Ghent, New York
Encyclopedia
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. Ghent is northeast of the City of Hudson
.
In 1818, the Town of Ghent was founded from parts of the Towns of Chatham
, Claverack
, and Kinderhook
. The name has its origin in the Flemish
city Ghent
, in Flanders
. Located at Ghent is the historic Van Valkenburgh-Isbister Farm
, added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 2006.
, the town has a total area of 45.4 square miles (117.6 km²), of which, 45.2 square miles (117.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (0.48%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,276 people, 2,020 households, and 1,397 families residing in the town. The population density
was 116.8 people per square mile (45.1/km²). There were 2,244 housing units at an average density of 49.7 per square mile (19.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.93% White, 1.10% Black or African American
, 0.23% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.28% from other races
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 2,020 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,529, and the median income for a family was $52,096. The median house value is $114,000. Males had a median income of $32,191 versus $23,958 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,365. About 2.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% 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...
, 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...
, with a ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
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. Ghent is northeast of the City of Hudson
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
.
History
Around 1735, early settlers, exploiting areas cleared by the natives, moved into the area.In 1818, the Town of Ghent was founded from parts of the Towns of Chatham
Chatham (town), New York
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...
, Claverack
Claverack, New York
Claverack is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 6,401 at the 2000 census. The town name is a corruption for the Dutch word for "Clover Fields" or "Clover Reach"....
, and Kinderhook
Kinderhook (town), New York
Kinderhook is a town in the northern part of Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 8,296 at the 2000 census. The name of the town means "Children's Corner" in the language of the original Dutch settlers . The town of Kinderhook contains two villages, one of which is also...
. The name has its origin in the Flemish
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
city Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
. Located at Ghent is the historic Van Valkenburgh-Isbister Farm
Van Valkenburgh-Isbister Farm
Van Valkenburgh-Isbister Farm is a historic home and farm complex located at Ghent in Columbia County, New York. The complex is spread over two properties and includes 14 contributing buildings and two contributing structures.-First property:...
, added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The 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 2006.
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 45.4 square miles (117.6 km²), of which, 45.2 square miles (117.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (0.48%) is water.
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 5,276 people, 2,020 households, and 1,397 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 116.8 people per square mile (45.1/km²). There were 2,244 housing units at an average density of 49.7 per square mile (19.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.93% White, 1.10% 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...
, 0.23% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.28% 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 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 2,020 households out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% 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 30.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,529, and the median income for a family was $52,096. The median house value is $114,000. Males had a median income of $32,191 versus $23,958 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 $21,365. About 2.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Ghent
- Arnolds Mill – 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 northeast corner of the town, northeast of Ghent village. - Buckleyville – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town, northeast of Ghent village.
- 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:...
– Part of the Village of Chatham is on the north town line. - Columbia County Airport (1B1) – An airportAirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in the southwest part of the town. - GhentGhent (CDP), New YorkGhent is a census-designated place in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 564 at the 2010 census.The community is located in the northeast part of the town of Ghent, northeast of the city of Hudson....
– The hamlet of Ghent is on Route 66 in the northeast part of the Town of Ghent. - Omi – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town, east of West Ghent on Route 22.
- Pulvers – A hamlet in the south part of the town.
- West Ghent – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on Route 9H.