Claverack, New York
Encyclopedia
Claverack is a town
in Columbia County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 6,401 at the 2000 census. The town name is a corruption for the Dutch word for "Clover Fields" or "Clover Reach".
The Town of Claverack is centrally located in the county, east of the City of Hudson
.
. The town was reduced again in 1785 to form the City of Hudson
. In 1779 Washington Seminary was founded in the town by the local Dutch Reformed pastor. Prominent former students at the school include U.S. President Martin Van Buren
. In the nineteenth century the school was renamed in Claverack College
, and it closed in 1902.
, the town has a total area of 48 square miles (124.3 km²), of which, 47.7 square miles (123.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
The Claverack Creek
runs through the township starting out in the Hamlet of Mellenville running southwest before turning north and going into Stockport Township.
The Taconic State Parkway
passes through the town.
of 2000, there were 6,401 people, 2,485 households, and 1,669 families residing in the town. The population density
was 134.3 people per square mile (51.9/km²). There were 2,839 housing units at an average density of 59.6 per square mile (23.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.95% White, 3.31% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races
, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.47% of the population.
There were 2,485 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,647, and the median income for a family was $50,175. Males had a median income of $32,896 versus $23,925 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,848. About 3.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.1% 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 Columbia County
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
, 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 6,401 at the 2000 census. The town name is a corruption for the Dutch word for "Clover Fields" or "Clover Reach".
The Town of Claverack is centrally located in the county, east of the City of Hudson
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
.
History
The town was formed in 1778 from the older "District of Claverack." In 1782, the town lost some of its land to the new Town of HillsdaleHillsdale, New York
Hillsdale is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,744 at the 2000 census.- History :The region was taken from the Town of Claverack in 1782. The Town of Hillsdale was established in 1788....
. The town was reduced again in 1785 to form the City of Hudson
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
. In 1779 Washington Seminary was founded in the town by the local Dutch Reformed pastor. Prominent former students at the school include U.S. President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
. In the nineteenth century the school was renamed in Claverack College
Claverack College
Claverack College, also known as Washington Seminary and Hudson River Institute, was a coeducational boarding school in Claverack, New York, United States. It was in operation from 1779 until 1902.-History:...
, and it closed in 1902.
Past residents of note
- Ismail MerchantIsmail MerchantIsmail Merchant was an Indian-born film producer, best known for the results of his famously long collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions which included director James Ivory as well as screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala...
and James IvoryJames Ivory (director)James Francis Ivory is an American film director, best known for the results of his long collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions, which included both Indian-born film producer Ismail Merchant, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala...
(James Ivory still visits this property in Claverack) owned property in Claverack and were very supportive of local interests, especially Columbia Memorial Hospital in nearby Hudson, NY. - Aaron BurrAaron BurrAaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
and Alexander HamiltonAlexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
tried cases in the local courthouseFirst Columbia County CourthouseThe First Columbia County Courthouse is located along NY 23B near the center of the hamlet of Claverack, New York, United States. It is a brick building in the Federal style constructed in 1786 and renovated in the mid-19th century....
. - Martin Van BurenMartin Van BurenMartin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
was admitted to the bar here. - Margaret SangerMargaret SangerMargaret Higgins Sanger was an American sex educator, nurse, and birth control activist. Sanger coined the term birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and established Planned Parenthood...
attended the former Claverack CollegeClaverack CollegeClaverack College, also known as Washington Seminary and Hudson River Institute, was a coeducational boarding school in Claverack, New York, United States. It was in operation from 1779 until 1902.-History:...
(closed 1902) for two years. - Daniela BertolDaniela BertolDaniela Bertol is an architect, designer and artist, working at the intersection between art and science. Her projects, based on a unified approach to knowledge, encompass several disciplines and media including astronomy, land art, geoglyphs, architecture, design, digital models, photography and...
, ItalianItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
-born architect, designer and artist - John J. TallmadgeJohn J. Tallmadge-Biography:Tallmadge was born on January 10, 1818 in Claverack, New York. He moved to Milwaukee in 1855. Tallmadge passed away on October 16, 1873 in Summit, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.-Career:...
was born here.
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 48 square miles (124.3 km²), of which, 47.7 square miles (123.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
The Claverack Creek
Claverack Creek
Claverack Creek is a tributary to Stockport Creek in Columbia County, New York, in the United States. Its source is in the town of Claverack at the hamlet of Mellenville, and its mouth is at its confluence with Kinderhook Creek to form Stockport Creek, in the town of Stockport.-History:The lower...
runs through the township starting out in the Hamlet of Mellenville running southwest before turning north and going into Stockport Township.
The Taconic State Parkway
Taconic State Parkway
The Taconic State Parkway , is a divided highway between Kensico Dam and Chatham, the longest parkway in the U.S. state of New York. It follows a generally northward route midway between the Hudson River and the Connecticut and Massachusetts state lines...
passes through 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 6,401 people, 2,485 households, and 1,669 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 134.3 people per square mile (51.9/km²). There were 2,839 housing units at an average density of 59.6 per square mile (23.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.95% White, 3.31% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.78% 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 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.47% of the population.
There were 2,485 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% 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, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,647, and the median income for a family was $50,175. Males had a median income of $32,896 versus $23,925 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 $19,848. About 3.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Claverack
- Brick Tavern – 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...
in the northwest corner of the town. - Churchtown – A hamlet on the south town line.
- ClaverackClaverack-Red Mills, New YorkClaverack-Red Mills is a census-designated place in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 913 at the 2010 census....
– The hamlet of Claverack is in the western part of the town. - Hollowville – A hamlet southeast of Claverack village.
- Martindale – A hamlet by the east town line, by the Taconic State Parkway.
- Mellenville – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town, west of Philmont. The Mellenville Railroad StationMellenville Railroad StationThe Mellenville Railroad Station, now known as Mellenville Grange, is a historic train station and Grange located in Mellenville, Columbia County, New York. It was built about 1900 by the Boston and Albany Railroad on their Hudson Branch. It is a one story brick building with a slate covered...
was 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 2000. - PhilmontPhilmont, New YorkPhilmont is a village in Columbia County, New York, USA. The population was 1,379 at the 2010 census.The Village of Philmont is located in the northeast corner of the Town of Claverack on Route 217.-History:...
– The Village of Philmont in the northeast part of the town. - Red MillsClaverack-Red Mills, New YorkClaverack-Red Mills is a census-designated place in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 913 at the 2010 census....
– A location east of Claverack village. - Upper Hollowville – A hamlet between Hollowville and Martindale.
External links
- Official town website
- Historical information about Claverack, NY
- Claverack Library
- Village of Philmont, Located in the Town of Claverack