Greenwich (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Greenwich is a town in the southwest part of Washington County
, New York
, United States
. The town is located on the west border of the county. The population was 4,896 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. Greenwich features several homes that were a part of the Underground Railroad
.
The Town of Greenwich contains a village also named Greenwich
.
Families began settling the area around 1763. The town was originally part of five land patent
s: Saratoga, Kettlehuyn, Cuyler, Campbell, and Argyle. The Town of Greenwich was formed from part of the Town of Argyle
in 1803. In 1809, the community of Whipple City incorporated as a village and adopted the name Union Village. In 1867, the name was changed to Greenwich.
Greenwich views itself as having been an important location along the Underground Railroad. A historical marker was placed in Mowry Park detailing the locations of former safe houses.
The Greenwich and Johnsonville Railroad brought rail service to the area in 1869.
, the town has a total area of 44.4 square miles (114.9 km²), of which, 44.0 square miles (114.0 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (0.81%) is water.
It lies within the Cambridge valley region in between the Adirondack Mountains
and Green Mountain Range
of Vermont
.
The west town line is defined by the Hudson River
with Saratoga County
on the opposite shore.
NY Route 40
is a north-south highway through the center of the town. NY Route 29
is an east-west highway located near the south town line and Batten Kill River. NY-40 and NY-29 join near Middle Falls.
of 2000, there were 4,896 people, 1,927 households, and 1,358 families residing in the town. The population density
was 111.3 people per square mile (43.0/km²). There were 2,101 housing units at an average density of 47.7 per square mile (18.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.81% White, 0.31% Black or African American
, 0.06% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races
, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 1,927 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,138, and the median income for a family was $47,260. Males had a median income of $34,964 versus $26,629 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,913. About 5.8% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
The Adirondack School of Northeastern New York provides private secondary education for grades 7 through 12.
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...
. The town is located on the west border of the county. The population was 4,896 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. Greenwich features several homes that were a part of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
.
The Town of Greenwich contains a village also named Greenwich
Greenwich (village), New York
Greenwich is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 1,902 at the 2000 census. Locals pronounce the name as it appears, in contrast to Greenwich , England...
.
History
The Horicon tribe is believed to be part of the early native population of the town.Families began settling the area around 1763. The town was originally part of five land patent
Land 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...
s: Saratoga, Kettlehuyn, Cuyler, Campbell, and Argyle. The Town of Greenwich was formed from part of the Town of Argyle
Argyle (town), New York
Argyle is a town in Washington County, New York, USA. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 3,688 at the 2000 census...
in 1803. In 1809, the community of Whipple City incorporated as a village and adopted the name Union Village. In 1867, the name was changed to Greenwich.
Greenwich views itself as having been an important location along the Underground Railroad. A historical marker was placed in Mowry Park detailing the locations of former safe houses.
The Greenwich and Johnsonville Railroad brought rail service to the area in 1869.
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 44.4 square miles (114.9 km²), of which, 44.0 square miles (114.0 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (0.81%) is water.
It lies within the Cambridge valley region in between the Adirondack Mountains
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
and Green Mountain Range
Green Mountains
The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont. The range extends approximately .-Peaks:The most notable mountains in the range include:*Mount Mansfield, , the highest point in Vermont*Killington Peak, *Mount Ellen,...
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 west town line is 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...
with 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...
on the opposite shore.
NY Route 40
New York State Route 40
New York State Route 40 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York, United States. It is long and runs from NY 7 in the city of Troy north to NY 22 in the town of Granville. NY 40 also passes through the villages of Schaghticoke and Argyle and enters the vicinity of...
is a north-south highway through the center of the town. NY Route 29
New York State Route 28
New York State Route 28 is a state highway extending for in the shape of a "C" between the Hudson Valley city of Kingston and southern Warren County in the U.S. state of New York. Along the way, it intersects several major routes, including Interstate 88 , U.S. Route 20 , and the...
is an east-west highway located near the south town line and Batten Kill River. NY-40 and NY-29 join near Middle Falls.
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 4,896 people, 1,927 households, and 1,358 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 111.3 people per square mile (43.0/km²). There were 2,101 housing units at an average density of 47.7 per square mile (18.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.81% White, 0.31% 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...
