Watervliet, New York

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Watervliet is a city located in Albany County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,207.

The City of Watervliet is north of Albany, New York and is at the east border of the Town of Colonie. The city calls itself "the Arsenal City."

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History

The explorer Henry Hudson arrived in the area of Watervliet around 1609. The area was first settled in 1643 as part of the Rensselaerwyck Patroonship (see: Kiliaen Van Rensselaer).

In 1776, the Shakers settled in the Watervliet region. The "Town of Watervliet" was founded in 1788 and included all of the county except Albany. This location of the future city was incorporated as the "Village of Gibbonsville" in 1836. The "City of Watervliet" was incorporated in 1896 after the rest of the town became the Town of Colonie in 1895. Because so many towns had been created from the Town of Watervliet, it is regarded as the "mother of towns" in the county.

The Watervliet Arsenal, founded in 1813, is the oldest federal arsenal in the country; it was the sole manufacturing facility for large caliber cannons.

The junction of the main route of the Erie Canal to Buffalo and the Lake Champlain branch was in Watervliet, and a weigh station and a center for paying canal boat operators was located there; as a result, it was once famous for gambling, saloons, and prostitution.

Past residents of note

Watervliet was the birthplace in 1824 of Leland Stanford, Governor of California and founder of Stanford University.

Geography

Watervliet is located at 42°43'29" North, 73°42'22" West (42.724628, -73.706162)1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.9 km² (1.5 mi²). 3.5 km² (1.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10.07% water.

Watervliet is on the west bank of the Hudson River.

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 10,207 people, 4,665 households, and 2,547 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,941.0/km² (7,608.0/mi²). There are 5,116 housing units at an average density of 1,474.1/km² (3,813.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.00% White, 3.87% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. 3.62% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 4,665 households out of which 26.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.9% are married couples living together, 16.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% are non-families. 38.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.18 and the average family size is 2.91.

In the city the population is spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $32,910, and the median income for a family is $38,735. Males have a median income of $31,656 versus $26,083 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,294. 13.3% of the population and 12.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

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Albany County, New York
County seat Albany
Incorporated Cities Albany | Cohoes | Watervliet
Villages Colonie | Menands | Ravena | Voorheesville
Towns Berne | Bethlehem | Coeymans | Colonie | Green Island | Guilderland | Knox | New Scotland | Rensselaerville | Westerlo
Hamlets/CDPs Delmar | Loudonville | Medusa | Preston-Potter Hollow | Westmere
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