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Durham, New Hampshire

Durham is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 15,490 at the 2020 census, up from 14,638 at the 2010 census. Durham is home to the University of New Hampshire.

The primary settlement in the town, where 11,147 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Durham census-designated place (CDP) and includes the densely populated portion of the town centered on the intersection of New Hampshire Route 108 and Main Street, which includes the university that dominates the town.

History

Durham sits beside Great Bay at the mouth of the Oyster River, an ideal location for people who lived close to the land, like the Western Abenaki and their ancestors who've lived in the region for an estimated 11,000 years. The Shankhassick (now Oyster) River provided shellfish and access to the north woods for hunting and trapping; the sea provided food and access to long-established trade routes between tribes both north and south; and the open meadows provided land easy to cultivate for crops. Wecannecohunt (or Wecohamet), as the settlement was known until English settlers arrived, proved immediately attractive to them, too.

English settlers first colonized the region in 1622 when King James I granted Sir Fernandino Gorges and John Mason "all that part or porcon of that country now commonly called New-England ... between the latitude of forty and fortyeight degrees northerly latitude," including every island within 100 miles of the coast and "all the lands, soyle, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, mines, ... minerals, pearls and pretious stones, woods, queries, marshes waters, fishings, hunting, hawking, fowling, commodities and hereditaments whatsoever." Gorges and Mason agreed to split the vast tract along the Piscataqua River (still known by its Abenaki name pesgatak was, for "the water looks dark"). Gorges took the tract to the east and named it Maine. Mason took the land to west and named it New Hampshire. The region was first named "N'dakinna". It is the traditional ancestral homeland of the Abenaki, Pennacook and Wabanaki peoples.

Colonists first arrived in Wecannecohunt in 1622, the year of the Gorges-Mason grant. They spent their earliest years fishing, cutting, and trapping to sell salted fish, lumber, and fur to European markets. By 1633, colonists were spread along the tidal shores of the Oyster River, and by 1640, they were "in 'recognized possession' of lands up to the fall line." Colonial Durham was first known as the Oyster River Plantation. The English settlers brought non-native livestock aboard their ships, "thousands of cattle, swine, sheep, and horses," requiring them to clear acres merely for pasture. Wecannecohunt's fields, carefully cultivated across centuries, were trampled and their crops destroyed. "The animals exacerbated a host of problems related to subsistence practices, land use, property rights and, ultimately, political authority." When violence between the colonized and the colonizers erupted, livestock were frequently killed. The Abenaki saw them as a direct threat to their food supply.

During King William's War, on July 18, 1694, the fledgling English colonial settlement was attacked in the Raid on Oyster River by French career soldier Claude-Sébastien de Villieu with about 250 Abenaki from Norridgewock under command of their sagamore Bomazeen (or Bomoseen). In all, 104 inhabitants were killed and 27 taken captive, with half the dwellings, including the garrisons, pillaged and burned to the ground.

Oyster River was part of Dover throughout its first century. The Plantation was granted rights as an independent parish in 1716 and incorporated as a township in 1732 when it was renamed Durham. Rev. Hugh Adams claimed to have proposed the name "Durham" in an address to the General Assembly in 1738. Two of the earliest settlers of Dover were William and Edward Hilton, the direct descendants of Sir William de Hilton, Lord of Hilton Castle in County Durham, England, but there is nothing to prove that Durham was named in their honor.

Benjamin Thompson, a descendant of an early settler, bequeathed his assets and family estate, Warner Farm, to the state for the establishment of an agricultural college. Founded in 1866 in Hanover, the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts moved to Durham in 1893 and became the University of New Hampshire in 1923. Thompson Hall, built in 1892 with an iconic clock tower, is named in his honor. Designed in the Romanesque Revival style by the Concord architectural firm of Dow & Randlett, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

On October 22, 1999, Durham was the site of a debate between Republican candidates in the 2000 Presidential Election. Future president George W. Bush was present, along with other notable Republicans of the era, such as John McCain, Alan Keyes, Steve Forbes, and Gary Bauer. The debate became the subject of a skit on Saturday Night Live which featured Darrell Hammond playing then President Bill Clinton.

In 2017, Durham became the first community in New Hampshire to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day in place of Columbus Day. In 2018, the Oyster River Cooperative School District, which includes Durham, Lee and Madbury, adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day on its school calendar.

Libraries
Over the years the people of Durham have created several libraries:

Durham Social Library (1815–1857): This library was incorporated by act of the New Hampshire Legislature in 1815. The library contained several hundred books and had a membership numbering nearly 50.

Durham Agricultural Library (1862–1881): Formed February 3, 1862, with Benjamin Thompson as president, this library was small (approximately 72 books) and vocationally-based.

Durham Social Library (1881–1892): Organized March 9, 1881, the library had a membership of 80 and several hundred books. In 1883 the Richardson house was purchased to house the library. It eventually merged with the Durham Public Library.

Durham Public Library (1892–1906): Established in 1892 through the provisions of a New Hampshire state act, this was the town's first "public" library. It contained more than 3,500 books and eventually merged with the library of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. Library of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts (1893–): Came to Durham with the arrival of the College in 1893. Initially, the College housed the library in a single room in Thompson Hall. In 1900 Hamilton Smith gave the University $10,000 to construct a library, another $20,000 was obtained from Andrew Carnegie. In 1907—a year after the town and the college agreed to merge their collective library resources—the building (Hamilton Smith Hall) was completed.

Dimond Library (1958): The construction of a new building on the University of New Hampshire's campus brought a new library into the modern age. Recognizable columns such as at the Hamilton Smith Hall were replaced with bolder designs that allowed the library to look more towards the future for inspiration.

In March 1997 by a margin of 2–1, Durham voters passed a charter amendment to establish a board of trustees and allow plans for a new library to go forward. In July 1997 a temporary space was found for the new Public Library in a storefront between the dollar store and a pizzeria. Under the guidance of the Trustees and a newly formed Friends of the Library group, many volunteer townspeople come forward to sheetrock, paint, assemble shelves, and unpack and shelve 719 boxes of books. On July 21, 1997, a dedication ceremony was held for the new library, with Governor Jeanne Shaheen as the keynote speaker. It was the first new public library to be established in New Hampshire in almost a century. In July 2013 a new public library building was completed on Madbury Road.

Police department
A police force of some manner has served Durham since at least 1848. Durham Police Department is made up of 21 full-time and 2 part-time officers and provides service 24-hours a day.

The Police Department's Adopt-A-Cop program was instituted in 1999 to improve relationships between University of New Hampshire fraternities. Each fraternity is assigned a police officer who attends house meetings and events and acts a liaison between the fraternity and the community.

Fire department and EMS
The first fire department organization in Durham was organized in 1927 and the first salaried firefighter was employed in 1934.

The Durham Fire Department is one of the few fire departments in the country that is funded by both a municipality and a university.

In addition, McGregor Memorial EMS is a regional, non-profit organization delivering emergency medical services and education to the New Hampshire Seacoast area since 1968.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 64.1 km2, of which 58.0 km2 are land and 6.1 km2 are water, comprising 9.50% of the town. The town is drained by the Oyster River. The highest point in Durham is Beech Hill, at 291 ft above sea level, located on the town's northern border. Durham lies fully within the Piscataqua River (coastal) watershed.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Madbury (north)
 * Dover (northeast)
 * Newington (east)
 * Newmarket (south)
 * Lee (west)

Transportation
Amtrak's Downeaster train provides five round trips daily through Durham–UNH station, with service north to Portland, Freeport, and Brunswick, Maine, and south to Boston's North Station.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Durham has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Demographics
The demographics of the town of Durham are strongly influenced by the presence of the campus of the University of New Hampshire. As of the census of 2010, there were 14,638 people, 2,960 households, and 1,544 families residing in the town. There were 3,092 housing units, of which 132, or 4.3%, were vacant. 7,266 town residents lived in group quarters such as dormitories, rather than in households. The racial makeup of the town was 93.8% white, 0.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.01% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.4% some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,960 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were headed by married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, 8.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 64.3% were from 18 to 24, 7.7% from 25 to 44, 12.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $71,190, and the median income for a family was $120,039. Male full-time workers had a median income of $72,197 versus $58,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,650. 24.5% of the population and 1.4% of families were below the poverty line. 0.7% of the population under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.

