Schoharie (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Schoharie is a town
in Schoharie County
, New York
. The population was 3,299 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a native word for driftwood.
The Town of Schoharie has a village, also called Schoharie
. The town is on the northeast border of the county and is west of Albany
.
During the American Revolution
, most of the buildings in the town were destroyed by British raiders and their native allies. It was also considered a bread basket because of the amount of food produced during the war.
Schoharie became a district in Albany County
before the formation of Schoharie County. As a town formed in Albany County in 1788, it became the founding town of the newly created Schoharie County upon the county's formation in 1795. In 1797, part of the town was used to form the Towns of Blenheim
, Broome
, Cobleskill
, and Middleburgh
. The Towns of Esperance
and Wright
were removed from Schoharie in 1846.
George Westinghouse was born at Central Bridge in 1846 and went on to invent the railroad air-brake and help develop Tesla's AC motor and promote its use over the rival DC power supply system. Author Chris Hedges
grew up in Schoharie, where his father was the pastor of a Presbyterian church. He writes about the town in Losing Moses on the Freeway: The 10 Commandments in America (2005). NYS Assemblyman Pete Lopez is a long-time resident of Schoharie. He was the Supervisor of the Town of Schoharie for years before becoming County Clerk.
, the town has a total area of 30.0 square miles (77.6 km²), of which, 29.8 square miles (77.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.57%) is water.
Part of the northeast town line is the border of Schenectady County
.
Interstate 88
crosses the north part of the town. New York State Route 30
is a north-south highway. New York State Route 30A
diverges from NY-30 near the north town line. New York State Route 7
parallels the Interstate across the north part of Schoharie. New York State Route 443
intersects NY-30 at Vromans Corners.
The Schoharie Creek
flows northward out of the town. The Cobleskill Creek enters Schoharie Creek by Old Central Bridge in the northwest part of the town.
of 2000, there were 3,299 people, 1,314 households, and 883 families residing in the town. The population density
was 110.7 people per square mile (42.7/km²). There were 1,435 housing units at an average density of 48.2 per square mile (18.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.30% White, 0.36% Black or African American
, 0.48% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 1,314 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,576, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $31,737 versus $25,603 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $129,676. About 3.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% 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 Schoharie County
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
, 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...
. The population was 3,299 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a native word for driftwood.
The Town of Schoharie has a village, also called Schoharie
Schoharie (village), New York
Schoharie is a village in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 1,030 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schoharie County...
. The town is on the northeast border of the county and is west of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
History
The town was settled between 1710 and 1713 by Palatine Germans.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...
, most of the buildings in the town were destroyed by British raiders and their native allies. It was also considered a bread basket because of the amount of food produced during the war.
Schoharie became a district 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...
before the formation of Schoharie County. As a town formed in Albany County in 1788, it became the founding town of the newly created Schoharie County upon the county's formation in 1795. In 1797, part of the town was used to form the Towns of Blenheim
Blenheim, New York
Blenheim is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 330 at the 2000 census. The town was named after a land patent, which itself was named after the Battle of Blenheim....
, Broome
Broome, New York
----Broome is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 947 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Broome.The Town of Broome is on the eastern border of the county, southwest of Albany.- History :...
, Cobleskill
Cobleskill (town), New York
Cobleskill is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 6,407 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village, also named Cobleskill, as well as the State University of New York at Cobleskill....
, and Middleburgh
Middleburgh (town), New York
Middleburgh is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 3,515 at the 2000 census.The Town of Middleburgh contains a village called Middleburgh...
. The Towns of Esperance
Esperance (town), New York
Esperance is a town in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 2,043 at the 2000 census. The town was given the name of the principal village, which was named for "hope" in French.The Town of Esperance contains a village called Esperance...
and Wright
Wright, New York
Wright is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,547 at the 2000 census. The town was named after governor Silas Wright.The Town of Wright is on the county's northeastern corner and is west of Albany.- History :...
were removed from Schoharie in 1846.
George Westinghouse was born at Central Bridge in 1846 and went on to invent the railroad air-brake and help develop Tesla's AC motor and promote its use over the rival DC power supply system. Author Chris Hedges
Chris Hedges
Christopher Lynn Hedges is an American journalist, author, and war correspondent, specializing in American and Middle Eastern politics and societies...
grew up in Schoharie, where his father was the pastor of a Presbyterian church. He writes about the town in Losing Moses on the Freeway: The 10 Commandments in America (2005). NYS Assemblyman Pete Lopez is a long-time resident of Schoharie. He was the Supervisor of the Town of Schoharie for years before becoming County Clerk.
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 30.0 square miles (77.6 km²), of which, 29.8 square miles (77.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.57%) is water.
Part of the northeast 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...
.
Interstate 88
Interstate 88 (east)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway entirely within the U.S. state of New York. Its western end is at Interstate 81 in Binghamton and its eastern end is at Interstate 90 in Schenectady. It serves as an important connector route from Albany to Binghamton, Elmira , and...
crosses the north part of the town. New York State Route 30
New York State Route 30
New York State Route 30 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier to the Canadian border in the state's North Country, where it continues into Quebec as Route 138. On a regional level,...
is a north-south highway. 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...
diverges from NY-30 near the north town line. 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...
parallels the Interstate across the north part of Schoharie. New York State Route 443
New York State Route 443
New York State Route 443 is an east–west state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The route begins at an intersection with NY 30 in the town of Schoharie and ends later at a junction with U.S. Route 9W and US 20 in the city of Albany...
intersects NY-30 at Vromans Corners.
The Schoharie Creek
Schoharie Creek
Schoharie Creek in New York, USA flows north from the foot of Indian Head Mountain in the Catskill Mountains through the Schoharie Valley to the Mohawk River. It is twice impounded north of Prattsville to create New York City's Schoharie Reservoir and the Blenheim-Gilboa Power Project.Two notable...
flows northward out of the town. The Cobleskill Creek enters Schoharie Creek by Old Central Bridge in the northwest part of 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 3,299 people, 1,314 households, and 883 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 110.7 people per square mile (42.7/km²). There were 1,435 housing units at an average density of 48.2 per square mile (18.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.30% White, 0.36% 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...
, 0.48% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.18% 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 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.
There were 1,314 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% 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, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,576, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $31,737 versus $25,603 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 $129,676. About 3.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Schoharie
- Barton Hill – A location in the northeast part of Schoharie.
- Central Bridge – A hamlet at the north town line on NY-30A.
- East Cobleskill – A hamlet at the west town line at County Road 1A and NY-145.
- Howes Cave – A hamlet at the west town line north of Cobleskill Creek on County Road 8.
- Old Central Bridge – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town on NY-7 by Interstate 88Interstate 88 (east)Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway entirely within the U.S. state of New York. Its western end is at Interstate 81 in Binghamton and its eastern end is at Interstate 90 in Schenectady. It serves as an important connector route from Albany to Binghamton, Elmira , and...
. - SchoharieSchoharie (village), New YorkSchoharie is a village in Schoharie County, New York, USA. The population was 1,030 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schoharie County...
– The Village of Schoharie is on NY Route 30New York State Route 30New York State Route 30 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier to the Canadian border in the state's North Country, where it continues into Quebec as Route 138. On a regional level,...
adjacent to Schoharie Creek in the southeast part of the town. - Schoharie Hill – An elevation northwest of Schoharie village, south of the Interstate.
- Sidney Corners – A location in the northwest corner of the town at the junction of NY-7 and County Road 70.
- Terrace Mountain – An elevation northwest of the Village of Schoharie.
- Vroman Corners – A location north of Schoharie village on NY-30 at NY-443.