Locke was in the Central New York Military Tract, used to pay soldiers of the American Revolution. The first settlers arrived in 1790. They found evidence of earlier Native American occupants in the form of ruined villages and burial grounds. The town of Locke was formed in 1802 from the town of Genoa, then known as "Milton". Part of Locke was used in 1817 to form the town of Groton. Another division of Locke in 1831 formed the town of Summerhill. A devastating fire in 1912 destroyed about thirty buildings in Locke village. A second devastating fire occurred on April 10, 1975, destroying eleven buildings and causing approximately $650,000 in damage. The fire was a result of a gasoline tanker losing its brakes while descending State Route 90 and crashing into the bank at the intersection of State Route 90 and State Route 38.
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,900 people, 704 households, and 539 families residing in the town. The population density was 77.9 people per square mile. There were 760 housing units at an average density of 31.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% White, 0.26% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.42% Asian, and 0.63% from two or more races. 0.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 704 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couplesliving together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.00. In the town, the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $37,885, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $28,793 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,580. 8.9% of the population and 7.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.8% of those under the age of 18 and 2.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Communities and locations in Locke
Centerville - An historic location north of Locke village.
Chipman Corners - A hamlet in the southeast of the town on County Road 161.
Fillmore Glen State Park - A state park partly in Locke at the north town line.
Grisamore Farms - A popular location for fresh apples, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, pumpkins, edible and ornamental plants.
Locke - A hamlet near the center of the town at the junction of NY-38 and NY-90 and the confluence of Owasco Inlet and Hemlock Creek.
Satterly Corners - A location north of Shaw Corners on County Road 54.
Shaw Corners - A location east of Locke village on NY-90.
Toll Gate Corners - A hamlet at the north town line near the state park.