Notable people

 * Eliphalet Daniels (1713–1799), military commander of the New Hampshire Militia
 * Dudley Dudley (born 1936) political and environmental activist
 * Jack Edwards (born 1957), play-by-play announcer for the Boston Bruins
 * Daniel Ford (born 1931), writer
 * Sam Fuld (born 1981), outfielder in Major League Baseball during 2007–2015, General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2020–present
 * Louise Janin (1893–1997), painter
 * Manuela Lutze (born 1974), four-time Olympic rower, two-time Olympic gold medalist
 * Joyce Maynard (born 1953), writer
 * Hercules Mooney (1715–1800), lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Revolutionary War
 * Don Murray (1924–2006), journalist
 * Deron Quint (born 1976), defenseman with six NHL teams
 * Alexander Scammell (1747–1781), colonel of the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment
 * Daniel C. Stillson (1826–1899), inventor of the Stillson pipe wrench
 * John Sullivan (1740–1795), Revolutionary War general
 * Ben Sulsky (born 1987), professional poker player
 * Benjamin Thompson (1806–1890), farmer, businessman and benefactor of U.N.H.

Sites of interest

 * Durham Historic Association & Museum
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 8: Site of Piscataqua Bridge
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 50: Oyster River Massacre
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 89: Major General John Sullivan, 1740–1795
 * New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 154: Packer's Falls

title: Durham, New Hampshire


text:
Farmington (CDP), New Hampshire

Farmington is a census-designated place (CDP) and the main village in the town of Farmington, Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population of the CDP was 3,824 at the 2020 census, out of 6,722 in the entire town.

Geography
The CDP is in the northern part of the town of Farmington, in the valley of the Cocheco River and surrounding rural land. It is bordered to the northeast by the town of Milton, to the north by Middleton, and to the northwest by New Durham. New Hampshire Route 11 forms the southwestern border of the CDP, and Pokamoonshine Brook forms the southern border, while the Cocheco River forms part of the eastern border, along with Chestnut Hill Road and New Hampshire Route 75.

New Hampshire Route 11 leads southeast 7 mi to Rochester and northwest 9 mi to Alton. Route 75 passes through the center of Farmington as Central Street and Elm Street, leading northeast 5 mi to Milton. New Hampshire Route 153 is Farmington's Main Street, leading north 8 mi to Union.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Farmington CDP has a total area of 16.2 sqkm, all of it recorded as land. The Cocheco River passes through the western and southern parts of the CDP, flowing southeast to Rochester and Dover.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,885 people, 1,510 households, and 1,000 families residing in the CDP. There were 1,645 housing units, of which 135, or 8.2%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.4% white, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.1% some other race, and 1.9% from two or more races. 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,510 households in the CDP, 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were headed by married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57, and the average family size was 3.01.

24.5% of residents in the CDP were under the age of 18, 9.7% were from age 18 to 24, 26.5% were from 25 to 44, 27.9% were from 45 to 64, and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

For the period 2011-15, the estimated median annual income for a household was $36,136, and the median income for a family was $48,028. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,782. 15.5% of the population and 12.2% of families were below the poverty line, along with 29.3% of people under the age of 18 and 3.0% of people 65 or older.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Farmington (CDP), New Hampshire


text:
Farmington, New Hampshire

Farmington is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,722 at the 2020 census. Farmington is home to Blue Job State Forest, the Tebbetts Hill Reservation, and Baxter Lake.

The town center, where 3,824 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Farmington census-designated place and is located at the junction of New Hampshire routes 75 and 153.

History
The native Abenaki people called the area Chemung, meaning "canoe place", and used the three rivers—the Cocheco, the Ela, and the Mad—for transportation. They had a camping ground on Meetinghouse Hill, where they built birch bark canoes. Otherwise, the river valley was wilderness, through which the native peoples from the north traveled to and from Lake Winnipesaukee on their way to other areas and hunting grounds.

As European settlement of New Hampshire began to spread, the area that would become Farmington began as the Northwest Parish of Rochester, which was chartered in 1722. As the native peoples became displaced in the regions, they raided area settlements in and around Dover. To stop the raids, in 1721 the colonial assembly in Portsmouth approved construction of a fort at the foot of the lake, with a soldiers' road built from Dover to supply it. In 1722, Bay Road was surveyed and completed. Along its course the town of Farmington would grow.

The last native attack in the general region occurred in 1748, and by 1749 the Native Americans living in the area had disappeared from either warfare or disease. Farmers cultivated the rocky soil, and gristmills used water power of streams to grind their grain. Sawmills cut the abundant timber, and the first frame house at the village was built in 1782. In 1790, Jonas March from Portsmouth established a store, behind which teamsters unloaded on his dock the lumber he traded. The area became known as "March's Dock", "Farmington Dock", and finally just "The Dock".

Inhabitants of the Northwest Parish were taxed to support both the meetinghouse and minister on Rochester Hill about 12 mi away, a distance which made attendance difficult. A movement began in the 1770s to establish a separate township, and in 1783 a petition for charter was submitted to the state legislature. It was denied, but another petition in 1798 was granted. With about 1,000 inhabitants, Farmington was incorporated. In 1800, a 40 by, two-story meetinghouse was erected on Meetinghouse Hill. The same year, John Wingate established a blacksmithy. He would also become proprietor of Wingate's Tavern.

In the 19th century, the community developed a prime shoemaking industry, and was one of the first places to use automated machines instead of handwork. In 1836, shoe manufacturing began at a shop on Spring Street built by E. H. Badger, although it was soon abandoned to creditors. Martin Luther Hayes took over the business, and by 1840 was successful enough to enlarge the building. The town would be connected by railroad to Dover in 1849, with the line extended to Alton Bay in 1851. Shoes were shipped to Boston to be sold at semi-annual auctions for 50 cents a pair.

Following the Civil War, the shoe business boomed and numerous factories were built. Farmington was known as "The Shoe Capital of New Hampshire" for some time. Other factories produced knives, knit underwear, wooden boxes, wooden handles and carriages. A large fire in 1875 destroyed much of the center of town, but the community survived. Brushes were manufactured by the F. W. Browne Company, from which Booker T. Washington ordered twelve street brooms in 1915 for use at the Tuskegee Institute. The town was home to five blacksmith shops, a movie theater, and two hotels. The Panic of 1893 closed all but two large shoe factories. Local industries faded in the latter half of the 20th century. Most of the factories were either demolished or converted into other purposes.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Farmington has a total area of 95.7 sqkm, of which 94.8 sqkm are land and 0.9 sqkm are water, comprising 0.95% of the town. The town is drained by the Cochecho River and its tributaries the Ela River, Mad River, and Rattlesnake River. Baxter Lake, on the southeast border, is the largest water body in the town. Part of the Blue Hills Range, foothills of the White Mountains, is in the southwest. The highest point in Farmington is Blue Job Mountain, at 1350 ft above sea level, near the town's southwestern border. Farmington lies almost fully within the Piscataqua River (Coastal) watershed, with the westernmost corner of town located in the Merrimack River watershed.

The town is crossed by New Hampshire Routes 11, 75, and 153.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Middleton (north)
 * Milton (northeast)
 * Rochester (southeast)
 * Strafford (southwest)
 * Barnstead (west at one point)
 * Alton (northwest at one point)
 * New Durham (northwest)

Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 6,786 people, 2,592 households, and 1,813 families residing in the town. The population density was 180.8 PD/sqmi. There were 2,832 housing units, at an average density of 76.1 units per square mile (29.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.8% white, 0.5% African American, 0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.7% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,592 households counted at the 2010 census, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were headed by married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62, and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the 2010 population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

For the period 2012–2016, the estimated annual median income for a household in the town was $52,305, which was 9% below the county average, and 17% below the state average. The median income for a family was $68,693. Male full-time workers had a median income of $45,476 versus $35,958 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,111. 7.2% of families and 11.5% of the total population were below the poverty line, along with 17.5% of people under the age of 18 and 3.2% of people 65 or older.

Although the town has about the same percentage of population below the poverty line as does the county, the town has a disproportionate share of the county's low-income residents living just above the poverty line, and a disproportionately small share of the county's affluent households. This means that with changing socio-economic pressures, a larger portion of the town's population is at risk of falling into poverty than is the case elsewhere in the county.

Notable people

 * Shirley Barker (1911–1965), author, poet, librarian
 * Harry Bemis (1874–1947), catcher with the Cleveland Naps
 * Nehemiah Eastman (1782–1856), lawyer, banker, politician
 * Winfield Scott Edgerly (1846–1927), U.S. Army brigadier general
 * Joseph W. Furber (1814–1884), Minnesota Whig legislator
 * Joseph Hammons (1787–1836), U.S. congressman
 * Wingate Hayes (1823–1877), U.S. Attorney, Speaker of Rhode Island House of Representatives
 * Alonzo Nute (1826–1892), U.S. congressman
 * Raymond Pearl (1879–1940), biologist, regarded as one of the founders of biogerontology
 * Lawrence Lee Pelletier (1914–1995), 16th president of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania
 * Mary Lemist Titcomb (1852–1932), librarian
 * Clara Augusta Jones Trask (1839–1905), dime novelist
 * Henry Wilson (1812–1875), 18th Vice-President of the United States (1873–1875)

title: Farmington, New Hampshire


text:
Charlestown (CDP), New Hampshire

Charlestown is a census-designated place (CDP) and the main village in the town of Charlestown, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population of the CDP was 1,078 at the 2020 census, out of 4,806 in the entire town.

