Westmere, New York
Encyclopedia
Westmere is a hamlet in the town of Guilderland
, Albany County
, New York
. Since the 1970 Census a census-designated place
(CDP) has been established with the name of Westmere for tabulating the population of what the census has defined as the boundaries for Westmere. The population was 7,284 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of the neighboring city of Albany
. U.S. Route 20
(Western Avenue) bisects the community and is the major thoroughfare and main street
. Along Western Avenue are numerous strip malls, shopping plazas, and commercial buildings, with residential use on the side streets to the north and south. Crossgates Mall
, the Capital District
's largest shopping mall, is in Westmere's northeastern corner.
, built in 1799, it was always a place migrants passed through on their way from Albany and New England
to the western frontier. A toll gate existed on the turnpike roughly where Highland Estates is located. Even before the turnpike was built, 300 wagons (and sleighs in the winter) passed through in 1796 what would later become Westmere. After World War I
development began to encroach on the rural wooded area with mostly bungalows and cottages. This would accelerate in the post-war era after World War II
and in the 1940s is when the name Westmere would be given to this area. Westmere was the fastest growing section of the town of Guilderland in this period.
(CDP) however, the borders (as of the 2010 census) are exactly defined as the city of Albany to the north, then following New York Route 155 (State Farm Road/New Karner Road) as the western border. The southern border follows Doctor Shaw Road from its intersection with NY 155, then turns northeast onto Veeder Road until its termination with Johnston Road. At Johnston Road the border turns north and follows it until it takes a right onto Church Road and follows it to the intersection with U.S. Route 20
(Western Avenue). The border then takes a right on Western Avenue to the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway
(Interstate 87
) and goes north to the Albany city line. These borders can change from census to census. According to the United States Census Bureau
in 2000, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 7,188 people, 3,162 households, and 1,903 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 2,259.8 per square mile (872.7/km²). There were 3,287 housing units at an average density of 1,033.4/sq mi (399.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.75% White, 3.62% African American, 0.04% Native American, 6.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races
, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.
There were 3,162 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $61,827. Males had a median income of $45,769 versus $32,937 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $28,790. About 3.0% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Guilderland, New York
Guilderland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. In the 2010 census, the town had a population of 35,303. The town is named for the Gelderland province in the Netherlands....
, 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...
, 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...
. Since the 1970 Census a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) has been established with the name of Westmere for tabulating the population of what the census has defined as the boundaries for Westmere. The population was 7,284 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of the neighboring city 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...
. U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
(Western Avenue) bisects the community and is the major thoroughfare and main street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
. Along Western Avenue are numerous strip malls, shopping plazas, and commercial buildings, with residential use on the side streets to the north and south. Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall
Crossgates Mall is a shopping mall located in Albany, New York, United States, not far from Schenectady. The mall opened on March 4, 1984, and in October 1994 underwent a large expansion that nearly doubled its size. It now has a gross leasable area of with two floors including 250 shops and...
, the Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
's largest shopping mall, is in Westmere's northeastern corner.
History
Westmere as a settled place is of recent origin, though being along the Great Western TurnpikeGreat Western Turnpike
The Great Western Turnpike was a series of east–west toll roads that crossed part of New York in the United States. The toll roads that carried this name were:...
, built in 1799, it was always a place migrants passed through on their way from Albany and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
to the western frontier. A toll gate existed on the turnpike roughly where Highland Estates is located. Even before the turnpike was built, 300 wagons (and sleighs in the winter) passed through in 1796 what would later become Westmere. After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
development began to encroach on the rural wooded area with mostly bungalows and cottages. This would accelerate in the post-war era after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and in the 1940s is when the name Westmere would be given to this area. Westmere was the fastest growing section of the town of Guilderland in this period.
Geography
As a hamlet the borders of Westmere are only loosely defined. As a census-designated placeCensus-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) however, the borders (as of the 2010 census) are exactly defined as the city of Albany to the north, then following New York Route 155 (State Farm Road/New Karner Road) as the western border. The southern border follows Doctor Shaw Road from its intersection with NY 155, then turns northeast onto Veeder Road until its termination with Johnston Road. At Johnston Road the border turns north and follows it until it takes a right onto Church Road and follows it to the intersection with U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 is an east–west United States highway. As the "0" in its route number implies, US 20 is a coast-to-coast route. Spanning , it is the longest road in the United States, and the route sparsely parallels Interstate 90...
(Western Avenue). The border then takes a right on Western Avenue to the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway
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 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
) and goes north to the Albany city line. These borders can change from census to census. 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...
in 2000, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all land.
Location
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 7,188 people, 3,162 households, and 1,903 families residing in the CDP. 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 2,259.8 per square mile (872.7/km²). There were 3,287 housing units at an average density of 1,033.4/sq mi (399.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.75% White, 3.62% African American, 0.04% Native American, 6.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.43% 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 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.
There were 3,162 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $61,827. Males had a median income of $45,769 versus $32,937 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 CDP was $28,790. About 3.0% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.