at the western end of Great Sacandaga Lake, south of Mayfield village.
Red Bunch Corners– A hamlet in the southern part of the town on NY-30.
Riceville– A hamlet by the junction of Routes NY-30 and NY-30A.
Tolmantown– A former settlement in the northwestern quarter of Mayfield.
Vail Mills– A hamlet in the southeastern part of Mayfield on NY-30.
Wilkins' Corners– A former community near Mayfield village.
Cameron Reservoir– A small reservoir near the northern town line.
Jackson Summit Reservoir– A reservoir located in the northwestern part of the town.
Kenyetto Creek– A stream in the southeastern section of the town flowing westward, then north into Great Sacandaga Lake.
Kunkel Point– A projection into Great Sacandaga Lake, north of Vandenburgh Point. The point, and road leading to it, are named for the late Robert S. Kunkel a prominent Gloversville doctor and one of the first people to buy property there. The Point remains in the Kunkel family.
Mayfield Creek– A stream flowing eastward into Mayfield Lake.
Mayfield Lake– A small lake south of Mayfield village, connecting to Great Sacandaga Lake.
Paradise Point– A short projection into Great Sacandaga Lake northeast of Dennies Hollow.
Scout Island– An island in the southwestern part of Great Sacandaga Lake.
Vandenburgh Point– A short peninsula into Great Sacandaga Lake, northeast of Munsonville.
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