Geography
The CDP is in the western part of Charlestown, on the east side of the Connecticut River, which forms the Vermont state line. From the river, the CDP border extends north up Clay Brook to Fling Road and Acworth Road. The border then turns south along a power line clearing that runs east of the village area, following it to Dickerson Brook and then southwest to Almar Street. The border then turns northwest up Meadow Road before continuing straight to Lower Landing Road, where it turns west and runs to the Connecticut River.

New Hampshire Route 12 is Charlestown's Main Street, leading north 10 mi to Claremont and south 7 mi to North Walpole, across the Connecticut from Bellows Falls, Vermont. New Hampshire Route 11 crosses the Connecticut 1 mi north of Charlestown village, providing access to Interstate 91, which leads north 30 mi to White River Junction, Vermont, and south 34 mi to Brattleboro, Vermont.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Charlestown CDP has a total area of 2.6 sqkm, of which 2.5 sqkm are land and 0.1 sqkm, or 4.68%, are water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,152 people, 467 households, and 290 families residing in the CDP. There were 503 housing units, of which 36, or 7.2%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.7% white, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.0% some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. 1.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 467 households in the CDP, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were headed by married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.83.

20.1% of residents in the CDP were under the age of 18, 10.4% were from age 18 to 24, 23.2% were from 25 to 44, 28.4% were from 45 to 64, and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

For the period 2011-15, the estimated median annual income for a family was $74,082. Male full-time workers had a median income of $37,689 versus $36,738 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,723. 7.6% of the population and 11.0% of families were below the poverty line, along with 15.6% of people under the age of 18.

title: Charlestown (CDP), New Hampshire


text:
Charlestown, New Hampshire

Charlestown is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,806 at the 2020 census, down from 5,114 at the 2010 census. The town is home to Hubbard State Forest and the headquarters of the Student Conservation Association.

The primary village in town, where 1,078 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined as the Charlestown census-designated place (CDP) and is located along New Hampshire Route 12. The town also includes the villages of North Charlestown, South Charlestown and Hemlock Center.

History
The area was first granted on December 31, 1735, by colonial governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts as "Plantation No. 4", the fourth in a line of townships on the Connecticut Rivers. Settled in 1740, it was the northernmost township, and its 1744 stockade now known as Fort at Number 4 became a strategic military site. On the evening of May 2, 1746, Seth Putnam joined Major Josiah Willard and several soldiers as they escorted women to milk the cows. As they approached the barn, Natives hiding in the bushes opened fire, killing Putnam, "the first victim of [Native] vengeance". In 1747, during King George's War, the fort was besieged for three days by a force of French and Native people. Captain Phineas Stevens and 31 militia stationed at the fort repelled the attack, with their success becoming well-known.

On July 2, 1753, the town was rechartered as "Charlestown" by Governor Benning Wentworth, after Admiral Charles Knowles of the Royal Navy, then governor of Jamaica. Admiral Knowles, in port at Boston during the 1747 siege, sent Captain Stevens a sword to acknowledge his valor. The town responded by naming itself in his honor.

Early in the morning of August 30, 1754, Susannah Willard Johnson along with her husband, her three children, her sister and two neighbors, Peter Labarree and Ebenezer Farnsworth, were captured by Abenaki people, marched to Montreal and incarcerated. Eventually they would all escape or be released and return home.

In 1781, Charlestown briefly joined Vermont because of dissatisfaction with treatment by the New Hampshire government. Returning at the insistence of George Washington, it was incorporated in 1783.

The community developed into a center for law and lawyers, second regionally only to Boston. Its prosperity would be expressed in fine architecture. Sixty-three buildings on Charlestown's Main Street are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They include the Gothic Revival South Parish Church erected by master-builder Stephen Hassam in 1842, St. Luke's Church designed by Richard Upjohn in 1863, and the Italianate Town Hall designed in 1872 by Edward Dow, New Hampshire's most prominent architect after the Civil War. Dow also designed Thompson Hall, the centerpiece of the University of New Hampshire.

In 1874, the Sullivan Railroad passed through the western side of Charlestown. The tracks are now part of the New England Central Railroad.

A reproduction of the Fort at Number 4 is now a historical site, where military reenactments and musters occur frequently throughout the summer months. Tours are offered of its stockaded parade ground and pioneer-style houses.

Geography
Charlestown is located along the Connecticut River, the western border of New Hampshire.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 98.5 km2, of which 92.6 km2 are land and 5.9 km2 are water, comprising 5.98% of the town. Charlestown is drained by several direct tributaries of the Connecticut River: Ox Brook, the Little Sugar River, Beaver Brook, Clay Brook, Dickerson Brook, and Jabes Meadow Brook. The highest point in town is Sams Hill, at 1683 ft above sea level in the southeast part of town.

In the Connecticut River in the 1800s were three islands within the limits of the town. Sartwell's Island, the largest, containing 10 acre, was under high cultivation in 1874. The others contained about 6 acre each. None show on maps today, and were presumably inundated by the power dam built downstream at Bellows Falls.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Claremont (north)
 * Unity (northeast)
 * Acworth (east)
 * Langdon (south)
 * Walpole (south)
 * Rockingham, Vermont (southwest)
 * Springfield, Vermont (west)

Transportation
Charlestown is served by New Hampshire Routes 11, 12 and 12A. Routes 11 and 12 lead north from the town center 11 mi to downtown Claremont. Route 12 leads south 7 mi to North Walpole, adjacent to Bellows Falls, Vermont, and 28 mi to Keene, New Hampshire. Route 11 leads northwest from the center of Charlestown to the Cheshire Bridge (the old toll bridge) across the Connecticut River, after which it becomes Vermont Route 11 and provides access to Interstate 91 and U.S. Route 5 in Vermont.

Bus service is available from Community Alliance Transport Services (CATS), with several buses a day connecting Charlestown and Claremont.

The New England Central Railroad has track rights through the town. Amtrak's Vermonter passenger rail line runs through Charlestown along the Connecticut River but does not stop in town. The closest stations are Bellows Falls to the south and Claremont to the north.

The nearest general aviation airports are Claremont Municipal Airport, 10 mi to the north, and Hartness State Airport in North Springfield, Vermont, 11 mi to the northwest. The nearest airport with scheduled airline service is Lebanon Municipal Airport, 33 mi to the north in West Lebanon.

Public safety
Charlestown is served by a full-time police department and volunteer fire department. Charlestown's ambulance service is provided by Golden Cross Ambulance out of Claremont. The town's emergency services are dispatched by the Charlestown Police Department dispatch center and headed by Chief Patrick Connors.

Charlestown falls within Troop C of the New Hampshire State Police.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 5,114 people, 2,117 households, and 1,399 families residing in the town. There were 2,263 housing units, of which 146, or 6.5%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the town was 97.8% white, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.1% some other race, and 1.0% from two or more races. 0.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,117 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were headed by married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, 20.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% were from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $41,471, and the median income for a family was $52,708. The per capita income for the town was $23,527. 13.2% of the population and 9.5% of families were below the poverty line. 16.0% of the population under the age of 18 and 9.1% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.

Sites of interest

 * Charlestown Main Street Historic District

Notable people

 * Helen Louisa Bostwick Bird (1826–1907), author, poet
 * James Broderick (1927–1982), actor; father of Matthew Broderick
 * William E. Corbin (1869–1951), inventor of the paper towel
 * George Brintnall Dutton (1818-1898), Minnesota territorial legislator and lawyer
 * Carlton "Pudge" Fisk (born 1947), Hall of Fame catcher with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox
 * Joseph Glidden (1813–1906), businessman, farmer; inventor of modern barbed wire
 * Charles H. Hoyt (1859–1900), playwright, theatrical producer
 * Henry Hubbard (1784–1857), US congressman, senator, 18th governor of New Hampshire
 * Samuel Hunt (1765–1807), US congressman
 * Susannah Willard Johnson (1729–1810), Anglo-American woman who was captured with her family during an Abenaki Indian raid, and then held for ransom until being sold off into slavery to the French
 * Benjamin Labaree (1801–1883), minister, professor and college president
 * Ralph Metcalf (1796–1858), 25th governor of New Hampshire
 * Simeon Olcott (1735–1815), attorney, US senator
 * DeForest Richards (1846–1903), banker, farmer, fifth governor of Wyoming
 * Richard H. Sylvester (1830–1895), journalist
 * James Tufts (1829–1884), acting governor of Montana Territory
 * Benjamin West (1746–1817), lawyer
 * Francis H. West (1825–1896), Union brigadier general during the Civil War
 * Alexander Hamilton Willard (1777–1865), blacksmith who joined the Lewis and Clark Expedition

title: Charlestown, New Hampshire


text:
Newport (CDP), New Hampshire

Newport is a census-designated place (CDP) comprising the main village and surrounding rural land in the town of Newport, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population of the CDP was 4,735 at the 2020 census, out of 6,299 in the entire town.

