Waterford (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Waterford is a town
in Saratoga County
, New York
, USA. The population was 8,515 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from its principal village, also called Waterford
. The town and village are in the southeast corner of Saratoga County, and north-northwest of Troy, New York
.
of 1687. The first settlement took place at the site of the current Waterford village, then called "Half Moon Point".
The town was formed in 1816 by splitting the area of southeastern Saratoga County known as Halfmoon (anglicized from the Dutch
name Halve Maan) into the town of Halfmoon
and the town of Waterford.
The village of Waterford is the oldest incorporated village in the US, having been incorporated in 1794, before the town was formed. Waterford has been host to "Canal Fest" and "Tugboat Roundup" celebrations for many years.
festival in the Northeast US. Every September, a three-day festival is held in Waterford along the waterfront in the village. Recently, 30,000 visitors attended over the 3-day weekend. Arts, crafts, farmer's market items, games, music, story-telling and of course tugboats are on display. Many historic boats travel through the locks in Waterford, as it is the entrance to the modern New York State Barge Canal system.
The village plans to complete installation of historic-replica streetlamps. In the future, the village may bury electrical power lines to take down the utility poles and improve aesthetics.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), of which, 6.6 square miles (17.0 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) of it (11.59%) is water.
The east town line, defined by the Hudson River
, is the border with Rensselaer County
, and the south town line, defined by the Mohawk River
, is the border with Albany County
. The easternmost section and locks of the Erie Canal
pass through the town and connect with the Hudson River
. The Waterford Flight series of locks is one of the highest in the world. The east-west Erie Canal is linked to the north-south Champlain Canal
at Waterford.
US Route 4, partly conjoined with New York State Route 32
, is a north-south highway through eastern Waterford.
of 2000, there were 8,515 people, 3,497 households, and 2,287 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,299.2 people per square mile (501.9/km²). There were 3,725 housing units at an average density of 568.3 per square mile (219.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.86% White, 0.74% Black or African American
, 0.20% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.09% from other races
, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 3,497 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town, the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,362, and the median income for a family was $56,345. Males had a median income of $39,913 versus $27,879 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,538. About 3.5% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% 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 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...
, USA. The population was 8,515 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from its principal village, also called Waterford
Waterford (village), New York
Waterford is a village in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,204 at the 2000 census. The name derives from the ford between the mainland and Peebles Island....
. The town and village are in the southeast corner of Saratoga County, and north-northwest of Troy, New York
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...
.
History
The town is part of the Van Schaick land patentLand patent
A land patent is a land grant made patent by the sovereign lord over the land in question. To make a such a grant “patent”, such a sovereign lord must document the land grant, securely sign and seal the document and openly publish the same to the public for all to see...
of 1687. The first settlement took place at the site of the current Waterford village, then called "Half Moon Point".
The town was formed in 1816 by splitting the area of southeastern Saratoga County known as Halfmoon (anglicized from the Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
name Halve Maan) into the town of Halfmoon
Halfmoon, New York
Halfmoon is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 18,474 at the 2000 census. The town is named for the crescent shape of the land between the Hudson River and Mohawk River....
and the town of Waterford.
The village of Waterford is the oldest incorporated village in the US, having been incorporated in 1794, before the town was formed. Waterford has been host to "Canal Fest" and "Tugboat Roundup" celebrations for many years.
Waterfront community
Waterford is home to the largest annual tugboatTugboat
A tugboat is a boat that maneuvers vessels by pushing or towing them. Tugs move vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal,or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for...
festival in the Northeast US. Every September, a three-day festival is held in Waterford along the waterfront in the village. Recently, 30,000 visitors attended over the 3-day weekend. Arts, crafts, farmer's market items, games, music, story-telling and of course tugboats are on display. Many historic boats travel through the locks in Waterford, as it is the entrance to the modern New York State Barge Canal system.
The village plans to complete installation of historic-replica streetlamps. In the future, the village may bury electrical power lines to take down the utility poles and improve aesthetics.
Geography
The Village of Waterford is located at 42°47′28"N 73°40′47"W (42.791127, -73.679758), in the southeastern corner of the Town.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 7.4 square miles (19.2 km²), of which, 6.6 square miles (17.0 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) of it (11.59%) is water.