, 0.06% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 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 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 1,927 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% 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 29.5% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,138, and the median income for a family was $47,260. Males had a median income of $34,964 versus $26,629 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 $19,913. About 5.8% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
A majority of Greenwich falls within the Greenwich Central School District. The district has three school buildings on 108 acre (0.43706088 km²) of land. It serves around 1,300 students and employs 99 administrators and teachers. It was established in 1945 as a consolidation of rural school districts with the union free school district in Greenwich village. Small areas of Greenwich fall within the Schuylerville, Argyle, and Salem Central school districts.The Adirondack School of Northeastern New York provides private secondary education for grades 7 through 12.
Notable residents
- Susan B. AnthonySusan B. AnthonySusan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
- Women's rights activist spent her childhood in Greenwich. - Chester A. ArthurChester A. ArthurChester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
- Lived in Greenwich briefly before becoming the 21st President of the United States - George Henry CorlissGeorge Henry CorlissGeorge Henry Corliss was an American mechanical engineer and inventor, who developed the Corliss steam engine, which was a great improvement over any other stationary steam engine of its time. The Corliss engine is widely considered one of the more notable engineering achievements of the 19th...
- Inventor of the Corliss steam engineCorliss Steam EngineA Corliss steam engine is a steam engine, fitted with rotary valves and with variable valve timing patented in 1849, invented by and named after the American engineer George Henry Corliss in Providence, Rhode Island....
grew up in Greenwich. - Hal KetchumHal KetchumHal Michael Ketchum is an American country music artist. He has released ten studio albums since 1986, including nine for the Curb and Asylum-Curb labels. Ketchum's 1991 album Past the Point of Rescue is his most commercially successful, having been certified gold by the Recording Industry...
- Country music star & member of the Grand Ole Opry was born in Greenwich.
Communities and inhabited locations
- Bald Mountain – A hamlet west of the mountainMountainImage:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
by the same name in the western part of the town. A former lime "mining townMining townA mining community, also known as a mining town or a mining camp, is a community that houses miners. Mining communities are usually created around a mine or a quarry for the extraction or smeltering of ore.-United States:...
", the hamlet is known more today for its farming than its mining. - Battenville – A hamlet on the south town line located by the Batten Kill.
- Carters Pond State Wildlife Management Area – A conservation area in the vicinity of Carter Pond, south of Cassayuna.
- Cossayuna – A hamlet located south of Cossayuna Lake in the northern part of the town. Originally known as Hog Hollow and later as Lakeville, the hamlet was settled in 1765 and was likely its first center of trade.
- Center Falls – A hamlet (previously known as Franklin and as Hardscrabble) east of Greenwich village on NY-29 by the Batten Kill.
- Clarks Mills – A hamlet in the southwest corner of the town by the Batten Kill.
- East Greenwich – The town's oldest hamlet, located in the southeast part of the town located along the Batten Kill. Once known as Slab City, it has been home to several factories.
- GreenwichGreenwich (village), New YorkGreenwich is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 1,902 at the 2000 census. Locals pronounce the name as it appears, in contrast to Greenwich , England...
– A village at the south town line and Batten Kill. The village is partially in Greenwich and partially in the town of EastonEaston, New YorkEaston is a town in southwestern Washington County, New York, United States along the county's western boundary. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 2,259 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Easton, Connecticut...
. - Middle Falls – A hamlet west of Greenwich village on NY-29. Though it once bore the names Arkansaw and Galesville, the hamlet has been known by its present name since 1875. The name is derived from a 45 foot (14 m) natural waterfallWaterfallA waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
of the nearby Batton Kill. - North Greenwich – A hamlet near the north town line. The community was formely known as Antioch and Reid's Corners. The hamlet played an important role in the early town. A school was built around 1800 and a post officePost officeA post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established in 1850. The hamlet served as a stagecoachStagecoachA stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
stop between AlbanyAlbany, New YorkAlbany 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...
and WhitehallWhitehall (village), New YorkWhitehall 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...
. - Thomson – A hamlet northwest of Clarks Mills, by the Hudson River. The hamlet's notoriety has transitioned since its establishment from that of saw milling to paper milling.
Geographical features
- Batten Kill – A river that defines the south town line.
- Cossayuna Lake – A lakeLakeA lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
on the north town line. Its eastern shore defines part of the town's northern border. Lying mostly in the town of Argyle, only a small portion of the lake, its southern tip, lies within Greenwich. - Hartshorn Brook – A tributaryTributaryA tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Batten Kill. - McDougall Lake – A small lake also partially within the town of SalemSalem (town), New YorkSalem is a town in eastern Washington County, New York. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 2,702 at the 2000 census. The town of Salem contains a village also named Salem.- History :...
. - Slocum Creek – A small tributary of the Hudson River.