Geography
The CDP is in the eastern part of the town of Newport, with the village of Newport in the center of the CDP at the junction of the Sugar River with its South Branch. The CDP extends north to the Croydon town line, east to the Sunapee line, and south to the Unity line. From the Croydon line, the CDP border follows the North Branch of the Sugar River and then the main stem of the Sugar River southwest to New Hampshire Routes 11 and 103 in Kellyville. The border then follows NH 11/103, Whitcher Road, Bascom Road, and Unity Road to the Unity town line. A short distance to the east the CDP border follows Spring Brook east to the South Branch of the Sugar River, then turns south up the South Branch to Coon Brook Road and New Hampshire Route 10, which it follows north to Page Hill Road. It follows an unnamed stream north to Blaisdell Road, then follows East Mountain Road, Schoolhouse Road, and Bradford Road east to the Sunapee town line. The CDP runs north along the town line to Maple Street south of Wendell, then turns west on an abandoned railroad line and a power line to the Sugar River at the east edge of the urban center of Newport. Turning back to the east, the border follows the river upstream to Long Pond Brook, where it turns north, follows Routes 11/103 briefly, then takes Sand Hill Road north back to the Croydon line.

New Hampshire Route 10 is Newport's Main Street, leading north 10 mi to Interstate 89 in Grantham and south 35 mi to Keene. Routes 11/103 lead west together 9 mi to Claremont. The two highways lead east out of town as Sunapee Street, splitting 3 mi east of the center of Newport in the village of Wendell. Route 11 leads northeast 5.5 mi from Newport to Sunapee village, while Route 103 leads southeast 9.5 mi to Newbury Harbor on Lake Sunapee.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Newport CDP has a total area of 36.5 sqkm, all of it recorded as land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,769 people, 1,954 households, and 1,221 families residing in the CDP. There were 2,184 housing units, of which 230, or 10.5%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.9% white, 0.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.8% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,954 households in the CDP, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were headed by married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.90.

22.6% of residents in the CDP were under the age of 18, 8.6% were from age 18 to 24, 23.4% were from 25 to 44, 27.9% were from 45 to 64, and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

For the period 2011-15, the estimated median annual income for a household was $49,486, and the median income for a family was $62,163. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,406. 8.4% of the population and 2.7% of families were below the poverty line, along with 1.3% of people under the age of 18 and 14.1% of people 65 or older.

title: Newport (CDP), New Hampshire


text:
Newport, New Hampshire

Newport is a town in and the county seat of Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. It is 43 mi west-northwest of Concord, the state capital. The population of Newport was 6,299 at the 2020 census. A covered bridge is in the northwest. The area is noted for maple sugar and apple orchards. Prior to county division in 1827, Newport was in Cheshire County. The central part of town, where 4,735 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined as the Newport census-designated place (CDP) and is located next to the Sugar River at the junction of New Hampshire routes 10 and 11. The town also includes the villages of Kelleyville, Guild, and North Newport.

History
Granted in 1753 by colonial governor Benning Wentworth, the town was named "Grenville" after George Grenville, Prime Minister of Great Britain and brother-in-law of William Pitt. But ongoing hostilities during the French and Indian War, as close as the Fort at Number 4 at Charlestown, delayed settlement. Nevertheless, in 1761 the town was incorporated as "Newport", for Henry Newport, a distinguished English soldier and statesman.

It was first settled in 1763 by pioneers from North Killingworth, Connecticut. Absalom Kelsey was one of the earliest settlers, on what became later the D.F. Pike farm at the foot of Claremont Hill. At that time, the Connecticut River was the only route for travel, until a road was cut through the wilderness to Charlestown in 1767. The following year, the first gristmill was established. But dissatisfied with treatment by the state government far beyond the mountains, Newport in 1781 joined 33 other towns along the Connecticut River and seceded from New Hampshire to join Vermont. George Washington, however, dissolved their union with Vermont in 1782, and the towns rejoined New Hampshire.

With excellent soil for farming, and abundant water power from the Sugar River and its South Branch to run mills, Newport grew prosperous. The first cotton mill was established by Colonel James D. Wolcott in 1813. Local cabinet making flourished, producing much fine furniture. In 1817, perhaps inspired by the Erie Canal, businessmen proposed digging a canal to connect the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers—beginning with the Sugar River, and using its source, Lake Sunapee, as a reservoir. The plan was abandoned before it got started. In 1871, the Sugar River Railroad connected to Newport from Bradford.

But the Sugar River was recognized as central to industrial development, and in 1820, mill owners from Claremont, Sunapee and Newport united to create the Sunapee Dam Corporation, which built a dam to regulate the river's flow, running mill machinery even during drought. This plan worked, and over 120 water wheels would turn along the stream's course. By 1859, when the population was 2,020, Newport had three woolen mills and two tanneries. It also had the Sibley Scythe Company, established in 1842, which manufactured the scythes that cleared jungle during construction of the Panama Canal. The company closed in 1929.

The venerable mill town has significant architectural landmarks, including the 1823 South Congregational Church designed by Elias Carter, the Newport Opera House built in 1886, and the Richards Free Library, built as the home of Colonel Seth Mason Richards in 1898.

Photos from the early 20th century:

Earliest settlers (1766)
During the summer and fall of 1765, six young men came to Newport from Killingworth, Connecticut, cleared six acres of land each, and, after getting in a crop of rye, returned home and spent the winter. The following year, in June 1766, these men having an addition of two to their number, making eight in all, five having families, came and made the first permanent settlement. No record or tradition is found showing the precise day of their arrival. All accounts agree that they arrived in town Saturday night; that they were detained by a bad place in the road on Pike Hill, where they camped for the night; and the following day, after accomplishing the remainder of their journey, they spent in religious worship under the shadow of a pine tree which stood just south of the A. Pease residence.

The following were among the earliest settlers, the first five having families.

 * Zepheniah Clark
 * Ebenezer Merrit
 * Benjamin Bragg
 * Samuel Hurd
 * Jesse Wilcox
 * James Church
 * William Stanard
 * Ezra Parmelee
 * Jesse Lane
 * Jesse Kelsey
 * Benjamin Giles
 * Nathan Hurd
 * Charles Avery
 * Ephraim Towner
 * Absalom Kelsey
 * Amos Hall
 * Roswell Hull
 * Daniel Dudley

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 113.0 sqkm, of which 112.9 sqkm are land and 0.2 sqkm are water, comprising 0.16% of the town. Besides Newport's downtown area, settlements within the town include North Newport, Kelleyville (in the western part of the town), Guild (in the eastern part of the town), and Wendell, on the town's eastern border with Sunapee.

Newport is drained by the west-flowing Sugar River and its South Branch, with the town center at their confluence. The North Branch joins the Sugar River north of Newport village and east of North Newport. The entire town is part of the Connecticut River watershed. The highest point in town is along its southern border, where an unnamed ridge has an elevation of approximately 1920 ft above sea level.

The town is served by state routes 10, 11 and 103. Newport is home to Parlin Field Airport.

Adjacent municipalities

 * Croydon (north)
 * Sunapee (east)
 * Goshen (southeast)
 * Unity (south)
 * Claremont (west)

Photos from the early 21st century:

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Newport has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Newport was 97 F on July 15, 1995, while the coldest temperature recorded was -40 F on January 20, 1994.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,507 people, 2,629 households, and 1,706 families residing in the town. There were 2,938 housing units, of which 309, or 10.5%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the town was 97.2% white, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.3% some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 2,629 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were headed by married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43, and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town, 22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% were from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $49,663, and the median income for a family was $60,317. The per capita income for the town was $25,969. 9.6% of the population and 4.6% of families were below the poverty line. 6.9% of the population under the age of 18 and 8.7% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.

Education
Newport's public schools are within the Newport School District. Richards Elementary School educates children from kindergarten through 5th grade. Newport Middle and High Schools educates students from 6th through 12th grades. In fall 2016, 5th and 6th grade students at Towle Elementary were transferred to the other schools. The building is still used for athletics. Within the western region of the town, located is the Newport Montessori School, which is a private school that harbors pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students.