The east town line, 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...
, is the border with Rensselaer County
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...
, and the south town line, defined by the Mohawk River
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk flows into the Hudson in the Capital District, a few miles north of the city of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy...
, is the border with 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...
. The easternmost section and locks of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
pass through the town and connect with 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...
. The Waterford Flight series of locks is one of the highest in the world. The east-west Erie Canal is linked to the north-south Champlain Canal
Champlain Canal
The Champlain Canal is a canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal and is now part of the New York State Canal System and the Lakes to Locks Passage....
at Waterford.
US Route 4, partly conjoined with New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
, is a north-south highway through eastern Waterford.
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 8,515 people, 3,497 households, and 2,287 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 1,299.2 people per square mile (501.9/km²). There were 3,725 housing units at an average density of 568.3 per square mile (219.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.86% White, 0.74% 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...
, 0.20% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.09% 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 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 3,497 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% 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, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town, the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,362, and the median income for a family was $56,345. Males had a median income of $39,913 versus $27,879 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 $22,538. About 3.5% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the town of Waterford
- Cohoes FallsCohoes FallsCohoes Falls is a waterfall on the Mohawk River shared by the city of Cohoes and the town of Waterford, New York, United States. Discovered by the indigenous Mohawk tribe, the falls were originally called Ga-ha-oose, which is believed to mean "The Place of the Falling Canoe." Cohoes historian...
– A waterfall on the Mohawk RiverMohawk RiverThe Mohawk River is a river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk flows into the Hudson in the Capital District, a few miles north of the city of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy...
, and a source of water power to early industry. - Goat Island – An island at the south part of the town.
- Momentive Performance MaterialsMomentive Performance MaterialsMomentive Performance Materials Inc manufactures silicone, silicone based derivatives, quartz, ceramics and other specialty materials for diverse industrial applications. In 2009, the company had sales close to $2 billion, of which more than 90% were in silicones and derivatives segment. As of...
– Manufacturer of siliconeSiliconeSilicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications , cookware, and insulation....
products and specialty chemicals, may be largest employer in the town - Northside – Actually the south side of the town of Waterford. The name may be derived from its location on the north side of the Mohawk River. Northside may also derive its name from at one time being served by the "northside" part of the Cohoes Post Office (e.g. 123 Any Street, Northside, Cohoes, NY). After around 1960, all of Waterford was served by the Waterford Post Office.
- Peebles Island State ParkPeebles Island State ParkPeebles Island State Park is a park located in New York State at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. With 191 acres , the park includes hiking and cross-country ski trails, as well as earthworks dating from the Revolutionary War and a Visitors' Center detailing the island's industrial...
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in the south part of the town. - Prospect Hill – 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...
north of Waterford village, on County Road 96. - State Canal ParkNew York State Canal SystemThe New York State Canal System is a successor to the Erie Canal and other canals within New York...
– A state park in the western part of Waterford. - Sugarloaf Pond – A pond in the south part of the town.
- Waterford VillageWaterford (village), New YorkWaterford is a village in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,204 at the 2000 census. The name derives from the ford between the mainland and Peebles Island....
– The village of Waterford, located within the Town, and right at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers.
See also
- New York State Canal SystemNew York State Canal SystemThe New York State Canal System is a successor to the Erie Canal and other canals within New York...
- Northside Historic District (Waterford, New York)Northside Historic District (Waterford, New York)Northside Historic District is a national historic district located at Waterford in Saratoga County, New York. The listing included 125 contributing buildings and one other contributing structure...
- Waterford Village Historic District (Waterford, New York)Waterford Village Historic District (Waterford, New York)Waterford Village Historic District is a historic district in Waterford, New York that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.The district dates to 1799 and includes Greek Revival, Late Victorian and Federal architecture....
External links
- Town of Waterford
- Waterford Historical Museum
- The Saratogian, "Early History of Waterford", Our county and its people: A descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York. Boston: The Boston History Company, 1899, reproduced on Rays Place website
- Waterford Public Library