North Elba, New York
Encyclopedia
North Elba is a town in Essex County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 8,661 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the island of Elba
.
North Elba is on the western edge of the county. It is 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Plattsburgh
., 42 miles (67.6 km) west-northwest from Burlington, VT, 88 miles (141.6 km) south-southwest of Montreal, Quebec, and 113 miles (181.9 km) north of Albany, NY.
The entirety of the village of Lake Placid
is located within the boundaries of North Elba, as is part of the village of Saranac Lake
.
North Country Community College
is located in North Elba. The Adirondack Scenic Railroad
traverses the town.
The town was formed from part of the town of Keene
in 1849.
John Brown
, attracted by the views of local Abolitionist Gerrit Smith
, came to the town in 1849 to found a community for former black slaves. Brown left from his farm for the raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.
The town and its village, Lake Placid, were the site of the 1932
and 1980 Winter Olympics
.
, the town has a total area of 156.4 square miles (405.1 km²), of which, 151.9 square miles (393.4 km²) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it (2.92%) is water.
Some of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Park are in the town. The West Branch of the Au Sable River flows out the northeast corner of the town.
The west town line is the border of Franklin County
.
New York State Route 73
and New York State Route 86
are east-west highways in the town that intersect at Lake Placid village.
of 2000, there were 8,661 people, 2,944 households, and 1,675 families residing in the town. The population density
was 57.0 people per square mile (22.0/km²). There were 3,991 housing units at an average density of 26.3 per square mile (10.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.71% White, 10.10% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.51% of the population.
There were 2,944 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 39.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 146.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 158.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,329, and the median income for a family was $44,828. Males had a median income of $27,787 versus $23,356 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,259. About 7.3% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, 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 8,661 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the island of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
.
North Elba is on the western edge of the county. It is 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
., 42 miles (67.6 km) west-northwest from Burlington, VT, 88 miles (141.6 km) south-southwest of Montreal, Quebec, and 113 miles (181.9 km) north of Albany, NY.
The entirety of the village of Lake Placid
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
is located within the boundaries of North Elba, as is part of the village of Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
.
North Country Community College
North Country Community College
North Country Community College, founded in 1967, is a community college of the State University of New York located in Upstate New York. The main campus is in Saranac Lake, New York, and serves Franklin and Essex Counties; enrollment is approximately 2300 students. It employs 143 permanent and 300...
is located in North Elba. The Adirondack Scenic Railroad
Adirondack Scenic Railroad
The Adirondack Scenic Railroad is a tourist railway located in Adirondack Park that runs during the summer months from Utica to Thendara, and from Saranac Lake to Lake Placid...
traverses the town.
History
The town was first settled around 1814.The town was formed from part of the town of Keene
Keene, New York
Keene is a town in central Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,063 at the 2000 census. Keene is the home of Mount Marcy, the highest mountain in New York state, as well as the Great Range and 15 of the 46 High Peaks, and the Ausable Lakes, the source of the Ausable River...
in 1849.
John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
, attracted by the views of local Abolitionist Gerrit Smith
Gerrit Smith
Gerrit Smith was a leading United States social reformer, abolitionist, politician, and philanthropist...
, came to the town in 1849 to found a community for former black slaves. Brown left from his farm for the raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859.
The town and its village, Lake Placid, were the site of the 1932
1932 Winter Olympics
The 1932 Winter Olympics, officially known as the III Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1932 in Lake Placid, New York, United States. The games opened on February 4 and closed on February 15. It would be the first winter olympics held in the United...
and 1980 Winter Olympics
1980 Winter Olympics
The 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
.
Notable residents
- John BrownJohn Brown (abolitionist)John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
, the famous abolitionist, is buried on his family's farm in North Elba. - Melvil DeweyMelvil DeweyMelville Louis Kossuth Dewey was an American librarian and educator, inventor of the Dewey Decimal system of library classification, and a founder of the Lake Placid Club....
, inventor of the Dewey Decimal System, founded a resort in the town.
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 156.4 square miles (405.1 km²), of which, 151.9 square miles (393.4 km²) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it (2.92%) is water.
Some of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Park are in the town. The West Branch of the Au Sable River flows out the northeast corner of the town.
The west town line is the border of Franklin County
Franklin County, New York
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 51,599. It is named in honor of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin...
.
New York State Route 73
New York State Route 73
New York State Route 73 is a state highway located entirely within Essex County, New York, United States. The highway begins at an intersection with NY 86 in the village of Lake Placid and ends at a junction with U.S. Route 9 north of the hamlet of Underwood in the extreme...
and New York State Route 86
New York State Route 86
New York State Route 86 is a long state highway located within Adirondack Park in northern New York, United States, linking Franklin County to Essex County. The western terminus of the route is at NY 30 in the hamlet of Paul Smiths. The eastern terminus is at NY 9N in Jay...
are east-west highways in the town that intersect at Lake Placid village.
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 8,661 people, 2,944 households, and 1,675 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 57.0 people per square mile (22.0/km²). There were 3,991 housing units at an average density of 26.3 per square mile (10.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.71% White, 10.10% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 1.82% 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 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.51% of the population.
There were 2,944 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 39.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 146.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 158.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,329, and the median income for a family was $44,828. Males had a median income of $27,787 versus $23,356 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 $19,259. About 7.3% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in North Elba
- Buck Island – An islandIslandAn island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in Lake Placid. - Lake PlacidLake Placid (New York)The body of water called Lake Placid is in the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York in the USA. The lake is approximately , and has an average depth of about . It is located in the towns of North Elba and St...
– A 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 north-central part of the town. - Lake PlacidLake Placid, New YorkLake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
– A village near the center of the town at the junction of NY-73 and NY-86. - Lake Placid Airport (LKP) – A general aviation 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...
south of Lake Placid village. - Mirror Lake – A small lake adjacent to Lake Placid village.
- Moose Island – An island in Lake Placid north of Buck Island.
- North Elba – 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 North Elba is southeast of Lake Placid village on NY-73. - Ray BrookRay Brook, New YorkRay Brook is a hamlet in New York State, USA located on NY 86 between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid in the Town of North Elba in Essex County. It is the site of the Adirondack Park Agency, the District 5 office of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Federal...
– A hamlet between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid villages on NY-86.- Federal Correctional InstitutionFederal Correctional Institution, Ray BrookFederal Correctional Institution, Ray Brook is a medium security prison for males located in Ray Brook, northern New York, USA. The prison, part of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is located in the Town of North Elba in Essex County. It is home to approximately 1,200 inmates.FCI Ray Brook employs...
– A federal prison near Ray Brook hamlet. It is a medium security facility for male prisoners. During its construction, it was used as an Olympic village for competitors.
- Federal Correctional Institution
- Round Lake – A small lake, east of North Elba village.
- Saranac LakeSaranac Lake, New YorkSaranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
– A village, a part of which is at the western border of the town on NY-86. - Undercliff – A hamlet on the northwestern shore of Lake Placid.
- Whiteface – A hamlet on the southwestern shore of Lake Placid.