Notable people

 * Henry Albert Baker (1848–1934), 19th-century orthodontist
 * George Belknap (1832–1903), US Navy rear admiral
 * Edmund Burke (1809–1882), US congressman
 * Harry Morrison Cheney (1860–1937), Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
 * Austin Corbin (1827–1896), 19th-century banking and railroad entrepreneur
 * Horatio Hale (1817–1896), businessman, ethnologist
 * Sarah Josepha Hale (1788–1879), editor, writer
 * Evan Hill (1919–2010), journalist, University of Connecticut professor
 * Henry Harrison Metcalf (1841–1932), editor, politician, author
 * David Sargent (born 1931), president of Suffolk University
 * Edwin Obed Stanard (1832–1914), US congressman
 * Mason Weare Tappan (1817–1886), US congressman, state attorney general
 * Billy B. Van (1870–1950), vaudeville entertainer

title: Newport, New Hampshire


text:
Coeymans (hamlet), New York

Coeymans is a hamlet in Albany County, New York, United States. It is located on Route 144 in the southeastern part of the Town of Coeymans. The population was 835 at the 2000 census, which listed the community as a census-designated place (CDP), but it was not included as a CDP in the 2010 census.

History
The Dr. Wesley Blaisdell House, Abraham Houghtaling House, Brigadier General David McCarty Stone Cottage, and Alexander Willis House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Coeymans is located at 42.47389°N, -73.79222°W (42.4739705, -73.7923456) and its elevation is 59 ft.

According to the 2000 United States Census, the CDP had a total area of 1.221 sqmi, of which 1.092 sqmi was land and 0.129 sqmi was water.

Coeymans is on the west bank of the Hudson River.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 835 people, 313 households, and 215 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 764.3 PD/sqmi. There were 354 housing units at an average density of 324.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.50% White, 4.19% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 2.28% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 6.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 313 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.2% were married couples living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 31.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $34,440, and the median income for a family was $44,554. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $27,125 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,212. 9.0% of the population and 9.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.1% of those under the age of 18 and 17.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

title: Coeymans (hamlet), New York


text:
Coeymans, New York

Coeymans is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 7,256 in the 2020 census, a decline from 7,418 at the 2010 census. The town is named after an early settler, who was the patent-holder for the area. The town is in the southeastern part of the county, south of Albany.

The Powell & Minnock Brick Yard, just north of the Hamlet on Rt. 144, was used as the assembly site for a new swing span for the 145th Street Bridge in 2006. The site was chosen because of a lack of space closer to the city.

History
Barent Pieteres Koijemans first arrived in 1639 from Holland. He became an apprentice at a mill owned by the Van Rensselaers. He purchased the land and obtained a patent in 1673.

Coeymans was formed from part of the town of Watervliet in 1791. In 1815, part of the town was used to create the new town of Westerlo.

The Fletcher Blaisdell Farm Complex, Coeymans School, Ariaanje Coeymans House, Coeymans-Bronck Stone House, Mull House and Cemetery, Tobias Ten Eyck House and Cemeteries, and Cornelius and Agnietje Van Derzee House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 53.1 square miles (137.5 km2), of which 50.2 square miles (129.9 km2) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.6 km2)  (5.50%) is water.

The southern town line is the border of Greene County, and the eastern town line, marked by the Hudson River, is the border of Rensselaer County.

Interstate 87 and U.S. Route 9W pass through the town.

Demographics
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 8,151 people, 3,121 households, and 2,184 families residing in the town. The population density was 162.5 PD/sqmi. There were 3,404 housing units at an average density of 67.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 94.61% White, 2.13% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.24% of the population.

There were 3,121 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,742, and the median income for a family was $57,808. Males had a median income of $41,197 versus $28,038 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,686. About 5.7% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
The economy of Coeymans is driven largely by Lafarge Cement Plant, and the Port of Coeymans which was developed over the former site of the Powell and Minnock brick plant on the shore of the Hudson River. The Lafarge Cement Plant generates approximately 1.8 million tons of cement per year, which is distributed throughout North America. The relatively new and developing Port of Coeymans focuses on a recycling hub for the Albany area, as well as offshore wind. The Port of Coeymans has had a number of environmental violations, air quality concerns, and fires on site.

Communities and locations in Coeymans

 * Alcove – A hamlet in the southwestern part of the town, east of the Alcove Reservoir.
 * Alcove Reservoir – A reservoir at the western town line.
 * Aquetuck – A hamlet near the southern town line.
 * Coeymans – A hamlet and census-designated place in the southeastern part of the town, by the Hudson River, which is located on Route 144.
 * Callahans Corners – A location on the northern town line.
 * Coeymans Hollow – A hamlet east of Alcove.
 * Keefers Corners – A location in the northwestern part of the town.
 * Ravena – A village in the southern part of the town on Route 9W.
 * Roah Hook – A hamlet north of Coeymans hamlet, on the bank of the Hudson River.

List of town supervisors
Stephen Donnelly 2024 - present

George D. McHugh 2020 – 2023

Philip A. Crandall 2016 – 2019

Stephen Flach 2012 - 2015

James Youmans 2010 - 2011 (appointed October 2010)

Henry Traver 2010 (resigned October 2010)

Ronald K. Hotaling Jr. 2004 - 2009

Joseph Scalzo 2002 - 2003

George McHugh 2000 - 2001

Robert Fisk 1998 - 1999

Victor Carrk 1992 - 1997

Nita J. Chmielewski 1990 - 1991 (resigned October 1991, Victor Carrk was appointed)

Winthrop "Buddy" Irwin 1985 - 1989

John Biscone 1974 - 1984

Ralph Pape 1962 - 1973

George Boehlke 1956 - 1961

Fred Forbes 1954 - 1955

Fred Halsted 1950 - 1953

Edward Uthe 1938 - 1949

title: Coeymans, New York


text:
Colonie (village), New York

Colonie is a village in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 7,793 at the 2010 census.

The village of Colonie is within the town of Colonie. Both are north of the city of Albany, the capital of New York.

History
The village of Colonie was incorporated on March 2, 1921, and was barely developed beyond anything more than buildings along the Albany-Schenectady Road (NY Route 5).

The village fire department was established in 1931.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.6 km$2$)of which 3.3 square miles (8.5 km$2$) is land and 0.30% is water.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 7,916 people, 3,174 households, and 2,253 families living in the village. The population density was 2,396.7 PD/sqmi. There were 3,264 housing units at an average density of 988.2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the village was 91.68% White, 3.54% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.08% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.

Of the 3,174 households 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 23.3% of households were one person and 9.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 21.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median household income was $54,597 and the median family income was $63,822. Males had a median income of $38,515 versus $30,929 for females. The per capita income for the village was $23,596. About 2.5% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The village is in the South Colonie Central School District.

title: Colonie (village), New York


text:
Colonie, New York

Colonie is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. It is the most-populous suburb of Albany, and is the third-largest town in area in Albany County, occupying approximately 11% of the county. Several hamlets exist within the town. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 85,590.

The name is derived from the Dutch Colonye or "Colonie", derived from the Colonie of Rensselaerswyck. All the land outside the Village of Beverwyck (now Albany) was referred to as the "Colonie". The town of Colonie is north of Albany and is at the northern border of the county. Within the town of Colonie are two villages, one also known as Colonie and the other known as Menands.

History

This area was once part of the Rensselaerwyck manor. The town of Colonie was formed in 1895 after the rural residents of the town of Watervliet opposed the state's proposal to transform the entire town into the city of Watervliet. The town and village of Green Island was also split off as a town from the town of Watervliet a year later and the village of West Troy that remained became the current city of Watervliet. All debts from the original town were divided proportionally between Green Island, Watervliet, and Colonie. Several lawsuits worked their way through the court system from the results of division. The original town of Watervliet was the "mother of towns" in Albany County, having once been all the land outside of the city of Albany within the county. All current towns either were formed directly or indirectly from a town formed from Watervliet. The central part of the town was once the location of the extensive Shaker community farms. The Watervliet Shaker Historic District is located in Colonie. Much of that land is now occupied by the Albany International Airport. Through to the 1930s, Colonie was a simple series of extensive farms and a few hamlets. However, in the post-war years, there was intensive suburban development, originally on the corridor that connected Albany and Schenectady, but quickly following throughout the entire township. By 1980, suburban development had saturated the community. At the same time, there were large highways (I-87, I-787, US Rt. 9 and NY Rt. 7) constructed which drastically changed the nature of the town and life there. The Colonie of the 1990s and beyond has become an entirely-different community from the town of the 1930s and 1940s.

The Casparus F. Pruyn House at Newtonville is open to the public as the historical and cultural arts center for the Town of Colonie.

