Whitehall, New York

Last updated

Whitehall
Main Street Historic District Whitehall NY Sep 09.jpg
Nickname: 
The Smallest Town In New York
Washington County New York incorporated and unincorporated areas Whitehall highlighted.svg
Location in Washington County and the state of New York.
Coordinates: 43°33′N73°24′W / 43.550°N 73.400°W / 43.550; -73.400
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyWashington
Area
[1]
  Total
58.82 sq mi (152.35 km2)
  Land57.16 sq mi (148.04 km2)
  Water1.66 sq mi (4.31 km2)
Population
 (2020) [2]
  Total
4,023
  Density69.07/sq mi (26.67/km2)
Area code 518
FIPS code 36-115-81633

Whitehall is a town in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. [3] The town population was 4,023 at the 2020 census. [4]

Contents

The Town of Whitehall contains a village also named Whitehall.

History

During the late 17th century, the area was a staging ground for raids between English and French colonies. Whitehall was first called "Skenesborough" in 1759 when it was settled by a land grant to a British officer, Philip Skene (1725 - after 1785), who later returned to Britain, and who was subsequently declared an enemy of the State of New York for his land dealings. During the French and Indian War, the town was one of two major routes connecting the British and French Colonies.

During the American Revolution, the village, Skenesborough, was captured by American forces on May 9, 1775 [5] . Benedict Arnold under Philip Schuyler built a fleet of vessels to confront British forces at Valcour Island (thus the claim that this is the birthplace of the U.S. Navy). The surviving American vessels returned here to be destroyed in order to keep them from falling into enemy hands. The next year John Burgoyne led his forces through this area en route to the Battle of Saratoga. After the war, the town's name was changed to Whitehall.

During the War of 1812 the area was used to build ships to battle British forces on Lake Champlain, culminating at the Battle of Plattsburgh. In 1823, the Champlain Canal was completed to Whitehall. The Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad was extended to Whitehall in 1848. During the second half of the 19th Century, the silk industry grew important in the town.

Due to the actions in 1775 and 1776, the legislature of the State of New York in 1960 declared Whitehall to be the birthplace of the United States Navy. [6]

Geography

The South Bay of Lake Champlain near Whitehall Lake Champlain near Whitehall 2017.jpg
The South Bay of Lake Champlain near Whitehall

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 58.8 sq mi (152 km2), of which 57.6 sq mi (149 km2) is land and 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2) (1.94%) is water.

The northern town line is the border of Vermont. The Champlain Canal passes through the western section of the town. The South Bay of Lake Champlain forms part of the western town line.

Conjoined U. S. Route 4 and NY Route 22 form a north–south highway through Whitehall. US-4 turns east at Whitehall village, where NY-22 turns west to the Town of Dresden.

Climate

Climate data for Whitehall, New York (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)64
(18)
67
(19)
84
(29)
94
(34)
94
(34)
102
(39)
103
(39)
101
(38)
99
(37)
87
(31)
79
(26)
68
(20)
103
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)30.3
(−0.9)
34.0
(1.1)
43.1
(6.2)
57.9
(14.4)
71.0
(21.7)
79.1
(26.2)
83.5
(28.6)
81.7
(27.6)
73.9
(23.3)
60.7
(15.9)
47.2
(8.4)
35.5
(1.9)
58.2
(14.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)21.2
(−6.0)
23.2
(−4.9)
32.8
(0.4)
46.6
(8.1)
59.1
(15.1)
67.8
(19.9)
72.4
(22.4)
70.8
(21.6)
62.8
(17.1)
50.7
(10.4)
38.9
(3.8)
28.0
(−2.2)
47.9
(8.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)12.1
(−11.1)
12.5
(−10.8)
22.4
(−5.3)
35.2
(1.8)
47.2
(8.4)
56.5
(13.6)
61.3
(16.3)
59.9
(15.5)
51.8
(11.0)
40.7
(4.8)
30.7
(−0.7)
20.5
(−6.4)
37.6
(3.1)
Record low °F (°C)−36
(−38)
−38
(−39)
−27
(−33)
7
(−14)
18
(−8)
31
(−1)
43
(6)
37
(3)
26
(−3)
8
(−13)
−2
(−19)
−28
(−33)
−38
(−39)
Average precipitation inches (mm)3.00
(76)
2.57
(65)
2.99
(76)
3.30
(84)
3.33
(85)
4.37
(111)
4.36
(111)
4.45
(113)
3.58
(91)
4.05
(103)
2.98
(76)
3.57
(91)
42.55
(1,081)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)11.38.410.410.913.812.311.911.09.712.710.711.5134.6
Source: NOAA [7] [8]

Neighboring cities and towns

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1820 2,341
1830 2,88823.4%
1840 3,81332.0%
1850 4,72623.9%
1860 4,8622.9%
1870 4,464−8.2%
1880 5,34719.8%
1890 5,4021.0%
1900 5,295−2.0%
1910 5,86910.8%
1920 6,0082.4%
1930 5,975−0.5%
1940 5,670−5.1%
1950 5,256−7.3%
1960 4,757−9.5%
1970 4,7940.8%
1980 4,427−7.7%
1990 4,409−0.4%
2000 4,035−8.5%
2010 4,0420.2%
2020 4,023−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

As of the census [2] of 2000, there were 4,035 people, 1,611 households, and 1,098 families residing in the town. The population density was 70.0 inhabitants per square mile (27.0/km2). There were 1,877 housing units at an average density of 32.6 per square mile (12.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.99% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.

There were 1,611 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,734, and the median income for a family was $43,590. Males had a median income of $35,365 versus $20,861 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,831. About 10.9% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in the town

Communities

The Home Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008 [10]

Geographical locations

Notable people

See also

References

  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "Metropolitan Areas and Components, 1999, with FIPS Codes". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  4. US Census 2020 Report, Whitehall town, Washington County, New York https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Whitehall%20town,%20Washington%20County,%20New%20York
  5. Enterprises, Bloated Toe. "BTE Whitehall Site - Whitehall History". whitehall.bloatedtoe.com.
  6. Chamber of Commerce, Whitehall, New York, whitehall-chamber.org; accessed April 11, 2017.
  7. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  8. "Station: Whitehall, NY". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  11. "Burleigh, Henry Gordon, (1832 - 1900)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved January 16, 2014.