Speculator, New York
Encyclopedia
Speculator is a village in Hamilton County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 348 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a nearby Speculator Mountain.
Speculator is the only incorporated village within Hamilton County and is within the town of Lake Pleasant
. The village included the northeastern end of a lake, also called Lake Pleasant
. The local inhabitants sometimes refer to the village as the "Four Corners," referring to the intersection of NYS Route 8
and NYS Route 30
in the middle of the business district.
Speculator is within the Adirondack Park.
After World War I, Speculator gained international notoriety after becoming the preferred location of the training camps of Boxing
champions Gene Tunney
, Max Schmeling
, and Max Baer.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 47.2 square miles (122.2 km²), of which, 44.7 square miles (115.8 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it (5.46%) is water.
Speculator Mountain with an altitude of 2977 feet (907 m) is south of the village.
Lake Pleasant and Sacandaga Lake are west of the village. The Sacandaga River
assumes its riverine nature from the outflow of Lake Pleasant at Speculator, although much of the water flows from Sacandaga Lake through the Sacandaga Lake Outlet into Lake Pleasant underneath NY-8 southwest of the village.
The entire village is located within the Lake Pleasant Central School District.
of 2000, there were 348 people, 163 households, and 94 families residing in the village. The population density
was 7.8 people per square mile (3.0/km²). There were 484 housing units at an average density of 10.8 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.26% White, 1.72% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 1.15% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.
There were 163 households out of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples
living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.61.
In the village the population was spread out with 14.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 112.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $33,393, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $25,089. About 4.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
A public beach is located in the village on the north lake shore. Free parking is available across the street from the beach. There is a baseball field, basketball court and large pavilion next to the parking lot. There is also a nature walk behind the pavilion.
"CAMP-of-the-WOODS", a Christian family resort and ministry center is located just inside the village limits on NY Route 30.
Speculator Mountain, for which the village was named, lies just south of the village on Gilmantown road, and is visible from most of the village. Oak Mountain is the location of the Oak Mountain Ski Center, located just north of the four corners.
show Chopped
in the episode "Crunch Time", which aired on July 6, 2010. Tempel was eliminated after the appetizer, but Nitahara held on until the dessert, at which he was eliminated. Nitahara later returned to the show in a special Chopped Redemption episode and subsequently won.
Hamilton County, New York
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is named after Alexander Hamilton, the only member of the New York State delegation who signed the United States Constitution in 1787 and later the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. Its county seat is Lake Pleasant...
, 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 348 at the 2000 census. The village is named after a nearby Speculator Mountain.
Speculator is the only incorporated village within Hamilton County and is within the town of Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant, New York
Lake Pleasant is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 876 at the 2000 census. It contains the county seat of Hamilton County, which is also called Lake Pleasant....
. The village included the northeastern end of a lake, also called Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant (lake)
Lake Pleasant is a lake located in the Adirondack Park in New York in the USA. The lake is in the town of Lake Pleasant in Hamilton County.The lake is about four miles long and about one mile wide with its length oriented in an approximate northeast to southwest direction, with the widest part...
. The local inhabitants sometimes refer to the village as the "Four Corners," referring to the intersection of NYS Route 8
New York State Route 8
New York State Route 8 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It runs in a southwest-to-northeast direction from the Southern Tier to the northern part of Lake George. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the town of...
and NYS Route 30
New York State Route 30
New York State Route 30 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier to the Canadian border in the state's North Country, where it continues into Quebec as Route 138. On a regional level,...
in the middle of the business district.
Speculator is within the Adirondack Park.
History
The village was formerly called "Newtons Corners," but was renamed after Speculator Mountain. Speculator was incorporated in 1925. The incorporation included an area of thinly populated land separate from the remainder of the village.After World War I, Speculator gained international notoriety after becoming the preferred location of the training camps of Boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champions Gene Tunney
Gene Tunney
James Joseph "Gene" Tunney was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1926-1928 who defeated Jack Dempsey twice, first in 1926 and then in 1927. Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey is one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight...
, Max Schmeling
Max Schmeling
Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling was a German boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932. His two fights with Joe Louis in the late 1930s transcended boxing, and became worldwide social events because of their national associations...
, and Max Baer.
Geography
Speculator is located at 43°31′37"N 74°21′47"W (43.526920, -74.363185).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 village has a total area of 47.2 square miles (122.2 km²), of which, 44.7 square miles (115.8 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it (5.46%) is water.
Speculator Mountain with an altitude of 2977 feet (907 m) is south of the village.
Lake Pleasant and Sacandaga Lake are west of the village. The Sacandaga River
Sacandaga River
The Sacandaga River is a river in the northern part of New York in the United States. Its name comes from the Native American Sa-chen-da'-ga, meaning "overflowed lands"....
assumes its riverine nature from the outflow of Lake Pleasant at Speculator, although much of the water flows from Sacandaga Lake through the Sacandaga Lake Outlet into Lake Pleasant underneath NY-8 southwest of the village.
The entire village is located within the Lake Pleasant Central School District.
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 348 people, 163 households, and 94 families residing in the village. 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 7.8 people per square mile (3.0/km²). There were 484 housing units at an average density of 10.8 per square mile (4.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.26% White, 1.72% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 1.15% 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.
There were 163 households out of which 17.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% 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, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.61.
In the village the population was spread out with 14.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 112.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $33,393, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $20,417 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 village was $25,089. About 4.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Additional information
Speculator calls itself the "All Season Vacationland."A public beach is located in the village on the north lake shore. Free parking is available across the street from the beach. There is a baseball field, basketball court and large pavilion next to the parking lot. There is also a nature walk behind the pavilion.
"CAMP-of-the-WOODS", a Christian family resort and ministry center is located just inside the village limits on NY Route 30.
Speculator Mountain, for which the village was named, lies just south of the village on Gilmantown road, and is visible from most of the village. Oak Mountain is the location of the Oak Mountain Ski Center, located just north of the four corners.
Chopped
Two chefs from Speculator, Steven Tempel and Lance Nitahara, were featured on the Food NetworkFood Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
show Chopped
Chopped (TV series)
Chopped is a reality based cooking television series created by Michael Krupat, produced by Daniel Kay, and hosted by Ted Allen that pits four chefs against each other competiting for a chance to win $10,000. New episodes air every Tuesday at 10pm EST on Food Network.-Format:In each episode, four...
in the episode "Crunch Time", which aired on July 6, 2010. Tempel was eliminated after the appetizer, but Nitahara held on until the dessert, at which he was eliminated. Nitahara later returned to the show in a special Chopped Redemption episode and subsequently won.