Duanesburg, New York
Encyclopedia
Duanesburg is a town in Schenectady County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 5,808 at the 2000 census. Duanesburg is named for James Duane
, who held most of it as an original land grant. The town is in the western part of the county.
on March 13, 1765. It was combined with Schoharie, New York
as the United Districts of Schoharie and Duanesburgh on March 24, 1772, which became the town of Schoharie in 1788. Duanesburg became its own town once-again in 1789. James Duane
, for whom the town was named, envisioned Duanesburg as the capital of New York and ultimately the capital selected was located only 20 miles away in Albany. The town's earliest settlers chiefly comprised English
Quakers
from Dutchess County, New York
in the 1780s as well as a group of settlers who were originally from the town of Kent, Connecticut
.
The Village of Delanson located in the Town of Duanesburg was an important stop for the Delaware and Hudson railroad. Major freight traffic carried Pennsylvania coal northeast through Duanesburg and onto Albany, Boston and other major eastern cities. In the flat bottomed valley east of the village of Delanson were huge coal storage piles over 100 feet high. The village of Delanson had a rough reputation at the time, catering to "rowdy" railroad men. Many densely packed wooden shops lined the village street on the north and south sides of the tracks. Most of the rest of the town of Duanesburg was dairy farms. Pine Hill Farms was the most notable dairy farm.
In the late 20th century farming fell into decline and the town became a home for commuters working in Albany and Schenectady. Many of the "great" farm families of Duanesburg (The Littles, Gages, and others) saw their farms shut down and children move on. Most of the farms were subdivided into smaller parcels in the 1970-2000 period. The disappearance of open land was most apparent from 1975-1989. Commuters built homes with average lot sizes of 2+ acres. This zone beyond suburbia is termed "exurbia". Most commuters in Duanesburg travel from 16–33 miles each way. Interstate 88 has made the commute east significantly easier since its completion in the early 1980s. General Electric provided a stable and lucrative income for many non-agricultural residents who built homes in the town during this time.
Since year 2000 a number of factors has contributed to an economic slowdown in the town. Regional economic prosperity shifted north of Albany (a difficult commute from Duanesburg). An aging population with no available low cost housing for young people make it hard for the young to stay. Housing stock is mostly limited to single family homes and antiquated multi-unit properties. Two businesses on the vital corner of Route 7 and Route 20 have been leveled and not replaced. Despite lack of jobs, lack of housing for young people, and high property taxes the town government continues its tradition of making making it difficult for new commercial development. Lack of available water for some commercial/industrial uses has limited this type of growth.
Property taxes in Duanesburg are higher than surrounding towns and counties due to a lack of diversity in revenue (lack of commercial and industrial presence). The only "major" new commercial development in the town in the last 20 years has been a single Mobile gas station at the I-88 exit, and a Hannaford Supermarket located on the far western corner of the town. There is more than one reason for the high tax rate. The Duanesburg Central School System continues to be a positive draw due to its high quality of education. Residents are reluctant to cut funding in order to reduce school taxes. Another major cost is road maintenance (snow removal and upkeep). Lack of "smart" urban planning has resulted in development spread evenly across 72 square miles. The population density is small enough that for every mile of road to be maintained there are only a few tax paying households. Unlike other more rural areas, commuters (unlike farmers) demand a higher level of road maintenance in order to reach work in Albany on a daily basis. This lack of planning which could have been foreseen in the 1980s is now becoming more of a problem now that fuel prices have risen.
The town has been known for its many private airports. Skydiving has been one activity which has brought in visitors for the last 30 years. The Johnathan's Restaurant(formally known as Perrellos) is located next to one of the airports. During the late 1990s Harrison Ford used to be a repeat visitor at the restaurant during rest stops at the local airport while on route to other destinations. He was interested in having his own small airport on a large tract of land west of Knight Road until the town government created resistance. The many private airports may have contributed to use of the town as a shipping point for illegal drugs during the 1980s. Knox Airport(private) was involved in a large drug investigation. There have been numerous small airplane crashes over the last couple decades. One of which in the mid 1980s knocked down the 1st National Bank Sign (Now NBT Bank).
In addition to skydiving the town was known for cross country skiing. Beardsford Farms and Oak Hill provided miles of trails on hundreds of acres. Both areas are now closed. The town continues to provide an extensive network of ATV trails through picturesque woods and rural land, most of which is private. Snowmobiling is popular during the winter, residents use the same ATV trails to access other trail networks in Albany, Schoharie, and Montgomery Counties.