Historic sites
A number of sites in Colonie are included on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, including -
 * Albany Rural Cemetery
 * Bacon-Stickney House
 * Senator William T. Byrne House
 * Frederick Cramer House
 * Martin Dunsbach House
 * Royal K. Fuller House
 * Goodrich School
 * Isaac M. Haswell House
 * Hedge Lawn
 * Henry-Remsen House
 * Ebenezer Hills Jr. Farmhouse
 * Friend Humphrey House
 * John Wolf Kemp House
 * John V. A. Lansing Farmhouse and Billsen Cemetery and Archeological Site
 * George H. Lawton House
 * Louis Menand House
 * Menands Manor
 * Reformed Dutch Church of Rensselaer in Watervliet
 * Alfred H. Renshaw House
 * Simmons Stone House
 * Jedediah Strong House
 * Treemont Manor
 * George Trimble House
 * Van Denbergh-Simmons House
 * Watervliet Shaker Historic District

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 57.9 square miles (149.9 km2), of which 56.1 square miles (145.2 km2)  is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2)  (3.11%) is water.

The northern town line borders Schenectady County, and Saratoga County, marked by the Mohawk River. The eastern town boundary is the border of Rensselaer County, marked by the Hudson River. The town lies near the junction of the Hudson and the Mohawk rivers.

Interstate 87, Interstate 787, Interstate 90 and U.S. Route 9 pass through the town. State routes 2, 5, 7, 32 and 155 are also important arterials within the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,258 people, 30,980 households, and 20,539 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,413.6 PD/sqmi. There were 32,280 housing units at an average density of 575.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 90.55% White, 3.96% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 3.59% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.86% of the population.

There were 30,980 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. Of all households, 28.1% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,817, and the median income for a family was $62,649. Males had a median income of $41,453 versus $30,763 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,231. About 3.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
The current town supervisor is Peter G. Crummey, a Republican who was sworn in as the 18th Supervisor of the Town of Colonie on January 1, 2022. Crummey received 57 percent of the vote while his opponent, Democrat Kelly Mateja, received 42 percent. This election marked a change in political power at the Supervisor's position from Democrat to Republican. The outgoing town supervisor Paula Mahan, a Democrat, chose not to seek an eighth two-year term. Mahan was elected to her first term in November 2007, defeating long-time Republican incumbent Mary Brizzell. In November 2009, Mahan was re-elected to a second term, defeating former Republican Albany County Executive/former New York State Senator Michael J. Hoblock. In November 2011, Mahan was re-elected to a third term, defeating former New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and the former Director of the town's Planning and Economic Development Committee, Denise Sheehan, by less than 400 votes. She was re-elected in 2013 to a fourth term by defeating political newcomer Todd A. Drake. The town board has six members, with four-year terms; three members are elected every odd-numbered year.

According to the April 1, 2018, NYS Board of Elections Party Affiliation and Status of active and inactive registered voters in the Town of Colonie, there are approximately 21,000 registered Democrats and 16,000 registered Republicans out of a total of 56,500 registered voters in the 61 election districts within the town.

The seat of Colonie's government is Colonie Memorial Town Hall, located on U.S. Route 9 in Newtonville, near Siena College. The town courts, police department, and emergency medical services department are located at the Public Safety Building on Wolf Road near Albany International Airport.

Public safety
Law enforcement in the town is primarily provided by the Town of Colonie Police Department; within the village of Menands, which occupies the southeastern corner of the town, there is the Village of Menands Police Department as well. However, that law enforcement is supplemented by the New York State Police Troop G (the headquarters of which lies within the town of Colonie) and the Albany County Sheriff's Office, which patrols the Albany International Airport and operates the Albany County Correctional Facilities (which also lie within the town of Colonie).

In November 2007, the town of Colonie was ranked the sixth safest place to live in a Morgan Quitno Publishing study of crime rates across the United States. By November 2009 CQ Press (formerly known as Morgan Quitno Publishing) ranked the town of Colonie with the lowest crime rate of all communities in the United States with a population of at least 75,000 residents. The town held the top spot again in 2010 and has since continuously ranked at the top 10 or better for having the lowest crime rate of all communities in the United States with a population of at least 75,000 residents.

Emergency Medical Service (advanced, basic, and transport) in the town is primarily provided by the Town of Colonie Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department. The EMS Department operates out of six ambulance stations scattered throughout the town of Colonie to facilitate the most rapid response. The EMS Department also serves as an integral part of any heavy or light technical rescue operations in the town. In 1999, the town of Colonie Emergency Medical Services Department was awarded the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians' National Paramedic Service of the Year Award. The award is given to one service of high distinction that has demonstrated excellence, innovation and community service.

On May 4, 2010, the town of Colonie was awarded the 2010 International Association of Fire Chiefs' "Heartsafe Community" award for making significant advances in emergency cardiac care. On August 28, 2010, the New York State EMS Council awarded the town of Colonie Emergency Medical Services Department the New York State "EMS Agency of the Year" award.

Firefighting service in the town is primarily provided by one of twelve (mostly volunteer) firefighting agencies and one paid fire brigade. (See also Administrative divisions of New York.)
 * Five Fire Districts (Boght Community, Midway, Schuyler Heights, Verdoy, and West Albany).
 * One Joint Fire District (Stanford Heights [Niskayuna & Colonie]).
 * Four Fire Protection Districts (Fuller Road, Latham, Maplewood, and Shaker Road-Loudonville).
 * Two Village Fire Departments (Colonie and Menands).

These agencies encompass seventeen fire stations, two small rescue boats (Boght & Verdoy), seven ladder trucks (Fuller Road, Latham, Menands, Midway, Schuyler Heights, Shaker Road-Loudonville, Stanford Heights, and Verdoy), one Hazardous Materials Specialty Rescue (West Albany), one Trench/Structural Collapse Specialty Rescue (Village of Colonie), one Confined Space Specialty Rescue (Latham), eight General/Light Rescue apparatus, numerous full-size pumpers, a small number of attack pumpers, and a small number of EMS First-Response vehicles.

 * One Paid Fire Brigade

The Albany International Airport Fire Brigade consists of a full-time paid crash/fire/rescue staff, three crash/rescue vehicles, a mini pumper, hazmat truck, foam re-supply truck, and a full-size pumper. However, the airport's fire units stay on Airport Authority property most of the time, and are housed in yet another fire station that is on the Airport Authority's property. Occasionally, the Airport Fire Brigade responds to mutual aid requests with the bordering Shaker Road-Loudonville Fire Department, as well as other fire agencies within the town of Colonie and Albany County.

 * Also located in the town of Colonie is a New York sponsored Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team, New York Task Force 2 (NY-TF2). NY-TF2 (then known as the New York Regional Response Team-1 {NYRRT-1}) was the first USAR team on site immediately following the attacks on, and collapse of, the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, owing to the fact that many members of NY-TF1 (based in New York City) were members of the FDNY that perished in the collapse. Those same members provided much of the initial training to NY-TF2.

Education
There are six public school districts that serve the town of Colonie: the South Colonie Central School District, North Colonie Central Schools, Watervliet City School District, Menands Union Free School District, Niskayuna Central School District, and Mohonasen Central School District.

South Colonie (Colonie Central High School) serves much of the western part of the town, including West Albany, the village of Colonie, and a small part of the adjoining town of Niskayuna. North Colonie (Shaker High School) serves Latham and the smaller, suburban and rural hamlets to the north of Latham, as well as most of Loudonville and Newtonville. The Watervliet City School District (Watervliet High School) serves some students from Menands and the Schuyler Heights area. Mohonasen's (Mohonasen High School) schools serve the sliver of Colonie which lies south of the Amtrak tracks and east of its border with the Town of Rotterdam. Niskayuna Central School District's boundaries enter Colonie for the short segment of Vly Rd. east of Denison Rd., and the few streets along this stretch. The Menands Union Free School District is a single building school district serving the village of Menands and educates students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Upon completion of eighth grade, Menands Union Free School District students choose whether to attend Shaker High School, Colonie Central High School, Watervliet, Heatly Junior-Senior High School in Green Island, or Tech Valley High School in Albany. In 2008, the Maplewood-Colonie Common School District merged with, and into the North Colonie School District.

The town of Colonie is also home to the Christian Brothers Academy, as well as several private and/or religious elementary schools. Siena College is located in the hamlet of Loudonville. Bryant & Stratton College, a proprietary college, is in the town of Colonie. Colonie was formerly home to a campus of ITT Technical Institute,

Recreation
The Town of Colonie operates and maintains over 850 acres of property and facilities, including the 130-acre Crossings Park, the 160-acre Mohawk River Park and Pool, the 12-acre Mohawk Riverside Landing Park, the 36-hole Town of Colonie Golf Course, the 43-acre Schuyler Flatts Cultural Park, a 5.5 mile section of the Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Trail, and other sports facilities and pocket parks.

Media
There are two dedicated weekly newspapers for parts of the town, the Colonie Spotlight and Loudonville Spotlight. Also, Channel 9 on Spectrum News in the town is a public-access television station devoted to town news, programming, and events. The studios are located inside the William K. Sanford town library on Albany Shaker Road.

Although not entirely dedicated to the town of Colonie, the headquarters and distribution center for the Capital Region's major daily newspaper, the Times Union (owned by the Hearst Corporation), lies within the town.

