Stephentown, New York
Encyclopedia
Stephentown is a town
in Rensselaer County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 2,873 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Stephen Van Rensselaer. The town is in the southeast corner of the county. According to a sign on the southern border of Stephentown, the town claims to be the only Stephentown on Earth.
District.
The Stephentown pioneers were from New England, primarily Rhode Island and Connecticut, and arrived from the southeast.
, the town has a total area of 58.1 square miles (150.5 km²), of which, 58 square miles (150.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.16%) is water.
The south town line is the border of Columbia County
, New York
and the east town line is the border of Massachusetts
.
of 2000, there were 2,873 people, 1,129 households, and 821 families residing in the town. The population density
was 49.5 people per square mile (19.1/km²). There were 1,339 housing units at an average density of 23.1 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.12% White, 0.31% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races
, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 1,129 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,506, and the median income for a family was $45,679. Males had a median income of $31,535 versus $26,611 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,822. About 5.7% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% 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 Rensselaer 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 2,873 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Stephen Van Rensselaer. The town is in the southeast corner of the county. According to a sign on the southern border of Stephentown, the town claims to be the only Stephentown on Earth.
History
Stephentown was first settled around 1765, the same year Berlin was first settled. The town was formed in 1788, from the East Manor of RensselaerwyckRensselaerwyck
The Manor of Rensselaerswyck, Manor Rensselaerswyck, Van Rensselaer Manor, or just simply Rensselaerswyck , is the name of a colonial estate—specifically, a Dutch patroonship and later an English manor—owned by the van Rensselaer family that was located in what is now mainly the Capital District of...
District.
The Stephentown pioneers were from New England, primarily Rhode Island and Connecticut, and arrived from the southeast.
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 58.1 square miles (150.5 km²), of which, 58 square miles (150.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.16%) is water.
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...
, 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...
and the east town line is the border of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
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 2,873 people, 1,129 households, and 821 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 49.5 people per square mile (19.1/km²). There were 1,339 housing units at an average density of 23.1 per square mile (8.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.12% White, 0.31% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 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 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 1,129 households out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,506, and the median income for a family was $45,679. Males had a median income of $31,535 versus $26,611 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 $18,822. About 5.7% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Stephentown
- Cherry Plain State ParkCherry Plain State ParkCherry Plain State Park is located in Rensselaer County, New York in the USA. The park is located in Cherry Plain, New York at the southwest part of the Town of Berlin, near the Massachusetts border....
– Only a small south section of the 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...
is in the north part of the town. - East NassauEast Nassau, New YorkEast Nassau is a village in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 571 at the 2000 census.The Village of East Nassau is in the east part of the town of Nassau along the Town of Stephentown border by Routes 20 and 66....
– The east part of the Village of East Nassau is located at the western town line. - Garfield – A hamlet southwest of Stephentown village.
- North Stephentown – A hamlet near the north town line on Route 22.
- Stephentown – The hamlet of Stephentown is in the eastern part of the town.
- Stephentown Center – A hamlet northwest of Stephentown village. It was formerly called "Mechanicville."
- Stephentown Flats – A former community south of Stephentown village.
- West Stephentown – A hamlet near the west town line.
- Wyomanock – A hamlet south of Stephentown village on Route 22.