Schodack, New York
Encyclopedia
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
.
tribe. The location of their principal village was "Esquatak, the "fireplace of the nation." The town was partly explored by Henry Hudson
in 1609.
The town was first settled in the 17th Century and was part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck in the New Netherland
colony.
The town was established in 1795 when Rensselaerwyck was divided.
In 1896, Part of the town was used to provide some territory for the Towns of Nassau
and Berlin
.
Blink Bonnie
, Elmbrook Farm
, and the Muitzes Kill Historic District
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, the town has a total area of 63.7 square miles (165 km²), of which, 62.2 square miles (161.1 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (2.25%) is water. By area, it is the third largest town in Rensselaer County.
The west town line is the Hudson River
with Albany County
on the opposite bank. The south town line is the border of Columbia County
.
The New York Thruway Ext
, Interstate 90
, US Route 9, and US Route 20 pass through the town.
The town of East Greenbush
is to the north, the towns of Stuyvesant
and Kinderhook
in Columbia County
are to the south, the town of Nassau
is to the east, and the town of Coeymans
is located across the Hudson River
in Albany County
in the west.
of 2000, there were 12,536 people, 4,737 households, and 3,500 families residing in the town. The population density
was 201.5 people per square mile (77.8/km²). There were 4,942 housing units at an average density of 79.4 per square mile (30.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.54% White, 0.68% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.38% from other races
, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.
There were 4,737 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,176, and the median income for a family was $63,622. Males had a median income of $40,090 versus $31,278 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,560. About 2.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
, and Green Meadow Elementary School is located near Schodack Center. Another small area, on Schodack's southern border, is served by the Ichabod Crane School District (Columbia 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
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 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
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, 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...
.
History
Prior to the advent of the Dutch, the region was at the heart of the MahicanMahican
The Mahican are an Eastern Algonquian Native American tribe, originally settling in the Hudson River Valley . After 1680, many moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. During the early 1820s and 1830s, most of the Mahican descendants migrated westward to northeastern Wisconsin...
tribe. The location of their principal village was "Esquatak, the "fireplace of the nation." The town was partly explored by Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson was an English sea explorer and navigator in the early 17th century. Hudson made two attempts on behalf of English merchants to find a prospective Northeast Passage to Cathay via a route above the Arctic Circle...
in 1609.
The town was first settled in the 17th Century and was part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck in the New Netherland
New Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
colony.
The town was established in 1795 when Rensselaerwyck was divided.
In 1896, Part of the town was used to provide some territory for the Towns of 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...
and Berlin
Berlin, New York
Berlin is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 1,901 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Berlin in Germany, although natives pronounce the name differently, with the accent on the first syllable....
.
Blink Bonnie
Blink Bonnie (Schodack, New York)
Blink Bonnie is a historic home located at Schodack in Rensselaer County, New York. It was built about 1850 and remodeled and enlarged about 1915. It is a two story, frame building with a low pitched gable roof in the Greek Revival style. There is a large two story rear wing. It features a one...
, Elmbrook Farm
Elmbrook Farm
Elmbrook Farm is a historic farm complex located at Schodack in Rensselaer County, New York. The farmhouse itself was built about 1830 and modified about twenty years later to include Greek Revival architecture. The complex also include a barn , a shop / office Elmbrook Farm is a historic farm...
, and the Muitzes Kill Historic District
Muitzes Kill Historic District
Muitzes Kill Historic District is a national historic district located at Schodack in Rensselaer County, New York. It consists of 23 contributing buildings located in the hamlet of Muitzes Kill, or Muitzeskill. The visual focus of the district is the Reformed Church of Schodack...
are listed on 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...
.
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 63.7 square miles (165 km²), of which, 62.2 square miles (161.1 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (2.25%) is water. By area, it is the third largest town in Rensselaer County.
The west town line is the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
with Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
on the opposite bank. The south town line is the border of 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...
.
The New York Thruway Ext
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
, Interstate 90
Interstate 90 in New York
Interstate 90 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, I-90 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line at Canaan...
, US Route 9, and US Route 20 pass through the town.
The town of East Greenbush
East Greenbush (town), New York
East Greenbush is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, USA. The population was 15,560 at the 2000 census. The word Greenbush is derived from the Dutch "Greenen Bosch," referring to the pine woods that originally covered the land. The first settlement of the land now known as East Greenbush was...
is to the north, the towns of Stuyvesant
Stuyvesant, New York
Stuyvesant is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 2,188 at the 2000 census.The Town of Stuyvesant is in the northwest part of Columbia County...
