Whitehall (village), New York
Encyclopedia
Whitehall is a village located in the town of Whitehall
in Washington County, New York
, USA
. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 2,667 at the 2000 census.
The village of Whitehall is located five miles (8 km) west of the Vermont
border at the south end of Lake Champlain
and lies between Champlain and Lake George
.
. It was the first settlement at Lake Champlain and became an important trade center. It was on one of two routes between English and French colonies.
On May 9, 1775 Lieutenant Samuel Herrick, acting as an advance party for Ethan Allen
's attack on Fort Ticonderoga surprised Major Skene and his small garrison. While he intended to use Skene's boats to ferry men across the lake, his party didn't arrive in time. Skene's schooner was used later to capture St. Johns.
In 1776, General Philip Schuyler
built a small fleet of ships here. They were used by Benedict Arnold
in the Battle of Valcour Island
in October. The event led to Whitehall's modern-day claim to be the birthplace of the United States Navy
. The surviving vessels returned to be destroyed to prevent their capture. General John Burgoyne
led his forces southward through this area during the Saratoga Campaign
.
During the War of 1812
the village was a ship building community supplying vessels for naval battles on Lake Champlain.
, the village has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.5 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.70%) is water.
US Route 4 and NY Route 22
diverge at the village. Whitehall village is the north end of the Champlain Canal
, which connects the Hudson River
to Lake Champlain
.
of 2000, there were 2,667 people, 1,104 households, and 705 families residing in the village. The population density
was 568.6 people per square mile (219.6/km²). There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of 274.6 per square mile (106.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.13% White, 0.22% Black or African American
, 0.19% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.82% from other races
, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.
There were 1,104 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% 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 3.01.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,667, and the median income for a family was $42,619. Males had a median income of $31,656 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,022. About 13.3% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Whitehall, operating its Adirondack
daily in both directions between Montreal and New York City.
Whitehall (town), New York
Whitehall is a town in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 4,035 at the 2000 census.The Town of Whitehall contains a village also named Whitehall.- History :...
in 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...
, USA
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 village population was 2,667 at the 2000 census.
The village of Whitehall is located five miles (8 km) west of the 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...
border at the south end of Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
and lies between Champlain and Lake George
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...
.
History
The village was founded in 1759 as "Skenesborough" by Captain Philip Skene of the British armyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. It was the first settlement at Lake Champlain and became an important trade center. It was on one of two routes between English and French colonies.
On May 9, 1775 Lieutenant Samuel Herrick, acting as an advance party for Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen was a farmer, businessman, land speculator, philosopher, writer, and American Revolutionary War patriot, hero, and politician. He is best known as one of the founders of the U.S...
's attack on Fort Ticonderoga surprised Major Skene and his small garrison. While he intended to use Skene's boats to ferry men across the lake, his party didn't arrive in time. Skene's schooner was used later to capture St. Johns.
In 1776, General Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
built a small fleet of ships here. They were used by Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
in the Battle of Valcour Island
Battle of Valcour Island
The naval Battle of Valcour Island, also known as the Battle of Valcour Bay, took place on October 11, 1776, on Lake Champlain. The main action took place in Valcour Bay, a narrow strait between the New York mainland and Valcour Island...
in October. The event led to Whitehall's modern-day claim to be the birthplace of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. The surviving vessels returned to be destroyed to prevent their capture. General John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
led his forces southward through this area during the Saratoga Campaign
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
.
During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
the village was a ship building community supplying vessels for naval battles on Lake Champlain.
Historic sites & museums
- Skenesborough Museum
- USS TiconderogaUSS TiconderogaThe ships named USS Ticonderoga commemorate the capture of Fort Ticonderoga on 10 May 1775 by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys.-U.S. Navy vessels:...
- Cooke's Island
- Skene ManorSkene ManorSkene Manor, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Judge Joseph Potter House, is a historic home located at Whitehall in Washington County, New York. It was built in 1874 and is a handsome Victorian style mansion built of grey sandstone quarried from its own site with a mansard...
- Lock 12 of the Champlain CanalChamplain CanalThe 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....
- Main Street Historic DistrictMain Street Historic District (Whitehall, New York)Main Street Historic District is a national historic district located at Whitehall in Washington County, New York. It includes 40 contributing buildings. It encompasses a three block long row of two and three story, brick and stone commercial structures facing the Champlain Canal. The structures...
- US Post Office-WhitehallU.S. Post Office (Whitehall, New York)US Post Office-Whitehall is a historic post office building located at Whitehall in Washington County, New York. It was designed and built 1937-1938, and is one of a number of post offices in New York State designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department under Louis...
- Whitehall ArmoryWhitehall ArmoryWhitehall Armory is a historic National Guard armory building located at Whitehall in Washington County, New York. It is a brick and stone castle-like structure built in 1899, designed to be reminiscent of medieval military structures in Europe. It was designed by State Architect Isaac G. Perry...
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 village has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.5 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.70%) is water.
US Route 4 and 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...
diverge at the village. Whitehall village is the north end of the 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....
, which connects 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...
to Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
.
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 2,667 people, 1,104 households, and 705 families residing in the village. 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 568.6 people per square mile (219.6/km²). There were 1,288 housing units at an average density of 274.6 per square mile (106.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.13% White, 0.22% 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...
, 0.19% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.82% 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 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.
There were 1,104 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% 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, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% 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 3.01.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $31,667, and the median income for a family was $42,619. Males had a median income of $31,656 versus $20,417 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 village was $16,022. About 13.3% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Rail transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Whitehall, operating its Adirondack
Adirondack (Amtrak)
The Adirondack is a passenger train operated daily by Amtrak between New York City and Montreal. The trip takes approximately 11 hours to cover a published distance of , traveling through the scenic Hudson Valley and the Adirondack Mountains...
daily in both directions between Montreal and New York City.