Pittstown, New York
Encyclopedia
Pittstown is a town in Rensselaer County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 5,644 at the 2000 census. It is in the northern part of the county.
A small part of the north town line is Rensselaer County's border with Washington County, New York
. Moving west, the Hoosic River
defines the town's northwestern line to the crux of its border with the town of Schaghticoke
, which juts south to form the western town line. The towns of Brunswick
and Grafton
border to the southwest and southeast, respectively, with the town of Hoosick
to the east.
The majority of the town is serviced by the Hoosic Valley Central School District while the southern part of the town is serviced by Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District
.
runs along the Hoosic River
, which defines the northeast town line.
In western Pittstown, a manmade body of water, the Tomhannock Reservoir
, provides water to the residents of the city of Troy
.
The Pittstown State Forest is in the southeast corner of the town, where New York State Route 7
runs along the northern edge of the Rensselaer Plateau
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 64.8 square miles (167.8 km²), of which, 61.7 square miles (159.8 km²) of it is land (95.2%) and 3.1 square miles (8 km²) of it is water (4.8%).
of 2000, there were 5,644 people, 1,993 households, and 1,548 families residing in the town. The population density
was 91.4 people per square mile (35.3/km²). There were 2,142 housing units at an average density of 34.7 per square mile (13.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.48% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 1,993 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,968, and the median income for a family was $52,194. Males had a median income of $35,173 versus $28,720 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,578. About 4.3% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
, 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 5,644 at the 2000 census. It is in the northern part of the county.
A small part of the north town line is Rensselaer County's border with Washington County, New York
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...
. Moving west, the Hoosic River
Hoosic River
The Hoosic River, also known as the Hoosac, the Hoosick and the Hoosuck , is a tributary of the Hudson River in the northeastern United States. The different spellings are the result of varying transliterations of the river's original Algonquian name...
defines the town's northwestern line to the crux of its border with the town of Schaghticoke
Schaghticoke (town), New York
Schaghticoke is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, USA. The population was 7,456 at the 2000 census. The Schaghticoke is a native tribe original to the area. The town is on the northern border of the county, north of Troy...
, which juts south to form the western town line. The towns of Brunswick
Brunswick, New York
Brunswick is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States that was originally settled in the early 18th century. During its history, it had been part of Albany County, Rensselaerswyck, and Troy, before its incorporation in 1807...
and Grafton
Grafton, New York
Grafton is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,987 at the 2000 census. It is believed that the town received its name from Grafton, Vermont, from where the first town supervisor, Nathaniel Dumbleton, was originally from. The town is an interior town near the...
border to the southwest and southeast, respectively, with the town of Hoosick
Hoosick, New York
Hoosick is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 6,759 at the 2000 census.The Town of Hoosick is in the northeast corner of the county.- History :...
to the east.
The majority of the town is serviced by the Hoosic Valley Central School District while the southern part of the town is serviced by Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District
Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central School District
Brunswick Central School District is a rural fringe central school district located east of the city of Troy whose main campus resides in the town of Brunswick in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The district has two operating school buildings: Tamarac Elementary School and Tamarac...
.
History
The town is one of the original towns in the county and was created in 1788 from a patent dated 1761.Geography
New York State Route 67New 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...
runs along the Hoosic River
Hoosic River
The Hoosic River, also known as the Hoosac, the Hoosick and the Hoosuck , is a tributary of the Hudson River in the northeastern United States. The different spellings are the result of varying transliterations of the river's original Algonquian name...
, which defines the northeast town line.
In western Pittstown, a manmade body of water, the Tomhannock Reservoir
Tomhannock Reservoir
The water source for the city of Troy, New York is the Tomhannock Reservoir, a man-made reservoir 6½ miles northeast of Troy in the town of Pittstown. The reservoir is 5½ miles long, and holds when full. Water quality is good to excellent...
, provides water to the residents of the city of Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
.
The Pittstown State Forest is in the southeast corner of the town, where New York State Route 7
New York State Route 7
New York State Route 7 is a 180-mile long New York State Highway that runs from the New York/Pennsylvania border south of Binghamton, New York to the New York/Vermont border east of Hoosick. Most of the road runs along the Susquehanna Valley, closely paralleling Interstate 88 throughout...
runs along the northern edge of the Rensselaer Plateau
Rensselaer Plateau
The Rensselaer Plateau is a small plateau located in the central portion of Rensselaer County, New York; it generally encompasses significant parts of the towns of Berlin, Stephentown, Sand Lake, Poestenkill, and Grafton, along with small sections of several other nearby towns. Elevations on the...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 64.8 square miles (167.8 km²), of which, 61.7 square miles (159.8 km²) of it is land (95.2%) and 3.1 square miles (8 km²) of it is water (4.8%).
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 5,644 people, 1,993 households, and 1,548 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 91.4 people per square mile (35.3/km²). There were 2,142 housing units at an average density of 34.7 per square mile (13.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.48% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.16% 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 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 1,993 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,968, and the median income for a family was $52,194. Males had a median income of $35,173 versus $28,720 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 $18,578. About 4.3% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Pittstown
- Boyntonville – A hamlet near the east town line on Route 7.
- East Pittstown – A hamlet near the town line in the northeast part of the town.
- Factory Hollow – A hamlet.
- JohnsonvilleJohnsonville, New YorkJohnsonville is a hamlet located in the northern part of Pittstown, New York. It was named for its settler, William Johnson.- History :Johnsonville is considered a "railroad town" due to the importance of the railroad in the history of the area; however, it was an important industrial area even...
– A hamlet in the north part of the town by the Hoosick River. In 1825, a bridge was built here across the Hoosic River. - Little Red Schoolhouse – A hamlet southeast of Valley Falls.
- Millertown – A hamlet in the north part of the town, east of Valley Falls. It was also known as "North Pittstown."
- Raymertown – A hamlet southwest of the Tomhannock ReservoirTomhannock ReservoirThe water source for the city of Troy, New York is the Tomhannock Reservoir, a man-made reservoir 6½ miles northeast of Troy in the town of Pittstown. The reservoir is 5½ miles long, and holds when full. Water quality is good to excellent...
and in the southwest part of the town on Route 7. - Tomhannock – A hamlet northeast of Tomhannock Reservoir. It was once known as "Reeds Hollow."
- Tomhannock ReservoirTomhannock ReservoirThe water source for the city of Troy, New York is the Tomhannock Reservoir, a man-made reservoir 6½ miles northeast of Troy in the town of Pittstown. The reservoir is 5½ miles long, and holds when full. Water quality is good to excellent...
– A reservoir in the southwest part of the town. - Valley FallsValley Falls, New YorkValley Falls is a village in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 491 at the 2000 census. The village lies on the boundary of the towns of Pittstown and Schaghticoke, but is mostly in the northwest part of Pittstown.- History :...
– The Village of Valley Falls is in the northwest part of the town.