Mechanicville, New York
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Mechanicville is a city located in Saratoga County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,019.
The City of Mechanicsville is located on the eastern border of the county.
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History
The first European settlers on the Tenendeho Creek in the area of today's Mechanicville arrived in 1764. About 35 years later, small flour mills were already established. When the Champlain Canal reached the settlement in 1823, and especially when the Saratoga and Renselaer Railway laid a track through the area in 1835, Mechanicville became an important commerce interchange.
The first documented occurrence of the name "Mechanicville" dates back to 1829. The name comes from the early settlers, who were independent mastercraftsmen such as millers, carpenters, or butchers, whose professions were commonly known as the "mechanical arts" at the time.
The village was incorporated in 1859; it had about 1000 inhabitants at that time. It grew rapidly as textile mills, factories and a linen thread company came to Mechanicville. In 1878, additional railways came to the village, and it became an important center of papermaking. By 1900, it was a major transfer yard and car repair center for the railways. In the 1920s, it had a population of nearly 10000.
The village became a city in 1915.
With the decline of the railroads, Mechanicville also suffered. The papermaking industry—Mechanicville had hosted once (in 1904) the largest paper mill in the world—ceased operations. The once thriving industry town is today a quiet residential town, with most inhabitants working in Albany, Schenectady, and elsewhere.
Geography
Mechanicsville is located by the Hudson River.
Mechanicville is located at 42°54'14" North, 73°41'26" West (42.903922, -73.690458)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²). 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 8.79% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 5,019 people, 2,219 households, and 1,275 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,334.8/km² (6,028.4/mi²). There are 2,386 housing units at an average density of 1,109.9/km² (2,865.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 97.95% White, 0.36% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,219 households out of which 29.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% are married couples living together, 12.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% are non-families. 36.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 19.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.26 and the average family size is 2.97.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,509, and the median income for a family is $42,143. Males have a median income of $32,825 versus $25,143 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,236. 8.0% of the population and 6.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.5% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- City of Mechanicville (http://www.mechanicville.com/)