Lake George (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Lake George is a town in Warren County, New York, USA. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the lake, Lake George
. Within the town is a village also named Lake George
. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.
in August 1642. He was later captured by Mohawks, escaped, and returned home to France. In 1646, he was sent on a political mission to the Iroquois to propose a treaty of peace, and at that point named the lake "Lac du Saint Sacrement" (The Lake of the Holy Sacrament).
In 1755, the lake was renamed "Lake George" by General Johnson in honor of King George II
.
Lake George was also the site of Fort William Henry
, named in honor of Prince William Henry
, grandson of King George II, by General Johnson. The fort, its surrender to Marquis de Montcalm after a six-day siege by the French and Indians, and the following massacre all in 1757 were used by James Fenimore Cooper
as the background for his famous novel The Last of the Mohicans
. The fort was reconstructed and opened to the public as a museum in 1953.
The town was established in 1810 as the "Town of Caldwell" from parts of the towns of Bolton
, Queensbury
, and Thurman
. In 1962 the town changed its name to Lake George.
The town is also home to Wiawaka, a historic retreat center that was founded in 1903 for female textile workers from Troy but operates as a nonprofit for everyone today.
, the town has a total area of 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²), of which 30.2 square miles (78.3 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.3 km²) (7.49%) is water.
The Northway, Interstate 87
, passes through the town.
of 2000, there were 3,578 people, 1,533 households, and 1,002 families residing in the town. The population density
was 118.3 people per square mile (45.7/km²). There were 2,456 housing units at an average density of 81.2 per square mile (31.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.74% White, 0.53% Black or African American
, 0.25% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 1,533 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,125, and the median income for a family was $48,789. Males had a median income of $31,134 versus $22,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,311. About 3.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Lake George (New York)
Lake George, nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes, is a long, narrow oligotrophic lake draining northwards into Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River Drainage basin located at the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York, U.S.A.. It lies within the upper region of the...
. Within the town is a village also named Lake George
Lake George (village), New York
The Village of Lake George is a village within the town of Lake George in Warren County, New York, United States. The population was 985 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The lake was discovered by Father Isaac JoguesIsaac Jogues
Isaac Jogues was a Jesuit priest, missionary, and martyr who traveled and worked among the native populations in North America. He gave the original European name to Lake George, calling it Lac du Saint Sacrement, Lake of the Blessed Sacrament. In 1646, Jogues was martyred by the Mohawks near ...
in August 1642. He was later captured by Mohawks, escaped, and returned home to France. In 1646, he was sent on a political mission to the Iroquois to propose a treaty of peace, and at that point named the lake "Lac du Saint Sacrement" (The Lake of the Holy Sacrament).
In 1755, the lake was renamed "Lake George" by General Johnson in honor of 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...
.
Lake George was also the site of Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry was a British fort at the southern end of Lake George in the province of New York. It is best known as the site of notorious atrocities committed by Indians against the surrendered British and provincial troops following a successful French siege in 1757, an event which is the...
, named in honor of Prince William Henry
William IV of the United Kingdom
William IV was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death...
, grandson of King George II, by General Johnson. The fort, its surrender to Marquis de Montcalm after a six-day siege by the French and Indians, and the following massacre all in 1757 were used by James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
as the background for his famous novel The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 is a historical novel by James Fenimore Cooper, first published in February 1826. It is the second book of the Leatherstocking Tales pentalogy and the best known...
. The fort was reconstructed and opened to the public as a museum in 1953.
The town was established in 1810 as the "Town of Caldwell" from parts of the towns of Bolton
Bolton, New York
Bolton is a town in Warren County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,117 at the 2000 census. Bolton is on the east border of the county.- History :...
, Queensbury
Queensbury, New York
Queensbury is a town in and the county seat of Warren County, New York, United States. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county. The population was 25,441 at the 2000 census. The town is named in honor of Queen Charlotte, the consort of George III of Great Britain and Ireland. It...
, and Thurman
Thurman, New York
Thurman is a town in the western part of Warren County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 1,199 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Thurman, an early landowner...
. In 1962 the town changed its name to Lake George.
The town is also home to Wiawaka, a historic retreat center that was founded in 1903 for female textile workers from Troy but operates as a nonprofit for everyone today.
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 32.7 square miles (84.7 km²), of which 30.2 square miles (78.3 km²) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.3 km²) (7.49%) is water.
The Northway, 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...
, passes through 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 3,578 people, 1,533 households, and 1,002 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 118.3 people per square mile (45.7/km²). There were 2,456 housing units at an average density of 81.2 per square mile (31.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.74% White, 0.53% 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...
, 0.25% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.
There were 1,533 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% 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, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,125, and the median income for a family was $48,789. Males had a median income of $31,134 versus $22,375 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 $22,311. About 3.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
- Big Hollow – A hamlet west of Lake George village.
- Bloody Pond – A pondPondA pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
in the south part of town that got its name from the Battle of Lake GeorgeBattle of Lake GeorgeThe Battle of Lake George was fought on 8 September 1755, in the north of the Province of New York. The battle was part of a campaign by the British to expel the French from North America in the French and Indian War....
. - Crosbyside – A hamlet east of Lake George village.
- Diamond Point – A hamlet north of Lake George village on the west shore of Lake George.
- Fort William Henry – The reconstructed historic fort is in Lake George village, originally built by the British during the French and Indian WarFrench and Indian WarThe 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...
. - Lake George – A village located at the south end of Lake George.
- Prospect MountainProspect Mountain (Warren County, New York)Prospect Mountain is a mountain located in the town of Lake George in Warren County, New York. New York State Route 917A, an unsigned reference route also known as Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway, is a toll road maintained by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation...
– A mountain near Big Hollow.