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...
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...
are to the south, the town of Nassau
Nassau (town), New York
Nassau is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, USA. The population was 4,818 at the 2000 census.The Town of Nassau is at the southern border of the county.- History :The region was first settled around 1760....
is to the east, and the town of Coeymans
Coeymans (town), New York
For the community within the town, see Coeymans , New York.Coeymans is a town in Albany County, New York, USA. The population was 7,418 at the 2010 census. The town is named after an early settler, who was the patent-holder for the area. The town is in the southeast part of the county, south of...
is located across the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
in Albany County
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
in the west.
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 12,536 people, 4,737 households, and 3,500 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 201.5 people per square mile (77.8/km²). There were 4,942 housing units at an average density of 79.4 per square mile (30.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.54% White, 0.68% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.38% 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 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.
There were 4,737 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% 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, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,176, and the median income for a family was $63,622. Males had a median income of $40,090 versus $31,278 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 $24,560. About 2.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Most of the town is encompassed by the Schodack Central School District, which is made up of three schools. Maple Hill High School and Maple Hill Middle school are located in Schodack, while Castleton Elementary school is located a few miles east, in the village of Castleton. A small portion of Schodack is located within the larger East Greenbush Central School DistrictEast Greenbush Central School District
The East Greenbush Central School District is a public school district located in East Greenbush, New York. Approximately 5,000 pupils are enrolled in the seven schools in grades K–12. After a hectic waiting period, the Board of Education appointed as superintendent Dr. Angela Guptill, who was...
, and Green Meadow Elementary School is located near Schodack Center. Another small area, on Schodack's southern border, is served by the Ichabod Crane School District (Columbia County).
Communities and locations in Schodack
- Braeside – A hamlet south of East Schodack.
- Brookview – A location northeast of Castleton-on-Hudson.
- Castleton-on-HudsonCastleton-on-Hudson, New YorkCastleton-on-Hudson is a village located in the southwestern part of the town of Schodack in Rensselaer County, New York. The population was 1,619 at the 2000 census. The village is southeast of Albany, New York.- History :...
– A village at the Hudson River in the southwest part of the town. - East SchodackEast Schodack, New YorkEast Schodack, New York is a hamlet in Rensselaer County. It comprises the ZIP code of 12063.It is located southeast of Albany and Troy, New York, in the town of Schodack, New York...
– A hamlet in the northeast quadrant of the town. It was formerly known as Scotts Corners. - Lower Schodack Island – An island in the Hudson River near Schodack Landing.
- Morey Park – A hamlet at the east town line, north of Nassau Lake.
- Muitzeskill – A hamlet east of Schodack Landing, named after a local stream. The Muitzes Kill Historic DistrictMuitzes Kill Historic DistrictMuitzes Kill Historic District is a national historic district located at Schodack in Rensselaer County, New York. It consists of 23 contributing buildings located in the hamlet of Muitzes Kill, or Muitzeskill. The visual focus of the district is the Reformed Church of Schodack...
was 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 1974. - Nassau Lake – 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,...
at the east town line. - Rice Corners – A location east of Schodack Center.
- Rosecrans Park – A hamlet south of east Schodack.
- Schodack CenterSchodack Center, New YorkSchodack Center is a hamlet in the town of Schodack, Rensselaer County, New York, United States. Schodack Center is located at the junction of Interstate 90, U.S. Route 20, and U.S. Route 9....
– A hamlet near the center of the town on Routes 9 and 20. - Schodack Landing – A hamlet at the Hudson River in the southwest part of the town. The Schodack Landing Historic DistrictSchodack Landing Historic DistrictSchodack Landing Historic District is a national historic district located at Schodack Landing in Rensselaer County, New York. It consists of 86 contributing buildings located in the hamlet of Schodack Landing. The district includes a variety of buildings dated from the 18th through early 20th...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. - Schodack Island State ParkSchodack Island State ParkSchodack Island State Park is a state park located in Rensselaer County, New York in the USA. The park is at the Hudson River in the southwest part of the Town of Schodack....
– A state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in the southwest part of the town. - Shivers Corners – A location in the northeast part of the town, west of East Schodack.
- South Schodack – A hamlet in the south part of the town, east of Castleton-on-Hudson.
- Stony Point – A hamlet near the Hudson River in the western part of the town.
- Van Hoesen Station – A location north of South Schodack at the intersection of South Schodack Road and Van Hoesen Road, on the Boston-Albany rail line.