Austerlitz, New York
Encyclopedia
Austerlitz is a town
in Columbia County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,453 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Battle of Austerlitz
.
The Town of Austerlitz is in the east part of Columbia County.
The town was organized from parts of the towns of Hillsdale, Chatham, and Canaan, March 28, 1878(sic 1818). A little more than one-fifteenth of the present town was taken from Chatham, a little over one-eighth from Canaan, and a little less than five-sixths from Hillsdale. From the fact that among the first settlers there were no less than twelve families of Spencers, the north part of Hillsdale and been known from the first as "Spencer's-town." This name finally attached itself simply to the village, and when the division of the town was being talked up it was proposed to call the new town "New Ulm." When the bill erecting it passed the Legislature, however, Martin Van Buren, then a State Senator, and who, being an ardent admirer of the great Napoleon, was somewhat incensed at one of his political opponents (Elisha Williams, if we mistake not), who had succeeded in having a town in Seneca county christened "Waterloo," leaped to his feet and moved to amend by calling the new town "Austerlitz." Having carried his point, he retired to his seat, saying "There's an Austerlitz for your Waterloo."
, poet, lived at Steepletop
, a more than 800 acres (3.2 km²) property that had previously been a farm. Her sister, Norma, inherited the property at Millay's death. In 1973 Norma founded a non-profit artist residency program, Millay Colony for the Arts
and deeded a small portion of the land to the organization. In 1978, Norma created the non-profit organization, The Edna St. Vincent Millay Society that now oversees the house and remainder of the property.
Pliny Wood (Lieutenant), Pliny was born in Austerlitz, New York. Civil War Lieutenant for the Union Army, Twenty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, serving under Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. Enlisted from Westfield, Massachusetts
. In a battle against Confederate forces under Gen. Pierre G. Beauregard, Pliny was wounded at Swift Creek, Arrowfield Church, 9 May 1864
, the town has a total area of 48.8 square miles (126.4 km²), of which, 48.7 square miles (126.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.20%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Massachusetts
.
The Taconic State Parkway
crosses the northwest corner of the town.
of 2000, there were 1,453 people, 620 households, and 427 families residing in the town. The population density
was 29.8 people per square mile (11.5/km²). There were 906 housing units at an average density of 18.6 per square mile (7.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.45% White, 0.83% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.76% from other races
, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 620 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples
living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 34.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,369, and the median income for a family was $56,771. Males had a median income of $44,531 versus $37,188 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $38,054. About 4.7% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 0.8% 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 Columbia County
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
, 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 1,453 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Battle of Austerlitz
Battle of Austerlitz
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of Napoleon's greatest victories, where the French Empire effectively crushed the Third Coalition...
.
The Town of Austerlitz is in the east part of Columbia County.
History
Ellis, Capt. Franklin, "History of Columbia County, New York", (1878), page 381The town was organized from parts of the towns of Hillsdale, Chatham, and Canaan, March 28, 1878(sic 1818). A little more than one-fifteenth of the present town was taken from Chatham, a little over one-eighth from Canaan, and a little less than five-sixths from Hillsdale. From the fact that among the first settlers there were no less than twelve families of Spencers, the north part of Hillsdale and been known from the first as "Spencer's-town." This name finally attached itself simply to the village, and when the division of the town was being talked up it was proposed to call the new town "New Ulm." When the bill erecting it passed the Legislature, however, Martin Van Buren, then a State Senator, and who, being an ardent admirer of the great Napoleon, was somewhat incensed at one of his political opponents (Elisha Williams, if we mistake not), who had succeeded in having a town in Seneca county christened "Waterloo," leaped to his feet and moved to amend by calling the new town "Austerlitz." Having carried his point, he retired to his seat, saying "There's an Austerlitz for your Waterloo."
Past residents of note
Edna St. Vincent MillayEdna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American lyrical poet, playwright and feminist. She received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and was known for her activism and her many love affairs. She used the pseudonym Nancy Boyd for her prose work...
, poet, lived at Steepletop
Steepletop
Steepletop, or Edna St. Vincent Millay House was the farmhouse home of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Edna St. Vincent Millay and her husband Eugene Jan Boissevain, in Austerlitz, New York, United States. Her former home and gardens are maintained by the Edna St. Vincent Millay Society. It was...
, a more than 800 acres (3.2 km²) property that had previously been a farm. Her sister, Norma, inherited the property at Millay's death. In 1973 Norma founded a non-profit artist residency program, Millay Colony for the Arts
Millay Colony for the Arts
The Millay Colony for the Arts is an artist residency program in Austerlitz, New York. The colony offers one month residencies to visual artists, writers, poets and composers. The Millay Colony for the Arts was founded in 1973 by Norma Millay Ellis, sister of the poet Edna St...
and deeded a small portion of the land to the organization. In 1978, Norma created the non-profit organization, The Edna St. Vincent Millay Society that now oversees the house and remainder of the property.
Pliny Wood (Lieutenant), Pliny was born in Austerlitz, New York. Civil War Lieutenant for the Union Army, Twenty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, serving under Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. Enlisted from Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
. In a battle against Confederate forces under Gen. Pierre G. Beauregard, Pliny was wounded at Swift Creek, Arrowfield Church, 9 May 1864
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 48.8 square miles (126.4 km²), of which, 48.7 square miles (126.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.20%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
The Taconic State Parkway
Taconic State Parkway
The Taconic State Parkway , is a divided highway between Kensico Dam and Chatham, the longest parkway in the U.S. state of New York. It follows a generally northward route midway between the Hudson River and the Connecticut and Massachusetts state lines...
crosses the northwest corner of the town.
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 1,453 people, 620 households, and 427 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 29.8 people per square mile (11.5/km²). There were 906 housing units at an average density of 18.6 per square mile (7.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.45% White, 0.83% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.76% 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 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 620 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% 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, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 34.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,369, and the median income for a family was $56,771. Males had a median income of $44,531 versus $37,188 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 $38,054. About 4.7% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Austerlitz
- Austerlitz – The hamlet of Austerlitz is at the junction of Routes 22New York State Route 22New 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...
and 203New York State Route 203New York State Route 203 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 22 in the Columbia County hamlet of Austerlitz and ends at a junction with US 20 in the Rensselaer County village of Nassau. NY 203 was...
. - Morehouse Corner – A hamlet in the northwest corner of the town on Route 203.
- Red Rock – A hamlet at the north town line.
- Spencertown – A hamlet in the west part of the town on Route 203.