, the town has a total area of 72.1 square miles (186.8 km²), of which, 71.2 square miles (184.5 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (1.23%) is water.
The town consists of mostly wooded hills up to approximately 1400 feet above sea level. Most of the town was cleared farmland until the late 20th century, after this point forest grew covering 60% of the total land area with a canopy higher than 40 feet.
The forest is primary composed of poplar, hemlock, oak, maple, white pine, and balsam fir. The maximum tree heights in Duanesburg are approximately 80 feet high.
The town is the source of the Normanskill and Bozenkill Creeks. These creeks drop over a series of rapids and waterfalls cut through shale and sandstone rock beds. Christman's Sanctuary highlights some of this topography.
Most of the soil contains clay, significant loose rock, and/or shallow depth therefore making it inadequate for a large farming industry.
There is a significant amount of swamps at high and low elevations in the town due to clay soil and past glacial activity.
The town is unique for its East-West oriented drumlins formed during the last ice age. Most drumlins (oblong hills of glacial sediment) in New York State are North-South oriented.
Due to its higher elevation and position Duanesburg provides a view that extends as far as southern Vermont, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Catskill Mountains.
US 20
, NY 7
, and Interstate 88
pass through the town.
According to "DOCUMENTARY HISTORY of NEW YORK" Vol. lV, pg. 1067, "Mr. Duane entered in March, 1765 into contract with a company of twenty Germans from Pennsylvania of whom about sixteen ( families) came on tract, and they made the first permanent settlement in that now flourishing town".
of 2000, there were 5,808 people, 2,141 households, and 1,663 families residing in the town. The population density
was 81.5 people per square mile (31.5/km²). There were 2,307 housing units at an average density of 12.5 persons/km² (32.4 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.66% White, 0.45% African American
, 0.29% Native American, 0.28% Asia
n, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 2,141 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% were married couples
living together, 7.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,463, and the median income for a family was $65,461. Males had a median income of $40,237 versus $28,125 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,345. 3.9% of the population and 2.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 6.1% are under the age of 18 and 4.7% are 65 or older.
Schenectady County, New York
Schenectady County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 154,727. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Schenectady. The name is from a Mohawk Indian word meaning "on the other side of the...
, 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,808 at the 2000 census. Duanesburg is named for James Duane
James Duane
James Duane was an American lawyer, jurist, and Revolutionary leader from New York. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, New York state senator, Mayor of New York, and a U.S...
, who held most of it as an original land grant. The town is in the western part of the county.
History
Originally known as Duanes's Bush, Duanesburg was established as a township by patentPatent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
on March 13, 1765. It was combined with Schoharie, New York
Schoharie (town), New York
Schoharie is a town in Schoharie County, New York. The population was 3,299 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a native word for driftwood.The Town of Schoharie has a village, also called Schoharie...
as the United Districts of Schoharie and Duanesburgh on March 24, 1772, which became the town of Schoharie in 1788. Duanesburg became its own town once-again in 1789. James Duane
James Duane
James Duane was an American lawyer, jurist, and Revolutionary leader from New York. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, New York state senator, Mayor of New York, and a U.S...
, for whom the town was named, envisioned Duanesburg as the capital of New York and ultimately the capital selected was located only 20 miles away in Albany. The town's earliest settlers chiefly comprised English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
from Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
in the 1780s as well as a group of settlers who were originally from the town of Kent, Connecticut
Kent, Connecticut
Kent is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, alongside the border with New York. The population was 2,858 at the 2000 census. The town is home to three New England boarding schools: South Kent School, Kent School and The Marvelwood School. The Schaghticoke Indian Reservation is also located...
.
The Village of Delanson located in the Town of Duanesburg was an important stop for the Delaware and Hudson railroad. Major freight traffic carried Pennsylvania coal northeast through Duanesburg and onto Albany, Boston and other major eastern cities. In the flat bottomed valley east of the village of Delanson were huge coal storage piles over 100 feet high. The village of Delanson had a rough reputation at the time, catering to "rowdy" railroad men. Many densely packed wooden shops lined the village street on the north and south sides of the tracks. Most of the rest of the town of Duanesburg was dairy farms. Pine Hill Farms was the most notable dairy farm.
