Au Sable, New York
Encyclopedia
Au Sable, or Ausable, is a town
in Clinton County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 3,146 at the 2010 census. The name is from a river that flows through the town and means "Of the sand."
The Town of Au Sable is in the southeast corner of the county, south of Plattsburgh
.
The town was formed from part of the Town of Peru
in 1839.
Mining was an important early industry in the town. The AuSable Chasm Bridge
was built in 1932-1933.
, the town has a total area of 43.9 square miles (113.7 km²), of which 39.1 square miles (101.3 km²) is land and 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) (10.85%) is water.
The town borders Lake Champlain
to the east. The south town line is the border of Essex County
.
Ausable Chasm
, a popular tourist location on the Ausable River, is nearby.
Interstate 87
, the Adirondack Northway, is an important north-south highway in Ausable. U.S. Route 9
runs closer to Lake Champlain than the Northway. US Route 9N runs east-west along the south town line, joining US 9 in Keeseville. New York State Route 22
is a north-south highway mostly lying west of the Northway. RT 86 runs along the West Branch of the Au Sable River, which is popular for flyfishing.
of 2000, there were 3,015 people, 1,180 households, and 831 families residing in the town. The population density
was 77.1 people per square mile (29.8/km²). There were 1,347 housing units at an average density of 34.4 per square mile (13.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.78% White, 0.80% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 1,180 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% 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 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,118, and the median income for a family was $39,906. Males had a median income of $30,213 versus $22,933 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,789. About 7.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Clinton County
Clinton County, New York
Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 82,128. Its name is in honor of the first Governor of New York as a state, George Clinton. Its county seat is Plattsburgh.-History:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,146 at the 2010 census. The name is from a river that flows through the town and means "Of the sand."
The Town of Au Sable is in the southeast corner of the county, south of Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
.
History
The town was first settled around 1795.The town was formed from part of the Town of Peru
Peru, New York
Peru is a town in Clinton County in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 6,998 at the 2010 census. The town was named Peru because its mountainous nature suggested that country....
in 1839.
Mining was an important early industry in the town. The AuSable Chasm Bridge
AuSable Chasm Bridge
AuSable Chasm Bridge is a historic steel arch bridge with concrete and stone faced approach spans that carries US 9 over the Ausable River at AuSable Chasm in Clinton County, New York. It was built in 1932-1933. The main span is 222 feet in length, with two 52 foot approach spans, for an overall...
was built in 1932-1933.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 43.9 square miles (113.7 km²), of which 39.1 square miles (101.3 km²) is land and 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) (10.85%) is water.
The town borders Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
to the east. The south town line is the border of Essex County
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
.
Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm
Ausable Chasm is a sandstone gorge tourist attraction located near Keeseville, New York. The Ausable River runs through it, which then empties into Lake Champlain....
, a popular tourist location on the Ausable River, is nearby.
Interstate 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
, the Adirondack Northway, is an important north-south highway in Ausable. U.S. Route 9
U.S. Route 9
U.S. Route 9 is a north–south United States highway in the states of Delaware, New Jersey, and New York in the United States. It is one of only two U.S. highways with a ferry connection ; the other being US 10. US 9 is signed east–west in Delaware and north–south on the rest of...
runs closer to Lake Champlain than the Northway. US Route 9N runs east-west along the south town line, joining US 9 in Keeseville. New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
is a north-south highway mostly lying west of the Northway. RT 86 runs along the West Branch of the Au Sable River, which is popular for flyfishing.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,015 people, 1,180 households, and 831 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 77.1 people per square mile (29.8/km²). There were 1,347 housing units at an average density of 34.4 per square mile (13.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.78% White, 0.80% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 1,180 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% 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 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,118, and the median income for a family was $39,906. Males had a median income of $30,213 versus $22,933 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $15,789. About 7.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Au Sable
- Ausable Beach – A location on the shore of Lake ChamplainLake ChamplainLake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
. - Ausable ChasmAusable ChasmAusable Chasm is a sandstone gorge tourist attraction located near Keeseville, New York. The Ausable River runs through it, which then empties into Lake Champlain....
– A deep gorge carved by the Ausable River. It is privately owned. - Ausable Point State Beach – A beach on Lake Champlain.
- Ausable River – A riverRiverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
that flows along the town border to Lake Champlain. - Birmingham Falls – A historic location near Keeseville.
- Clintonville – A hamlet near the south town line on NY 9N. The community was incorporated as a village in 1825, but later abandoned that status.
- Harkness – A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
near the north town line. - Keese Corners – A location near the north town line.
- KeesevilleKeeseville, New YorkKeeseville is a village in both Clinton County, New York and in Essex County, New York in the United States. The population was 1,815 at the 2010 census. The village is named after the Keese family....
– The Village of Keeseville on US-9 at the south town line. - New Sweden – A historic location in the town.
- Rogers – A hamlet by the south town line on NY 9N.
- Thomasville – location in the southwest part of the town.
- Union – A historic location in the town at the north town line.