Fort Edward (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Fort Edward is a town in and the county seat
of Washington County
, New York
, United States
. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 5,892 at the 2000 census.
The town of Fort Edward has within it a village named Fort Edward
. The town is on the west border of the county.
Fort Lyman, constructed in 1755 during the French and Indian War
by General Phineas Lyman
, had its name changed to Fort Edward by Sir William Johnson in 1756 for King George II
's grandson Prince Edward, a younger brother of the later King George III
.
The town of Fort Edward was established in 1818.
In 1849, the community of Fort Edward set itself off from the town by incorporating
as a village.
, the town has a total area of 27.4 square miles (71.0 km²), of which, 26.8 square miles (69.4 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (2.19%) is water.
The west town line is defined by the Hudson River
and is the border of Saratoga County
, New York
.
US Route 4 follows the course of the Hudson River along the west side of the town and joins New York Route 197
at Fort Edward village. The Hudson River
passes through the northern part of the town.
, there were 5,892 people, 2,248 households and 1,571 families residing in the town. The population density
was 219.9 people per square mile (84.9/km²). There were 2,487 housing units at an average density of 92.8 per square mile (35.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.59% White, 0.34% Black or African American
, 0.24% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 2,248 households of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.95.
Age distribution was 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median household income
was $34,973, and the median family income was $41,630. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $23,429 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,201. About 6.5% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Fort Edward. The Adirondack
operates daily in both directions between Montreal and New York City. The Ethan Allen Express
operates daily in both directions between Rutland, Vermont
, and New York City. The Amtrak stop is designated Fort Edward-Glens Falls
as it serves both those communities as well as Hudson Falls
and Fernwood.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Washington County
Washington County, New York
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,216. It was named for the Revolutionary War general George Washington...
, 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...
. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 5,892 at the 2000 census.
The town of Fort Edward has within it a village named Fort Edward
Fort Edward (village), New York
Fort Edward is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 3,141 at the 2000 census...
. The town is on the west border of the county.
History
The town is located both on the "Great Carrying Place" around the falls on the Hudson but also on the "Great War Path" between French and English colonies.Fort Lyman, constructed in 1755 during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
by General Phineas Lyman
Phineas Lyman
Phineas Lyman was a colonial American soldier known for his service in the provincial British army of the French and Indian War. He later led a group of New England veterans of the war to settle in the new colony of West Florida where he died shortly before the outbreak of the American...
, had its name changed to Fort Edward by Sir William Johnson in 1756 for King George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
's grandson Prince Edward, a younger brother of the later King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
.
The town of Fort Edward was established in 1818.
In 1849, the community of Fort Edward set itself off from the town by incorporating
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
as a village.
Notable resident of the town
- Susan B. AnthonySusan B. AnthonySusan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
taught school in the community of Moses Kill, New York.
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 27.4 square miles (71.0 km²), of which, 26.8 square miles (69.4 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (2.19%) is water.
The west town line is defined by the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
and is the border of 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...
.
US Route 4 follows the course of the Hudson River along the west side of the town and joins New York Route 197
New York State Route 197
New York State Route 197 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York, United States. It runs from U.S. Route 9 in the Saratoga County town of Moreau east to NY 40 in Argyle. NY 197 has a short overlap with U.S...
at Fort Edward village. The Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
passes through the northern part of the town.
Demographics
At the 2000 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...
, there were 5,892 people, 2,248 households and 1,571 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 219.9 people per square mile (84.9/km²). There were 2,487 housing units at an average density of 92.8 per square mile (35.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.59% White, 0.34% Black or African American
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...
, 0.24% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.10% 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 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.
There were 2,248 households of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% 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, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.95.
Age distribution was 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $34,973, and the median family income was $41,630. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $23,429 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 $17,201. About 6.5% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Rail transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Fort Edward. The Adirondack
Adirondack (Amtrak)
The Adirondack is a passenger train operated daily by Amtrak between New York City and Montreal. The trip takes approximately 11 hours to cover a published distance of , traveling through the scenic Hudson Valley and the Adirondack Mountains...
operates daily in both directions between Montreal and New York City. The Ethan Allen Express
Ethan Allen Express
The Ethan Allen Express is a 241-mile passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Rutland, Vermont, via Albany. The total trip is scheduled to be completed in 5.5 hours. Its operations are subsidized by the State of Vermont, and the train is popular among vacationers travelling...
operates daily in both directions between Rutland, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, and New York City. The Amtrak stop is designated Fort Edward-Glens Falls
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
as it serves both those communities as well as Hudson Falls
Hudson Falls, New York
Hudson Falls is a village located in Washington County, New York, USA. The village is in the southwest part of the town of Kingsbury, on US Route 4. Hudson Falls is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 6,927...
and Fernwood.
Communities and locations in the town
- Durkeetown – A hamlet on the eastern town line, located east of Fort Edward.
- Fort EdwardFort Edward (village), New YorkFort Edward is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 3,141 at the 2000 census...
– A village in the northwest part of the town. - Fort Edward Center – A former community located about two miles (3 km) south of Fort Edward village.
- Fort Miller – A hamlet in the south part of the town, located on US-4 and the Hudson River.
- Moses Kill (also "Mock") – A former community on the Hudson River, south of Fort Edward village, named after a stream that enters the river there.
- Roger's Island – An island in the Hudson River adjacent to Fort Edward village. It was fortified during the French and Indian War.