Milton (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Milton is a town
in Saratoga County
, New York
, USA. The population was 17,103 at the 2000 census. Some believe that the town was named after the poet, John Milton
, while other sources state that it is a shortening of "Mill-town" for the early mill activity.
The Town of Milton is an interior town in the central part of the county. Milton is southwest of Saratoga Springs
.
The Town of Milton was established in 1792 from part of the Town of Ballston
. In 1793, part of the town was taken to form part of the Town of Greenfield
.
In 1807, part of Milton was lost when Ballston Spa became an incorporated village.
In the mid-to-late-19th century, the Town of Milton was the site of numerous manufacturing concerns. The most famous was the paper mills of "Paper Bag King" George West
, who invented a line of square-bottomed paper bags and sold them by the millions soon after the American Civil War
. There were also the celebrated hard edge tool factories of Isaiah Blood
, the large planing, sash, and door mill of Benjamin Barber, the National Folding Box paper mill, and the Cottrell Paper Mill, the only manufacturer that still operates today. All of these mills were water-powered, and therefore succumbed to competition from electric-powered factories in the early 20th century.
The Town of Milton had its very own terminal trolley railroad line early in the 20th century. Called The Ballston Terminal Railroad, it spanned 12 miles from Ballston Spa to Rock City Falls and Middle Grove. It was unique in that it was one of the few trolley railroads in the country to serve primarily industry rather than carry passengers. The trolley operated from 1898 to 1929.
The Kesselring Site for Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program was established in 1948 in West Milton.
, the town has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92.3 km²), of which, 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
The Kayaderosseras
Creek flows through the eastern part of Milton.
New York State Route 29
is an east-west highway across Milton. New York State Route 67
runs along the south town line.
of 2000, there were 17,103 people, 6,401 households, and 4,544 families residing in the town. The population density
was 480.5 people per square mile (185.5/km²). There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of 188.2 per square mile (72.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.43% White, 1.02% Black or African American
, 0.25% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races
, and 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.
There were 6,401 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,262, and the median income for a family was $51,771. Males had a median income of $36,863 versus $27,335 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,443. About 4.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 4.4% 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 Saratoga County
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
, 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. The population was 17,103 at the 2000 census. Some believe that the town was named after the poet, John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
, while other sources state that it is a shortening of "Mill-town" for the early mill activity.
The Town of Milton is an interior town in the central part of the county. Milton is southwest of Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
.
History
This region was part of the Kayaderossera Patent of 1708. The town was first settled around 1772.The Town of Milton was established in 1792 from part of the Town of Ballston
Ballston, New York
Ballston is a town in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The population was 8,729 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from an early settler, Eliphalet Ball.The Town of Ballston is in the south part of the County and is north of Schenectady....
. In 1793, part of the town was taken to form part of the Town of Greenfield
Greenfield, New York
Greenfield is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,362 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Greenfield, New Hampshire.The Town of Greenfield is an interior town...
.
In 1807, part of Milton was lost when Ballston Spa became an incorporated village.
In the mid-to-late-19th century, the Town of Milton was the site of numerous manufacturing concerns. The most famous was the paper mills of "Paper Bag King" George West
George West
George West was a U.S. Representative from New York. Born in Bradninch, England, West attended the common schools. West immigrated to the United States in February 1849 and settled at Ballston Spa, New York...
, who invented a line of square-bottomed paper bags and sold them by the millions soon after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. There were also the celebrated hard edge tool factories of Isaiah Blood
Isaiah Blood
Isaiah Blood was born in the Town of Ballston, Saratoga County, New York State on February 13, 1810. He was descended from Richard Blood, one of four immigrants who came to America from England in the 17th century . His great uncle John Blood came to the town of Ballston in 1792 with his nephew...
, the large planing, sash, and door mill of Benjamin Barber, the National Folding Box paper mill, and the Cottrell Paper Mill, the only manufacturer that still operates today. All of these mills were water-powered, and therefore succumbed to competition from electric-powered factories in the early 20th century.
The Town of Milton had its very own terminal trolley railroad line early in the 20th century. Called The Ballston Terminal Railroad, it spanned 12 miles from Ballston Spa to Rock City Falls and Middle Grove. It was unique in that it was one of the few trolley railroads in the country to serve primarily industry rather than carry passengers. The trolley operated from 1898 to 1929.
The Kesselring Site for Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program was established in 1948 in West Milton.
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 35.6 square miles (92.3 km²), of which, 35.6 square miles (92.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
The Kayaderosseras
Kayaderosseras
The Kayaderosseras Creek is the largest river that lies completely within Saratoga County, New York State. It originates in the northern part of the county, and passes through the Town of Greenfield and the Town of Milton before emptying into Saratoga Lake....
Creek flows through the eastern part of Milton.
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29 is a state highway extending for across the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 28 and NY 169 in Middleville, Herkimer County. The eastern terminus of the route is at NY 22 just south of Salem,...
is an east-west highway across Milton. New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in the town of St. Johnsville...
runs along the south town line.
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 17,103 people, 6,401 households, and 4,544 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 480.5 people per square mile (185.5/km²). There were 6,701 housing units at an average density of 188.2 per square mile (72.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.43% White, 1.02% 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...
, 0.25% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% 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 1.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.
There were 6,401 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,262, and the median income for a family was $51,771. Males had a median income of $36,863 versus $27,335 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 $20,443. About 4.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Milton
- Ballston SpaBallston Spa, New YorkBallston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saratoga County. The village is named after Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregationalist clergyman and an early settler. The village lies on the border of two...
– The north part of the Village of Ballston Spa, which is the county seat, is in the southeast part of Milton. - BloodvilleBloodvilleBloodville is a hamlet of Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, New York State. It is named after Isaiah Blood, who operated the Ballston Axe & Scythe Works beginning in 1831....
– A former location near Ballston Spa and the site of American Axe & Tool Company. - Factory Village – A hamlet and suburb northwest of Ballston Spa on County Road 45. The name is derived from two paper mills.
- Frink Corners – A location in the northwest part of the town at the town line.
- Kesselring Site – A research facility in the western part of Milton.
- Milton Center – 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...
northwest of Ballston Spa at the junction of County Roads 43 and 49. - North Ballston Spa – A community at the north border of Ballston Spa.
- North Milton – A hamlet east of Rock City Falls on NY-29 at County Road 59.
- Rock City FallsRock City Falls, New YorkRock City Falls is a hamlet in the town of Milton, Saratoga County, New York, United States. The principal roads are Route 29 and Rock City Falls Road. The hamlet achieved fame as the origins of Paper Bag King George West, who established his Empire Mill there in 1862...
– A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on NY-29 at the junction of County Road 49. - Saratoga County Airport (5B2) – 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...
north of Ballston Spa. - West MiltonWest Milton, New YorkWest Milton is a hamlet in Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, New York. It lies at an elevation of 440 feet ....
– A hamlet near the west town line on County Road 49. It was formerly called "Spiers Corners" and "Clutes Corners."
See also
- Milton (CDP)Milton (CDP), Saratoga County, New YorkMilton is a census-designated place in the town of Milton in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,692 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Milton is located at ....
, New York, a census region.