Chatham (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Chatham is a town
in Columbia County
, United States
. New York
, United States
. The population was 4,249 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Chatham has a village also called Chatham
on its south town line. The town is at the north border of Columbia County.
ers arrived.
The Town of Chatham was formed from the Towns of Canaan
and Kinderhook in 1795. Contradictory of its current condition or image, Chatham, in fact, was an industrial center of multiple inter-state rail lines in the early 1900s, including the Boston and Albany Line, as well as the New York Central line, from the Harlem Valley.
, the town has a total area of 53.5 square miles (138.7 km²), of which, 53.3 square miles (138.0 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
The north town line is the border of Rensselaer County
, New York.
The north end of the Taconic State Parkway
is in the town and Interstate 90
passes through the town.
New York State Route 66
and New York State Route 203
intersect in the town.
and Nassau
are to the north in Rensselaer County. The Towns of Austerlitz
and Ghent
are to the south.
of 2000, there were 4,249 people, 1,762 households, and 1,196 families residing in the town. The population density
was 79.8 people per square mile (30.8/km²). There were 2,110 housing units at an average density of 39.6 per square mile (15.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.00% White, 1.74% Black or African American
, 0.21% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 1,762 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,234, and the median income for a family was $60,097. Males had a median income of $40,067 versus $26,452 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $28,599. About 4.8% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Columbia County
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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 4,249 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Chatham has a village also called Chatham
Chatham (village), New York
Chatham is a village in Columbia County, New York, USA. The population was 1,770 at the 2010 census.The Village of Chatham is in the Town of Chatham and the Town of Ghent. The village is at the junction of Routes 66 and 203.-History:...
on its south town line. The town is at the north border of Columbia County.
History
The early settlers were Dutch, but later Quakers and New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
ers arrived.
The Town of Chatham was formed from the Towns of Canaan
Canaan, New York
Canaan is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,820 at the 2000 census.The Town of Canaan is in the northeast part of the county.- History :The first settlers arrived around 1759....
and Kinderhook in 1795. Contradictory of its current condition or image, Chatham, in fact, was an industrial center of multiple inter-state rail lines in the early 1900s, including the Boston and Albany Line, as well as the New York Central line, from the Harlem Valley.
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 53.5 square miles (138.7 km²), of which, 53.3 square miles (138.0 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
The north town line is the border of 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.
The north end of the Taconic State Parkway
Taconic State Parkway
The Taconic State Parkway , is a divided highway between Kensico Dam and Chatham, the longest parkway in the U.S. state of New York. It follows a generally northward route midway between the Hudson River and the Connecticut and Massachusetts state lines...
is in the town and Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
passes through the town.
New York State Route 66
New York State Route 66
New York State Route 66 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The route begins at an intersection with NY 23B in the Columbia County city of Hudson and ends at a junction with NY 2 in the Rensselaer County city of Troy...
and New York State Route 203
New York State Route 203
New York State Route 203 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 22 in the Columbia County hamlet of Austerlitz and ends at a junction with US 20 in the Rensselaer County village of Nassau. NY 203 was...
intersect in the town.
Adjacent towns and areas
The Town of Kinderhook is to the west, and the Town of Canaan is to the east. The Towns of SchodackSchodack, New York
Schodack is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 12,536 at the 2000 census. The town name is derived from the native word, Escotak. The town is in the southwestern part of the county. Schodack is southeast of Albany, New York.- History :Prior to the advent of...
and Nassau
Nassau, New York
Nassau, the name of several places in New York State, may refer to:*Nassau , New York*Nassau , New York*Nassau County, New York...
are to the north in Rensselaer County. The Towns of Austerlitz
Austerlitz, New York
Austerlitz is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,453 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the Battle of Austerlitz.The Town of Austerlitz is in the east part of Columbia County.- History :Ellis, Capt...
and Ghent
Ghent, New York
Ghent is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States, with a ZIP code of 12075. The population was 5,276 at the 2000 census. 2004 estimates put the population at 5,316.The Town of Ghent is centrally located in the county...
are to the south.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,249 people, 1,762 households, and 1,196 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 79.8 people per square mile (30.8/km²). There were 2,110 housing units at an average density of 39.6 per square mile (15.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.00% White, 1.74% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.21% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.16% 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 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.
There were 1,762 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% 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, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,234, and the median income for a family was $60,097. Males had a median income of $40,067 versus $26,452 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 $28,599. About 4.8% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Chatham
- ChathamChatham (village), New YorkChatham is a village in Columbia County, New York, USA. The population was 1,770 at the 2010 census.The Village of Chatham is in the Town of Chatham and the Town of Ghent. The village is at the junction of Routes 66 and 203.-History:...
– The Village of Chatham is partly in the town by the south town line. - Chatham Center – A hamlet on NY-66 north of Chatham village.
- East ChathamEast Chatham, New YorkEast Chatham is a hamlet located partly in the town of Chatham and partly in the town of Canaan, in the state of New York. It is located at the crossroads of a railroad, I-90, and the Taconic State Parkway....
– A hamlet at the east town line east of Old Chatham. - Kinderhook Lake – A lake partly in the town by the west town line.
- Malden Bridge – A hamlet in the north part of the town, east of North Chatham.
- New Concord – A hamlet east of Rock City by the east town line.
- North Chatham – A hamlet by the north town line.
- Old ChathamOld Chatham, New YorkOld Chatham is a hamlet in the northeast quadrant of the township of Chatham, located in Columbia County, New York. It is one of the earliest settlements in the township and was originally named Chatham....
– A hamlet in the northeast quadrant of the town. It is one of the earliest settlements in the town. - Rayville – A hamlet near the east town line, northeast of Old Chatham on NY-66.
- Riders – A hamlet in the northeast quadrant of the town between Riders Mills and Rayville.
- Riders Mills – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town. Home of Michael Flemming.
- Rock City – A hamlet northeast of Chatham village.