Berlin, New York
Encyclopedia
Berlin is a town
in Rensselaer County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,901 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Berlin
in Germany
, although natives pronounce the name differently, with the accent on the first syllable.
The Town of Berlin is located on the eastern border of the county.
One of the many New York
towns with a German name.
, the town has a total area of 59.9 square miles (155.1 km²), of which, 59.7 square miles (154.6 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.45%) is water.
The highest point is Berlin Mountain, 2,818 feet (859 m) above sea level, near the Massachusetts
border in the Taconic Mountains
. The Taconic Mountains form a barrier in the eastern part of the town so that no road connects the town to Massachusetts.
The east town line is the border of Massachusetts.
Berlin is home to the source of the Poesten Kill
, which begins at Dyken Pond, in the northwest corner of the town.
is to the south, and the Town of Petersburgh
is in the north. The Town of Sand Lake
, and the Town of Poestenkill
are at the west town line. The eastern border is Berkshire County
, Massachusetts.
Like many small communities, Berlin has relied on one or two key employers for economic growth. These have primarily included W.J. Cowee, LLC, a manufacturer of wood products, and the Henry J. Seagroatt Co., a producer and distributor of flowers and supplies. In neighboring Petersburgh, NY, the high tech industry is represented by Taconic, a worldwide manufacturer of PTFE and dielectric materials.
of 2000, there were 1,901 people, 729 households, and 500 families residing in the town. The population density
was 31.9 people per square mile (12.3/km²). There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of 17.3 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.42% White, 0.05% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.32% from other races
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 729 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% 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 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,875, and the median income for a family was $44,464. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $28,088 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,733. About 9.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County, New York
Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 159,429. Its name is in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the land in the area. Its county seat is Troy...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,901 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, although natives pronounce the name differently, with the accent on the first syllable.
The Town of Berlin is located on the eastern border of the county.
History
The town was first settled around 1765. It was named a town in 1806One of the many New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
towns with a German name.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 59.9 square miles (155.1 km²), of which, 59.7 square miles (154.6 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.45%) is water.
The highest point is Berlin Mountain, 2,818 feet (859 m) above sea level, near the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
border in the Taconic Mountains
Taconic Mountains
The Taconic Mountains or Taconic Range are a physiographic section of the larger New England province and part of the Appalachian Mountains, running along the eastern border of New York State and adjacent New England from northwest Connecticut to western Massachusetts, north to central western...
. The Taconic Mountains form a barrier in the eastern part of the town so that no road connects the town to Massachusetts.
The east town line is the border of Massachusetts.
Berlin is home to the source of the Poesten Kill
Poesten Kill
The Poesten Kill is a creek in upstate New York located entirely in Rensselaer County, which flows westerly from its source at Dyken Pond in the town of Berlin to its mouth at the Hudson River in the city of Troy...
, which begins at Dyken Pond, in the northwest corner of the town.
Adjacent towns and areas
The Town of StephentownStephentown, New York
Stephentown is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 2,873 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Stephen Van Rensselaer. The town is in the southeast corner of the county...
is to the south, and the Town of Petersburgh
Petersburgh, New York
Petersburgh is a town located in the northeast section of Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,563 at the 2000 census. The town was named after an early settler.- History :...
is in the north. The Town of Sand Lake
Sand Lake, New York
Sand Lake is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 7,987. The Capital District Regional Planning Commission indicates it to be 8,336 as of September 2010. The town is in the south-central part of the county...
, and the Town of Poestenkill
Poestenkill (town), New York
Poestenkill is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 4,054 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the Poesten Kill, an important stream in the area. The words "poesten kil" are traditionally supposed to signify "foaming water" or "foaming creek" in Dutch...
are at the west town line. The eastern border is Berkshire County
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
, Massachusetts.
Economy
Going back in time, Berlin had its economic roots as a center for dairy farming, however many of the farms have been subdivided in the last decades of the 20th century. The town now serves primarily as a bedroom community for the Albany, NY capital district, but retains some notable industries.Like many small communities, Berlin has relied on one or two key employers for economic growth. These have primarily included W.J. Cowee, LLC, a manufacturer of wood products, and the Henry J. Seagroatt Co., a producer and distributor of flowers and supplies. In neighboring Petersburgh, NY, the high tech industry is represented by Taconic, a worldwide manufacturer of PTFE and dielectric materials.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,901 people, 729 households, and 500 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 31.9 people per square mile (12.3/km²). There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of 17.3 per square mile (6.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.42% White, 0.05% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.32% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 729 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% 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 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,875, and the median income for a family was $44,464. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $28,088 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,733. About 9.7% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Berlin
- Berlin – The hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Berlin on NY State Route 22. It was formerly called "North Berlin" after it was settled around the year 1800. - Bucks Corner – A hamlet at the junction of County Routes 40 and 41 in the western part of the town.
- Center Berlin – A hamlet south of Berlin village on NY State Route 22.
- Cherry PlainCherry Plain, New YorkCherry Plain, New York, also spelled Cherryplain, is a hamlet in Eastern Rensselaer County. It comprises the ZIP code of 12040.It is located east of Troy, New York, in the town of Berlin, New York. It is located within the Berlin Central School District...
– A hamlet in the south part of the town on NY State Route 22. - Cherry Plain State ParkCherry Plain State ParkCherry Plain State Park is located in Rensselaer County, New York in the USA. The park is located in Cherry Plain, New York at the southwest part of the Town of Berlin, near the Massachusetts border....
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in the southwest part of the town. - Spring Lake – A private lakeLakeA lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the western part of the town.