Altamont, Albany County, New York
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Altamont is a village located in the Town of Guilderland in Albany County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 1,737. The name means "high mountain."
The Village of Altamont is in the western part of the town.
(NOTE: The former Town of Altamont in Franklin County, New York is now know as the Town of Tupper Lake )
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History
The village was formerly called "Knowerville." A village fair has been held since 1893.
Geography
Altamont is located at 42°42'19" North, 74°2'1" West (42.705326, -74.033487)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²). 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water. However, there are two major streams that run through the town center.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 1,737 people, 646 households, and 474 families residing in the village. The population density is 558.9/km² (1,451.5/mi²). There are 674 housing units at an average density of 216.9/km² (563.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 97.64% White, 1.09% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.04% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 646 households out of which 42.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% are married couples living together, 11.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% are non-families. 22.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 3.14.
In the village the population is spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village is $52,500, and the median income for a family is $61,750. Males have a median income of $45,865 versus $32,721 for females. The per capita income for the village is $23,232. 4.0% of the population and 2.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Points of Interest
In colonial times, this area was part of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, granted by the Dutch West India Company to Killian Van Rensselaer in 1630. The area was known as Hellerburgh in the early 1700s. In the early 1800's Knowersville was established in the rural part of Albany county just below the Helderberg Mountains. This settlement eventually became known as Altamont.
Altamont was a summer vacation spot that was reached by train. The train station which once served this once busy whistle stop is currently a law office. The old hotel in the town center burned down nearly a century ago. Altamont still hosts a fairground that operates a week long country fair in mid-August. The fairground is also the site of other festivals.
There is an elementary school, post office, drugstore, funeral home, feed store and a weekly newspaper, the Altamont Enterprise. There are 3 churches in the town center: St Lucy Roman Catholic Church, St John Lutheran Church, and the Altamont Reformed Church.
External links
- Altamont information (http://www.bearsystems.com/Altamont/Altamont.htm)
- Altamont Fair information (http://www.altamontfair.com/museums.html)