In the late 20th century farming fell into decline and the town became a home for commuters working in Albany and Schenectady. Many of the "great" farm families of Duanesburg (The Littles, Gages, and others) saw their farms shut down and children move on. Most of the farms were subdivided into smaller parcels in the 1970-2000 period. The disappearance of open land was most apparent from 1975-1989. Commuters built homes with average lot sizes of 2+ acres. This zone beyond suburbia is termed "exurbia". Most commuters in Duanesburg travel from 16–33 miles each way. Interstate 88 has made the commute east significantly easier since its completion in the early 1980s. General Electric provided a stable and lucrative income for many non-agricultural residents who built homes in the town during this time.
Since year 2000 a number of factors has contributed to an economic slowdown in the town. Regional economic prosperity shifted north of Albany (a difficult commute from Duanesburg). An aging population with no available low cost housing for young people make it hard for the young to stay. Housing stock is mostly limited to single family homes and antiquated multi-unit properties. Two businesses on the vital corner of Route 7 and Route 20 have been leveled and not replaced. Despite lack of jobs, lack of housing for young people, and high property taxes the town government continues its tradition of making making it difficult for new commercial development. Lack of available water for some commercial/industrial uses has limited this type of growth.
Property taxes in Duanesburg are higher than surrounding towns and counties due to a lack of diversity in revenue (lack of commercial and industrial presence). The only "major" new commercial development in the town in the last 20 years has been a single Mobile gas station at the I-88 exit, and a Hannaford Supermarket located on the far western corner of the town. There is more than one reason for the high tax rate. The Duanesburg Central School System continues to be a positive draw due to its high quality of education. Residents are reluctant to cut funding in order to reduce school taxes. Another major cost is road maintenance (snow removal and upkeep). Lack of "smart" urban planning has resulted in development spread evenly across 72 square miles. The population density is small enough that for every mile of road to be maintained there are only a few tax paying households. Unlike other more rural areas, commuters (unlike farmers) demand a higher level of road maintenance in order to reach work in Albany on a daily basis. This lack of planning which could have been foreseen in the 1980s is now becoming more of a problem now that fuel prices have risen.
The town has been known for its many private airports. Skydiving has been one activity which has brought in visitors for the last 30 years. The Johnathan's Restaurant(formally known as Perrellos) is located next to one of the airports. During the late 1990s Harrison Ford used to be a repeat visitor at the restaurant during rest stops at the local airport while on route to other destinations. He was interested in having his own small airport on a large tract of land west of Knight Road until the town government created resistance. The many private airports may have contributed to use of the town as a shipping point for illegal drugs during the 1980s. Knox Airport(private) was involved in a large drug investigation. There have been numerous small airplane crashes over the last couple decades. One of which in the mid 1980s knocked down the 1st National Bank Sign (Now NBT Bank).
In addition to skydiving the town was known for cross country skiing. Beardsford Farms and Oak Hill provided miles of trails on hundreds of acres. Both areas are now closed. The town continues to provide an extensive network of ATV trails through picturesque woods and rural land, most of which is private. Snowmobiling is popular during the winter, residents use the same ATV trails to access other trail networks in Albany, Schoharie, and Montgomery Counties.
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 72.1 square miles (186.8 km²), of which, 71.2 square miles (184.5 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (1.23%) is water.
The town consists of mostly wooded hills up to approximately 1400 feet above sea level. Most of the town was cleared farmland until the late 20th century, after this point forest grew covering 60% of the total land area with a canopy higher than 40 feet.
The forest is primary composed of poplar, hemlock, oak, maple, white pine, and balsam fir. The maximum tree heights in Duanesburg are approximately 80 feet high.
The town is the source of the Normanskill and Bozenkill Creeks. These creeks drop over a series of rapids and waterfalls cut through shale and sandstone rock beds. Christman's Sanctuary highlights some of this topography.
Most of the soil contains clay, significant loose rock, and/or shallow depth therefore making it inadequate for a large farming industry.
There is a significant amount of swamps at high and low elevations in the town due to clay soil and past glacial activity.
The town is unique for its East-West oriented drumlins formed during the last ice age. Most drumlins (oblong hills of glacial sediment) in New York State are North-South oriented.
Due to its higher elevation and position Duanesburg provides a view that extends as far as southern Vermont, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Catskill Mountains.
US 20
U.S. Route 20 in New York
U.S. Route 20 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Newport, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, US 20 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line in the Berkshire Mountains. US 20 is the longest...