Communities and locations

 * Albany International Airport (ALB)—An airport servicing Albany and the Capital District.
 * Boght Corners—A hamlet in the northeastern part of the town.
 * Colonie—An incorporated village in the southern part of the town.
 * Crescent Station—A hamlet at the northernmost point of the town.
 * Karner—A hamlet southwest of the village of Colonie.
 * Dunsbach Ferry—A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town at the Mohawk River.
 * Latham—A hamlet near the center of the town.
 * Lisha Kill—A hamlet in the northwestern section of town, on Central Ave (NY Route 5).
 * Loudonville—A suburban hamlet near the Albany city line.
 * Mannsville—Part of the Schuyler Heights Fire District and Watervliet City School District.
 * Maplewood—A hamlet adjacent to Cohoes, Watervliet and Green Island.
 * Maywood—A hamlet northwest of the Village of Colonie on Central Ave/ NY Route 5.
 * Menands—An incorporated village in the eastern part of the town.
 * Newtonville—A hamlet between Latham and Loudonville.
 * Schuyler Heights—A hamlet north of Menands; south and west of Watervliet; east of Loudonville; lying on the west bank of the Hudson River. Part of the Schuyler Heights Fire District and Watervliet City School District and North Colonie School District.
 * Roessleville—A suburban community near the city line of Albany.
 * Shakers—A settlement southwest of Albany International Airport.
 * Stanford Heights—A hamlet on the western edge of town, along the Schenectady County line.
 * Verdoy—A hamlet north of Albany International Airport.
 * West Albany—A hamlet on the southern edge of the town, along the Albany city line.

Notable people

 * Robert Prentiss, Massachusetts and New York (state) politician, lived in Colonie.
 * Leland Stanford, born in Colonie in 1824, at which time it was known as Watervliet

title: Colonie, New York


text:
Alfred (village), New York

Alfred is a village located in the town of Alfred in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 4,026 at the 2020 census.

The village is home to both Alfred University and Alfred State College. In 2023, The Washington Post named it "the collegiest college town in America" due to its high ratio of students to non-students.

Due in part to the New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred has become a hub for ceramic artists and ceramic engineers.

19th century
The area around Alfred had historically been home to the Seneca tribe. In 1807, three Seventh Day Baptists; Clark Crandall, Nathan Green, and Edward Green, moved to the area with their families, becoming the first of many members of that sect to move to the village and surrounding region.

Alfred's name has traditionally been attributed to Alfred the Great, however that has never been definitively verified. For much of its early history the village of Alfred was known as Alfred Centre.

Alfred became home to an institution of higher education in 1832, when Alfred University was founded. The college was coeducational from its inception and tried to provide practical as well as liberal education for students. This university was initially considered the principal seat of higher learning supported by the Seventh Day Baptists although it was not directly supported by the denomination.

The village was a hotbed of support for the abolition movement and during the American Civil War nearly 150 residents fought for the union.

In 1888 the Celadon Terra Cotta Company was founded after the discovery of high-quality clay in the area. The company grew over the next decade to become a leading producer of roof tile and architectural terra cotta. The presence of this and the nearby Alfred Clay Company helped to establish Alfred as a ceramics hub, and led to the local university being selected as the home of the New York State College of Ceramics in 1900.

20th century

The new college recruited British ceramicist Charles Fergus Binns as a director and professor. Binns was a proponent of the Arts and crafts movement and considered it essential for a student of ceramics to understand both the artistic and technical aspects of their craft. Under his leadership the college grew into a leading institution of ceramic studies, eventually developing separate schools for ceramic art and ceramic engineering. As a result of the college's prominence, Alfred remained a hub for ceramics even after the burning of the Celadon Terra Cotta Company's local factory in 1909.

A statutory agricultural school was formed at Alfred University in 1908, with a farm, livestock, and farm machinery for trade education. In 1937 a school of Engineering Technology was formed at this college, and in 1948 the entire college was spun off from Alfred University to form Alfred State College.

From 1940 to 1957 the village was home to Glidden Pottery, a unique stoneware-bodied dinnerware with designs by founder Glidden Parker, Sergio Dello Strologo, Fong Chow, and others. These pieces were affordable for many, yet showcased unique midcentury modern styles and designs. They have become highly collectable in the years since the pottery's closing.

On April 30, 1972, the village hosted the first Hot Dog Day, organized jointly by Alfred University and Alfred State College students.

Historic Structures

Alfred is home to numerous buildings and properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Alumni Hall, Fireman's Hall, Steinheim Castle and the Terra Cotta Building. Additionally, 55 properties in Alfred's downtown form the Alfred Village Historic District.

Geography
Alfred is approximately located at 42.3° north latitude, 77.8° west longitude.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.1 sqkm, all land. A small stream, Kanakadea Creek, flows through the center of the village, then to the Canisteo River, part of the Susquehanna River watershed. The topography is steep hill country, part of the Allegheny Plateau, a physiographic region that is part of the Appalachian Mountains.

Alfred is located in the hills of western New York along the Southern Tier. The layout of the valley is such that the lowest part contains the village, and upon the hills to the east and west are Alfred University and Alfred State College, respectively. The valley was originally called Kanakadea (or Canakadea, or other spellings) by Native Americans.

The elevation of Alfred is about 1700 ft but rises to a high point of 2355 ft at the summit of Jericho Hill just south of the village. The hills greatly affect the weather in the region, which results in quick changes as well as different conditions in neighboring valleys.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,954 people, 530 households, and 169 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,352.5 PD/sqmi. There were 576 housing units at an average density of 488.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 90.21% White, 4.40% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.71% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.

There were 530 households, out of which 12.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.0% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 68.1% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 3.0% under the age of 18, 83.1% from 18 to 24, 5.9% from 25 to 44, 4.6% from 45 to 64, and 3.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20 years. For every 100 females, there were 144.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 147.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $21,313, and the median income for a family was $70,694. Males had a median income of $15,750 versus $39,375 for females. The per capita income for the village was $8,224. About 2.0% of families and 37.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

title: Alfred (village), New York


text:
Alfred, New York

Alfred is a town in Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 4,896 at the 2020 census.

The Town of Alfred has a village named Alfred in the center of the town.

Alfred University and Alfred State College are located in the Village of Alfred.

Early history
"The Seneca Indians were the original owners of this land, but following the American victory in the American Revolutionary War, "all foreign claims of ownership were extinguished, and the power of the Indian Confederacy was broken... but New York and Massachusetts each claimed ownership under conflicting patents. In 1786 New York conceded the lands to Massachusetts but retained the sovereignty." Ownership of the land changed hands several times until 1791, when "most of the lands of Alfred were sold to the settlers at from $2 to $4 per acre."

"The earliest settlers followed Indian trails, the chief one leading from Fort Niagara to and down the Canisteo, Chemung and Susquehanna rivers. This passed near the northeastern corner of Alfred and had become well worn by war parties during the Revolution. Settlers from the far east might come by Albany, and the Schoharie and Susquehanna valleys or by Schenectady, Utica, Geneva and Bath. Whatever way they chose the roads were mostly bridgeless and of the most primitive kind, making travel tedious and difficult. From Hornellsville westward for many years the only roads were little more than wood paths marked by 'blazed trees'."

"The naming of Alfred has traditionally been attributed to Alfred the Great. That attribution may never be definitively verified because there appears to be no extant document from the period when the town was named that ties it to King Alfred – i.e., no town, county, or state record regarding the source of the name. Despite that missing documentation—There is, however, evidence in support of the legend, and there are no records that point to any other source for the name. Nineteenth-century accounts do cite Alfred the Great as the source. In addition, there was no early settler named Alfred (first or last name) for whom the town might have been named."

19th century
"1807: The first settlers moved in the Alfred area, began clearing forests and building log cabins in order to bring their families in. These settlers were three men – Seventh Day Baptists – from Berlin and Brookfield, New York: Clark Crandall, Nathan Green, and Edward Green. Crandall later became a county judge and joined the state legislature." "The original settlers were mainly Seventh day Baptists. Their first church in this country was organized by members who withdrew from the First Baptist church at Newport, R. I., in 1671. This church was the sixth Baptist church organized in America, and they differed from their mother church only in the observance of the "seventh day," or Saturday, as the Sabbath. During the latter half of the 17th century, and the whole of the 18th, this people established strong settlements in the southwestern part of Rhode Island, chiefly in Westerly and Hopkinton. Out of these by 1800 grew strong settlements and churches in Rensselaer, Jefferson, Madison, Cortland and other counties of this state. From these out-stations and from the original settlements emigration set westward to the 'Genesee country'."

Allegany County was re-organized on March 11, 1808. "At the same time, the town of Alfred was named and organized by the state legislature as one of five towns formed from the larger town (actually co-extensive with the county) of Angelica: Angelica, Alfred, Caneadea, Nunda, and Ossian."

