Johnstown (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Johnstown is a town
located in Fulton County
, New York
, United States
. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town had a population of 7,166. The name of the town is from landowner William Johnson
.
The Town of Johnstown is located on the southern border of the county.
, a British military officer and colonial government official, in a region once known as Kingsborough. Johnson named the settlement after his son, John Johnson, and by 1762 constructed a baronial hall.
In 1781, during the American Revolution
, colonial forces, consisting of militia and Oneida allies, were victorious over a mixed force of Tories and native allies. All of the holdings of the Johnson family were forfeit due to their allegiance to Britain.
The Town of Johnstown was formed in 1793 and served as the seat of sprawling Montgomery County, which encompassed a major portion of Upstate New York
. The town was divided afterwards to form new towns in the county: Mohawk
(1837 and now in Montgomery County
), Bleecker
(1831), and Caroga
(1842). In 1772, Johnson constructed a courthouse and jail, partly at his own expense, leading to further development.
The core of the town was incorporated as a village in 1808. Later, in 1895, the village was chartered as the City of Johnstown
.
The town was early involved in the tanning
of leather
and manufacture of leather goods, primarily gloves.
, the town has a total area of 71.4 square miles (184.9 km²), of which, 70.2 square miles (181.8 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²) of it (1.63%) is water.
The southern town line is the border of Montgomery County
.
New York State Route 29
, New York State Route 29A
, and New York State Route 67
are east-west highways. New York State Route 30A
, a north-south highway, intersects NY-29A in the City of Gloversville and NY-29 in the City of Johnstown. New York State Route 309
is northwest of Gloversville.
of 2000, there were 7,166 people, 2,471 households, and 1,840 families residing in the town. The population density
was 102.1 people per square mile (39.4/km²). There were 2,728 housing units at an average density of 38.9 per square mile (15.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.44% White, 4.63% Black or African American
, 0.04% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 1.56% from other races
, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 2,471 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 19.6% 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 2.56 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,591, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $27,940 versus $24,688 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,910. About 6.9% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% 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...
located in Fulton County
Fulton County, New York
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,531. Its name is in honor of Robert Fulton, who is widely credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat...
, 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...
. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the town had a population of 7,166. The name of the town is from landowner William Johnson
Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet
Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet was an Anglo-Irish official of the British Empire. As a young man, Johnson came to the Province of New York to manage an estate purchased by his uncle, Admiral Peter Warren, which was located amidst the Mohawk, one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois League...
.
The Town of Johnstown is located on the southern border of the county.
History
Johnstown was founded by William JohnsonSir William Johnson, 1st Baronet
Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet was an Anglo-Irish official of the British Empire. As a young man, Johnson came to the Province of New York to manage an estate purchased by his uncle, Admiral Peter Warren, which was located amidst the Mohawk, one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois League...
, a British military officer and colonial government official, in a region once known as Kingsborough. Johnson named the settlement after his son, John Johnson, and by 1762 constructed a baronial hall.
In 1781, during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, colonial forces, consisting of militia and Oneida allies, were victorious over a mixed force of Tories and native allies. All of the holdings of the Johnson family were forfeit due to their allegiance to Britain.
The Town of Johnstown was formed in 1793 and served as the seat of sprawling Montgomery County, which encompassed a major portion of Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. The town was divided afterwards to form new towns in the county: Mohawk
Mohawk, Montgomery County, New York
Mohawk is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,844 at the 2010 census.The Town of Mohawk is on the north border of the county, west of the City of Amsterdam.The county seat, Fonda is in Mohawk.- History :...
(1837 and now in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
), Bleecker
Bleecker, New York
Bleecker is a town in Fulton County, New York, USA. The population was 573 at the 2000 census. The name is from Barent Bleecker, one of the original landowners of the region....
(1831), and Caroga
Caroga, New York
Caroga is a town in Fulton County, New York, USA. The population was 1,407 at the 2000 census. The town was named after a local creek.The Town of Caroga is in the northern part of the county and is north of Gloversville and Johnstown....
