Chatham (town), New York

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For the village located within this town, see Chatham (village), New York. For other uses, see Chatham (disambiguation).
Chatham, New York
Town
Old Chatham
Old Chatham
Location of Chatham, New York
Location of Chatham, New York
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country United States
State New York
County Columbia
Established 1795
Government
 • Type Town Council
 • Town Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt (R)
 • Town Council
Members
Area
 • Total 53.6 sq mi (138.7 km2)
 • Land 53.2 sq mi (137.9 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation 239 ft (73 m)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 4,128
 • Density 77/sq mi (29.9/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 12037
Area code(s) 518
FIPS code 36-14014
GNIS feature ID 0978814
Website www.chathamnewyork.us

Chatham /ˈtʃætəm/ is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 4,128 at the 2010 census.[1]

The town has a village also called Chatham on its south town line. The town is at the north border of Columbia County.

History

The early settlers were Dutch, but later Quakers and New Englanders arrived. The town of Chatham was formed from the towns of Canaan and Kinderhook in 1795. Contradictory of its current condition or image, Chatham was an industrial center of multiple inter-state rail lines in the early 1900s, including the junction of the Boston and Albany Railroad for connections east and west, the Rutland Railroad for connections to Vermont to the north, and the New York Central's Harlem Line for connections to New York City. In 1887 a terminal designed by Henry Hobson Richardson was constructed.[2] Amtrak service on the Lake Shore Limited passes through, east-west, but does not stop. In later years Amtrak has planned to build a rail station in Chatham.

The Melius-Bentley House, Silvernail Homestead, Simons General Store, and St. John's Lutheran Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 53.6 square miles (138.7 km2), of which 53.2 square miles (137.9 km2) is land and 0.31 square miles (0.8 km2), or 0.59%, is water.[1]

The north town line is the border of Rensselaer County.

The north end of the Taconic State Parkway is in the town, and Interstate 90 passes through the town.

New York State Route 66 and New York State Route 203 intersect in the town.

Adjacent towns and areas

The town of Kinderhook is to the west, and the towns of Canaan and New Lebanon are to the east. The towns of Schodack and Nassau are to the north in Rensselaer County. The towns of Austerlitz and Ghent are to the south.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1820 3,372 —
1830 3,538 4.9%
1840 3,662 3.5%
1850 3,839 4.8%
1860 4,163 8.4%
1870 4,372 5.0%
1880 4,574 4.6%
1890 4,019 −12.1%
1900 3,537 −12.0%
1910 3,396 −4.0%
1920 2,705 −20.3%
1930 2,908 7.5%
1940 2,873 −1.2%
1950 3,188 11.0%
1960 3,402 6.7%
1970 3,770 10.8%
1980 4,294 13.9%
1990 4,413 2.8%
2000 4,249 −3.7%
2010 4,128 −2.8%
Est. 2014 4,040 [4] −2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 4,249 people, 1,762 households, and 1,196 families residing in the town. The population density was 79.8 people per square mile (30.8/km²). There were 2,110 housing units at an average density of 39.6 per square mile (15.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.00% White, 1.74% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 1,762 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,234, and the median income for a family was $60,097. Males had a median income of $40,067 versus $26,452 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,599. About 4.8% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the town

  • Chatham – The northern half of the village of Chatham is in the town by the south town line.
  • Chatham Center – A hamlet on NY-66 west of the geographic center of town and north of Chatham village.
  • East Chatham – A hamlet at the east town line east of Old Chatham.
  • Kinderhook Lake – A lake partly in the town by the west town line.
  • Malden Bridge – A hamlet in the north part of the town, east of North Chatham.
  • New Concord – A hamlet east of Rock City by the east town line.
  • North Chatham – A hamlet in the northwest corner of the town. The Peck House and North Chatham Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3][7]
  • Old Chatham – A hamlet northeast of the geographic center of the town. It is one of the earliest settlements in the town.
  • Rayville – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town, northeast of Old Chatham on NY-66.
  • Riders – A hamlet in the northeast quadrant of the town between Riders Mills and Rayville.
  • Riders Mills – A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.
  • Rock City – A hamlet south of the geographic center of the town and north of Chatham village.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ John C. Dahl, "Great Railroad Stations: Chatham, New York"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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