White Creek, New York
Encyclopedia
White Creek is a town in Washington County
, New York
, United States
. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 3,411 at the 2000 census.
White Creek became a center of regional commerce late in the eighteenth century, and local prosperity reached its high point during the 1840s. Among the most interesting and important of White Creek's historic buildings are its commercial structures. The hotel and tavern, the harness shop, and the unusual three-story Dyer Sisson general store are outstanding, rare Greek Revival-style rural commercial buildings whose presence in the historic district contribute to a fuller understanding of life in White Creek during the nineteenth century. The businesses housed in these and other White Creek structures prospered, enabling owners to build comfortable homes along the streets of the hamlet. Most of these residences survive within the present district, and their stylistic treatment illustrates the relationship between wealth and taste in White Creek from the 1780s to the 1880s.
Present day White Creek is made up of mostly farms, fields, small residences, and forest land. There is one small community located on Route 68 and Niles Road that is a cluster of about 20-30 homes.
, the town has a total area of 47.9 square miles (124.1 km²), of which, 47.9 square miles (124.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.13%) is water.
The east town line is the state line of Vermont
. The Hoosic River
defines part of the south town line.
NY Route 22
is a north-south highway in the western part of the town.
NY Route 313
joins NY-22 at the Village of Cambridge.
of 2000, there were 3,411 people, 1,317 households, and 907 families residing in the town. The population density
was 71.3 people per square mile (27.5/km²). There were 1,466 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.51% White, 0.82% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.03% from other races
, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 1,317 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,412, and the median income for a family was $40,402. Males had a median income of $33,237 versus $22,143 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,439. About 6.3% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
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...
, 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...
. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 3,411 at the 2000 census.
History
Settlement in the town of "White Creek began after the granting of the Cambridge Patent in 1761. The first settlers in the present hamlet of White Creek were Quakers. John Allen built the first permanent residence in 1770, a house which remains as the best-preserved structure surviving from the eighteenth century in White Creek. The Cornell House and the Christopher Allen House (both built 1792) also survive from the colonial period, reflecting a rich variety of house styles. According to local tradition, the Christopher Allen House was operated as a tavern, and its ballroom also served as a temporary hospital for wounded from the nearby Battle of Waloomsac [Bennington] in 1777.White Creek became a center of regional commerce late in the eighteenth century, and local prosperity reached its high point during the 1840s. Among the most interesting and important of White Creek's historic buildings are its commercial structures. The hotel and tavern, the harness shop, and the unusual three-story Dyer Sisson general store are outstanding, rare Greek Revival-style rural commercial buildings whose presence in the historic district contribute to a fuller understanding of life in White Creek during the nineteenth century. The businesses housed in these and other White Creek structures prospered, enabling owners to build comfortable homes along the streets of the hamlet. Most of these residences survive within the present district, and their stylistic treatment illustrates the relationship between wealth and taste in White Creek from the 1780s to the 1880s.
Present day White Creek is made up of mostly farms, fields, small residences, and forest land. There is one small community located on Route 68 and Niles Road that is a cluster of about 20-30 homes.
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 47.9 square miles (124.1 km²), of which, 47.9 square miles (124.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.13%) is water.
The east town line is the state line of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. 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 part of the south town line.
NY Route 22
New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
is a north-south highway in the western part of the town.
NY Route 313
New York State Route 313
New York State Route 313 is a state highway in New York State. It begins at NY 22 in Cambridge, and intersects with two county routes on its journey from Cambridge to the state line in Salem. Once in Salem, the route crosses the Vermont border, entering the town of Arlington...
joins NY-22 at the Village of Cambridge.
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 3,411 people, 1,317 households, and 907 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 71.3 people per square mile (27.5/km²). There were 1,466 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.51% White, 0.82% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.03% 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 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 1,317 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% 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, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,412, and the median income for a family was $40,402. Males had a median income of $33,237 versus $22,143 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 $16,439. About 6.3% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
- Ash Grove – A location in the northern part of the town on County Road 67.
- CambridgeCambridge (village), New YorkCambridge is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. The population was 1,925 at the 2000 census. The village of Cambridge is partly in the town of Cambridge and partly in the town of White Creek...
– A village, The eastern part of which is within the town. - Center White Creek – A community located on NY-22 at County Road 68 in the southwest part of the town by Center White Creek.
- New SketeNew SketeNew Skete is the collective term for three Orthodox Christian monastic communities in Cambridge, New York :...
– Three Orthodox Christian monastic communities. - Post Corners – A location east of Center White Creek.
- Pumpkin Hook – A location near the east town line on Pumpkin Hook Creek.
- White Creek – A hamlet located in the southeast part of the town on County Road 68, by Little White Creek. Twenty buildings are included within the White Creek Historic DistrictWhite Creek Historic DistrictWhite Creek Historic District is a national historic district located at White Creek in Washington County, New York. It includes 20 contributing buildings. The buildings are predominantly residential and were built between 1770 and 1885. The majority are Greek Revival in style, with...
, 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 1983.
Geographic locations
- Center White Creek – A stream flowing out the south part of the town.
- Chestnut Woods – A location near Pumpkin Hook.
- Goose Egg Ridge – An elevation in the northeast corner of the town.
- Little White Creek – A stream flowing out the southeast part of the town.
- Owl Kill – A tributary of the Hoosic River in the western part of White Creek.
- Pumpkin Hook Creek – A stream in the central part of the town.
- Sugar Loaf – An elevation south of White Creek and Goose Egg Ridge.
- Two Tops – An elevation east of Ash Grove.
- White Creek – A stream in the north part of the town.