, NY 7
New York State Route 7
New York State Route 7 is a 180-mile long New York State Highway that runs from the New York/Pennsylvania border south of Binghamton, New York to the New York/Vermont border east of Hoosick. Most of the road runs along the Susquehanna Valley, closely paralleling Interstate 88 throughout...
, and Interstate 88
Interstate 88 (east)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway entirely within the U.S. state of New York. Its western end is at Interstate 81 in Binghamton and its eastern end is at Interstate 90 in Schenectady. It serves as an important connector route from Albany to Binghamton, Elmira , and...
pass through the town.
According to "DOCUMENTARY HISTORY of NEW YORK" Vol. lV, pg. 1067, "Mr. Duane entered in March, 1765 into contract with a company of twenty Germans from Pennsylvania of whom about sixteen ( families) came on tract, and they made the first permanent settlement in that now flourishing town".
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,808 people, 2,141 households, and 1,663 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 81.5 people per square mile (31.5/km²). There were 2,307 housing units at an average density of 12.5 persons/km² (32.4 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.66% White, 0.45% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.29% Native American, 0.28% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 0.81% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 2,141 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% 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, 7.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,463, and the median income for a family was $65,461. Males had a median income of $40,237 versus $28,125 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 $23,345. 3.9% of the population and 2.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 6.1% are under the age of 18 and 4.7% are 65 or older.
Communities and locations in Duanesburg
- Braman Corners – A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the western part of the town. - Millers Corners – A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town.
- DelansonDelanson, New YorkDelanson is a village in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The population was 385 at the 2000 census.The Village of Delanson is in the southeast region of the Town of Duanesburg.-Geography:Delanson is located at ....
– The Village of Delanson in the southeast part of the town. - Duane – A hamlet south of Duanesburg.
- DuanesburgDuanesburg (CDP), New YorkDuanesburg CDP is a census-designated place within the Town of Duanesburg in Schenectady County, New York. The name of the CDP is the name of a hamlet in that region of the town. The census provides separate or additional population and demographic data for the more densely populated central...
– The hamlet of Duanesburg in the south part of the town. - Duanesburg Churches – A location north of Duanesburg.
- Duane LakeDuane Lake, New YorkDuane Lake is a census-designated place in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The population was 357 at the 2000 census.The census designated place is named after a small lake in the south part of the Town of Duanesburg.-Geography:...
– A hamlet. - Duane Lake – A small man made lake southeast of Duanesburg village.
- Eaton Corners – A location in the western part of the town.
- Mariaville – A hamlet near the northeast town line.
- Mariaville LakeMariaville Lake, New YorkMariaville Lake is a census-designated place in Schenectady County, New York, United States. The population was 710 at the 2000 census.The census designated place is in the Town of Duanesburg and is named after a small lake in the east part of the town....
– A hamlet. - Mariaville Lake – A small 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,...
near the east town line. - Quaker Street – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town. Much of the hamlet is included in the Quaker Street Historic DistrictQuaker Street Historic DistrictQuaker Street Historic District is a national historic district located at Duanesburg in Schenectady County, New York. The district includes 61 contributing buildings on 43 properties in the hamlet of Quaker Street. It is predominantly residential, consisting mainly of one and one half and two...
, listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Duanesburg include:- Blackleach BurrittBlackleach BurrittBlackleach Burritt was a preacher during the American Revolutionary War. During the American War of Independence, he was incarcerated in the Sugar House Prison-Early life and ancestors:...
, noted clergyman in the American Revolution - Orestes ClevelandOrestes ClevelandOrestes Cleveland, Sr. was an American manufacturer and Democratic Party politician who represented from 1869 to 1871, and served two separate stints as Mayor of Jersey City.-Biography:...
(1829–1896), Mayor of Jersey City 1864-1867 and 1886–1892; represented from 1869-1871. - Marybeth TinningMarybeth TinningMarybeth Tinning is an American serial killer currently serving a 20 years to life sentence after being convicted of the murder of one of her children. Her case is held to be one of the most extreme cases of Münchausen syndrome by proxy.-Early life:Marybeth Roe was born in Duanesburg, a small town...
(1942–Present), Famed for murdering eight of her own children.
External links
- Duanesburg Historical Society
- The Duanesburg Area Community Center
- Architecture of Duanesburg
- Town of Duanesburg Website
See also
- Duanesburg High SchoolDuanesburg High SchoolDuanesburg High School is a high school located at 133 School Drive, Delanson, New York, in Schenectady County, in Upstate New York. It is affiliated with the Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services...