(1842). In 1772, Johnson constructed a courthouse and jail, partly at his own expense, leading to further development.
The core of the town was incorporated as a village in 1808. Later, in 1895, the village was chartered as the City of Johnstown
Johnstown (city), New York
Johnstown is a city and the county seat of Fulton County in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2000 Census, the city had population of 8,511. Recent estimates put the figure closer to 8,100. The city was named by its founder, Sir William Johnson after his son John Johnson...
.
The town was early involved in the tanning
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
of leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
and manufacture of leather goods, primarily gloves.
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 71.4 square miles (184.9 km²), of which, 70.2 square miles (181.8 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²) of it (1.63%) is water.
The southern town line is the border of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
.
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29 is a state highway extending for across the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 28 and NY 169 in Middleville, Herkimer County. The eastern terminus of the route is at NY 22 just south of Salem,...
, New York State Route 29A
New York State Route 29A
New York State Route 29A is a state highway in the western portion of the Capital District of New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 29 in the Herkimer County hamlet of Salisbury Center. Its eastern end is at another junction with...
, and 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...
are east-west highways. New York State Route 30A
New York State Route 30A
New York State Route 30A is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. It serves as a westerly alternate route of NY 30 from near the Schoharie County village of Schoharie to the Fulton County hamlet of Riceville, south of the village of Mayfield...
, a north-south highway, intersects NY-29A in the City of Gloversville and NY-29 in the City of Johnstown. New York State Route 309
New York State Route 309
New York State Route 309 is a state highway located entirely in Fulton County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 29A in Gloversville...
is northwest of Gloversville.
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 7,166 people, 2,471 households, and 1,840 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 102.1 people per square mile (39.4/km²). There were 2,728 housing units at an average density of 38.9 per square mile (15.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.44% White, 4.63% 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...
, 0.04% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 1.56% 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 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 2,471 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% 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, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 19.6% 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 2.56 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 114.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,591, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $27,940 versus $24,688 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 $17,910. About 6.9% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Johnstown
- Albany Bush – A former location in the town near Johnstown city.
- Berkshire – A location east of Gloversville on NY-29A.
- Cork – A location near the west town line on NY-29.
- Dennies Crossing – 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...
northeast of Gloversville on ny-30A. - Eppie Corners – A location near the west town line on NY-67.
- Fulton County Airport (NY0) – A general aviation airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
southeast of Johnstown city. - Hale Mills – A hamlet east of Johnstown on NY-29.
- Johnson Hall State Historic SiteJohnson Hall State Historic SiteJohnson Hall State Historic Site was the home of Sir William Johnson an Irish pioneer who became the influential British Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Province of New York, known for his strong relationship especially with the Mohawk and other Iroquois League nations.The house was built...
– The former baronial estate, now a historic site, is northwest of Johnstown on NY-29. - Kecks Center – A hamlet west of Johnstown on NY-67.
- Kingsboro – A location northwest of Gloversville.
- Meco – A hamlet north of Johnstown and west of Gloversville at the junction of County Roads 101 and 122.
- Pleasant Square – A hamlet directly north of Gloversville, mostly around Phelps Street.
- Progress – A hamlet east of Gloversville on the east town line. The Log Cabin ChurchLog Cabin ChurchLog Cabin Church is a historic non-denominational church at 408 Progress Road in Progress, Fulton County, New York. It was built in 1937 and is a 26 feet deep by 18 feet wide log structure constructed of white poplar logs laid horizontally. Also on the property is a privy.It was listed on the...
was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1999. - Sammonsville – A hamlet by the south town line on NY-334.
- Smiths Corners – A location northwest of Gloversville near West Bush.
- Tryon Girls Secure Facility – A NY correctional facility for girls.
- West Bush – A hamlet northwest of Gloversville.