Ballston, New York
Encyclopedia
Ballston is a town
in Saratoga County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 8,729 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from an early settler, Eliphalet Ball.
The Town of Ballston is in the south part of the County and is north of Schenectady
.
In 1780, British forces attacked the northern part of the town and took captives back to Canada.
The area was originally called "Ball's Town" and "Ballton." The town was formed in 1785 while still in Albany County
.
The original owners of the town were the Mcdonald brothers. Eliphalet Ball bought the area of land from them and called it Ball's Town. Ball also paid the brothers 1 barrel of rum for the right to name the town after himself. Over time the name was shortened to Ballston.
Early settlers in this area feared attacks from Mohawks, who already inhabited the region and who resented the establishment of European buildings on their sacred grounds. One of Ballston's historic sites is Indian Rock, a large boulder where Mohawk tribesmen reputedly took white captives (children, in some cases) to torture and kill them.
Ballston Lake, a narrow, 3.7 miles (6 km)-long lake in the south of the region, was called "Shanantaha" by natives. It was known to early white settlers as Long Lake. The lake was part of the Mohawk River during the glacial age and archeological digs have unearthed artifacts indicating settlement around the lake as early as 3,500 BCE.
, the town has a total area of 30 square miles (77.7 km²), of which, 29.6 square miles (76.7 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (1.33%) is water.
Part of the south town line is the border of Schenectady County
, New York.
New York State Route 50
(Saratoga Road) is a north-south highway. New York State Route 67
is an east-west highway in the northeast part of Ballston.
of 2000, there were 8,729 people, 3,243 households, and 2,425 families residing in the town. The population density
was 294.8 people per square mile (113.8/km²). There were 3,388 housing units at an average density of 114.4 per square mile (44.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% White, 0.52% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 3,243 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,845, and the median income for a family was $61,709. Males had a median income of $44,365 versus $30,918 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,206. About 3.1% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% 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 Saratoga County
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
, 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 8,729 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from an early settler, Eliphalet Ball.
The Town of Ballston is in the south part of the County and is north of Schenectady
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
.
History
The region was first settled around 1763. In 1775, the area became a District in Albany County.In 1780, British forces attacked the northern part of the town and took captives back to Canada.
The area was originally called "Ball's Town" and "Ballton." The town was formed in 1785 while still in Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
.
The original owners of the town were the Mcdonald brothers. Eliphalet Ball bought the area of land from them and called it Ball's Town. Ball also paid the brothers 1 barrel of rum for the right to name the town after himself. Over time the name was shortened to Ballston.
Early settlers in this area feared attacks from Mohawks, who already inhabited the region and who resented the establishment of European buildings on their sacred grounds. One of Ballston's historic sites is Indian Rock, a large boulder where Mohawk tribesmen reputedly took white captives (children, in some cases) to torture and kill them.
Ballston Lake, a narrow, 3.7 miles (6 km)-long lake in the south of the region, was called "Shanantaha" by natives. It was known to early white settlers as Long Lake. The lake was part of the Mohawk River during the glacial age and archeological digs have unearthed artifacts indicating settlement around the lake as early as 3,500 BCE.
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 30 square miles (77.7 km²), of which, 29.6 square miles (76.7 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (1.33%) is water.
Part of the south town line is the border of Schenectady County
Schenectady County, New York
Schenectady County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 154,727. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Schenectady. The name is from a Mohawk Indian word meaning "on the other side of the...
, New York.
New York State Route 50
New York State Route 50
New York State Route 50 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in Scotia...
(Saratoga Road) is a north-south highway. New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in the town of St. Johnsville...
is an east-west highway in the northeast part of Ballston.
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 8,729 people, 3,243 households, and 2,425 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 294.8 people per square mile (113.8/km²). There were 3,388 housing units at an average density of 114.4 per square mile (44.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% White, 0.52% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.50% 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 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 3,243 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% 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, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,845, and the median income for a family was $61,709. Males had a median income of $44,365 versus $30,918 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 $24,206. About 3.1% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Ballston
- Ballston Center – A hamlet south of Ballston Spa on NY-50.
- Ballston Creek – The outlet of Ballston Lake, flowing past East Hills.
- Ballston Five Corners – A historic location south of Ballston Spa.
- Ballston SpaBallston Spa, New YorkBallston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saratoga County. The village is named after Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregationalist clergyman and an early settler. The village lies on the border of two...
– The smaller, southern part of the Village of Ballston Spa. - Burnt Hills – A hamlet at the southwest end of Ballston Lake on NY-50.
- Ballston Lake – (1) A long, narrow lakeLakeA lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the southeast part of the town, and (2) a hamlet at the south end of the lake, partly in Ballston. - East Hills – A hamlet on the east town line on NY-67.
- Garrison Manor – A location in the south part of the town, west of Burnt Hills.