"The log schoolhouse early sprang up in each neighborhood, and the district school, the singing-school, the spelling-school and the Sabbath-meeting became a part of the life of the community. As prosperity permitted, the large frame-barn took the place of the pole-sided, straw-shingled stable, and a little later the frame house, with its shaved shingle roof, much smaller generally than the barn, replaced the log hut as the family dwelling." "Amos Crandall, called 'Deacon Crandall' and originally from Rhode Island, taught school four winters at $10 per month, boarding himself and taking his pay in produce or labor. He was one of the earliest teachers of singing schools in the town, and established the first Sabbath school."

"The first business of the settlers in Alfred was to make "clearings." The ashes, carefully saved from the burned fallows and converted into potash, was the first source of revenue. The making of maple sugar supplied home requirement and the surplus, bartered with the merchant, helped to secure needed family supplies. Lumber had little value beyond the cost of making, on account of lack of roads and a market. Those who could hunt could in that way help supply themselves with food, especially if they were fortunate enough to secure the bounty offered for the killing of wolves. Flax was raised, prepared by hand, carded, spun, woven and converted into clothing. When it became possible sheep were raised and their wool formed, entirely by hand processes, into clothing. Few indeed were the early homes into which the cards, the spinning-wheel, the flag-wheel, the quill-wheel, the swifts, the warping-bars, and loom did not find an early entrance. Oxen were in general use because considered more economical and useful than horses. The virgin soil, enriched by the ashes of the burned timber, was highly productive; and when the seasons were favorable, good crops of grain rewarded the farmer's toil among the roots and stumps. Year by year the clearings widened, orchards were planted, flocks and herds increased and roads became more passable. Here and there a mill was built, and a few small stores were opened."

"The first settlers were, for the most part, sons of soldiers of the Revolution, and themselves soldiers of the war of 1812. Alfred's sons were conspicuous in the border warfare in Kansas. At the opening of the Rebellion they were prompt to respond to the call for volunteers... The names of nearly 150 of her boys are on her roll of honor. Four or five of the professors and hundreds of Alfred students fought in the Union ranks, many attaining high rank."

Alfred became home to an institution of higher education in 1832, when Alfred University was founded. The college was coeducational from its inception and tried to provide practical as well as liberal education for students. This university was initially considered the principal seat of higher learning supported by the Seventh Day Baptists although it was not directly supported by the denomination.

In 1888 the Celadon Terra Cotta Company was founded after the discovery of high-quality clay in the town. The company grew over the next decade to become a leading producer of roof tile and architectural terra cotta. "These works have cost $150,000 and employ from 20 to 50 men. Tile of improved patterns excelling any other manufactured in America is shipped to every part of the country. Extensive pressed-brick works have also been established at Alfred Station [by the Alfred Clay Company]." The presence of these two clay manufacturers helped to establish Alfred as a ceramics hub, and led to the local university being selected as the home of the New York State College of Ceramics in 1900.

20th century

The new college recruited British ceramicist Charles Fergus Binns as a director and professor. Binns was a proponent of the Arts and crafts movement and considered it essential for a student of ceramics to understand both the artistic and technical aspects of their craft. Under his leadership the college grew into a leading institution of ceramic studies, eventually developing separate schools for ceramic art and ceramic engineering. As a result of the college's prominence, Alfred remained a hub for ceramics even after the burning of the Celadon Terra Cotta Company's local factory in 1909.

A statutory agricultural school was formed at Alfred University in 1908, with a farm, livestock, and farm machinery for trade education. In 1937 a school of Engineering Technology was formed at this college, and in 1948 the entire college was spun off from Alfred University to form Alfred State College.

Higher education
Alfred is home to three higher educational institutions: Alfred University, Alfred State College, and the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.

Alfred University was started in 1836, by seventh day Baptists, as part of the Alfred Select teacher's college and is one of the oldest coeducational institutions in the US. Alfred University offers more than 40 majors and courses of study in 5 colleges and schools; its enrollment status is approximately 2,000 graduate and undergraduate students each year.

Alfred State College was founded as the New York State College of Agriculture at Alfred University in 1908. In 1948 the state legislature formed the State University of New York system with the Alfred College of Agriculture and Technology, or Ag-Tech, as one of its founding members. Alfred State College has about 3,400 undergraduate students in many areas of study including information technology, nursing, surveying, court reporting, and web development.

The New York State College of Ceramics is a statutory college of the State University of New York operated by Alfred University on behalf of the SUNY Board of Trustees. It was founded in 1900 as the New York State School of Clay-working and Ceramics at Alfred University.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.6 square miles (81.8 km2), of which 31.5 square miles (81.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2)  (0.19%) is water.

New York State Route 244 passes across the town and terminates at New York State Route 21 near Alfred Station. County roads 10, 11, 12 and 42 pass through the Town of Alfred.

There is a small stream known as Canacadea Creek, that flows throughout the year from south to north. This stream flows to the Canisteo River, which is a tributary to the Susquehanna River watershed. The topography is steep hill country as it is part of the Allegheny Plateau, being the northern part of the Appalachian Mountain chain.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,140 people, 996 households, and 468 families residing in the town. The population density was 163.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,134 housing units at an average density of 36.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 91.79% White, 3.46% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.95% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.26% of the population.

There were 996 households, out of which 21.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.0% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 8.3% under the age of 18, 66.8% from 18 to 24, 9.7% from 25 to 44, 10.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 135.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 138.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,067, and the median income for a family was $57,159. Males had a median income of $28,667 versus $29,821 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,785. About 2.4% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the Town of Alfred

 * Alfred – The Village of Alfred is located in the north-central part of the town.
 * Alfred Station – A hamlet northeast of Alfred village on Route 244.
 * Alfred Center – A former hamlet on Whitney Valley Creek.
 * Dykes Creek – an important stream in the town's south that flows to Andover and then to Wellsville where it joins the Genesee River.
 * East Valley – The Valley to the east of the Railroad Valley. This leads all the way to Andover and is mostly parallel to Railroad Valley separated predominantly by Ben Socer Hill.
 * Five Corners – A hamlet west of Alfred village on Route 244 where County Roads 10(Vandermark Road) and 11(McHenry Valley Road) intersect Route 244 and the Town Roads of Hanneman Road and Moland Hill Road.
 * Jericho Hill – A hill south of the Village of Alfred on County Road 12 or Jericho Hill Road. Alfred University maintains a playing field for rugby and another for football on this hill top.
 * Pine Hill – A hill [elevation] east of Alfred village.
 * Railroad Valley – The next valley to the east of the Village of Alfred which contains Tip Top
 * Tip Top – An area southeast of Alfred village on Route 21 known as the highest point along the old Erie-Lackawanna Railroad.
 * Tinkertown – A location northeast of Alfred village on Route 244. Known for its strip of stores and houses in a tight valley.
 * Whitney Valley Creek – An important stream in the north of the town that flows eventually into the Canisteo River and then into the Susquehanna River basin.

Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Alfred has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Notable people

 * Eva Allen Alberti (1856–1938), dramatics teacher
 * Flora A. Brewster (1852–1919), physician, surgeon
 * Joseph Goodrich (1800–1867), pioneer
 * John Tuttle (born 1958), long-distance runner

title: Alfred, New York


text:
Almond (village), New York

Almond is a village located partially in the town of Almond in Allegany County, and partially in the town of Hornellsville in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 466 at the 2010 census.

History
The first people to settle in the Karr Valley area came from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in 1796. After the legal formation of Allegany County, New York in 1806, the area that would become Almond was initially a part of the town of Alfred, New York. In 1821, Almond was separated from Alfred by an "act of Legislature."

Notably, the area was not named after the almond tree nut, but rather after the Almond River near Edinburgh, Scotland, from where its settlers came. The village's residents pronounce the town's name with the Scottish pronunciation, which is closer to "Ellmund".

In the early 1800s, Almond "thrived... with many mills and factories popping up along the narrow creek and Main Street." However, the town's economic growth was limited by the size of the narrow valley it inhabited, and was reportedly "maxed out" in the 1840s. As a result, new businesses opted to move into neighboring towns like Hornell. By the early 1900s, the town's economy had stagnated significantly; old factories burned down and owners opted to rebuild in other locations, rather than in Almond.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.6 square mile (1.5 km2), all land.

Canacadea Creek flows through the village. The Southern Tier Expressway (Interstate 86 and New York State Route 17) and New York State Route 21 pass through the village.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 461 people, 194 households, and 117 families residing in the village. The population density was 816.3 PD/sqmi. There were 214 housing units at an average density of 378.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.83% White, 0.87% Asian, 0.87% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 194 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $31,000, and the median income for a family was $42,000. Males had a median income of $35,714 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,509. About 11.5% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Carol Fenner, author

title: Almond (village), New York