Lake Pleasant, New York

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Lake Pleasant is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 876 at the 2000 census. It contains the county seat of Hamilton County ⁶, which is also called Lake Pleasant.

The Town of Lake Pleasant is within the Adirondack State Park and is centrally located in the county. The town is northwest of Schenectady.

Lake Pleasant is considered a tourist hub in Hamilton County. Estimates put the number of summer homes at around three-quarters of the homes in the area. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the unofficial Summer season, the small town is a busy community, with many activities including a parade, fireworks, Summer musical and art show.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Communities and locations in Lake Pleasant
- 4.1 Inhabited places
- 4.2 Geographical features
5 External links

[edit] History

The first settlers arrived around 1795. The early town was once described as "A wild waste...so poor that nobody inclines to settle in it."

Lake Pleasant was formed in 1812 from part of the Town of Johnstown before the formation of Hamilton County. Lake Pleasant was a "mother town" of the county and other towns were made, in whole or part, by removing parts of its territory: Morehouse (1835), Arietta (1836), part of Long Lake (1837), part of Hope (1847), part of Wells, (1858), and part of Indian Lake (1861).

In the past, the community of Lake Pleasant was also known as "Sageville" after Hezekiah Sage built a hotel and attempted to rename the community after himself.

In 1925, the community of Speculator set itself off from the town by incorporation as a village.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 512.8 km² (198.0 mi²). 487.1 km² (188.1 mi²) of it is land and 25.6 km² (9.9 mi²) of it (5.00%) is water.

New York State Route 8, an east-west highway, and New York State Route 30, a north-south highway, intersect at the "Four Corners" in the Village of Speculator.

The Sacandaga River flows out through the west town line of the town.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 876 people, 388 households, and 256 families residing in the town. The population density was 1.8/km² (4.7/mi²). There were 1,429 housing units at an average density of 2.9/km² (7.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% White, 1.03% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.80% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.03% of the population.

There were 388 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the town the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 108.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,467, and the median income for a family was $39,766. Males had a median income of $28,523 versus $23,194 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,259. Below the poverty line were 7.1% of people, 5.2% of families, 10.8% of those under 18 and 3.6% of those over 64.

[edit] Communities and locations in Lake Pleasant

[edit] Inhabited places

Lake Pleasant -- This hamlet, the county seat, was also called "Sageville" in the past.
Oak Mountain -- A location north of Speculator.
Perkins Clearing, New York -- A location on Jessup River Road, west of NY-30.
Sacandaga Camp, New York -- A community on NY-8 between Lake Pleasant hamlet and the Village of Speculator.
Sled Harbor, New York -- A location west of Perkins Clearing.
Speculator - The Village of Speculator is the only incorporated village in Hamilton County, and was formerly called "Newtons Corners."

[edit] Geographical features

Cedar River Flow -- An artificial lake in the northern part of Lake Pleasant.
Fawn Lake -- A lake west of Sacandaga Lake.
Gilman Lake -- A small lake adjacent to NY-30 by the east town line.
Hamilton Lake -- A small lake south of Lake Pleasant lake.
Indian Lake -- The southern end of this large lake is in the northern part of Lake Pleasant.
Lake Pleasant -- The name of a lake that gives its name to both the town and the county seat, located south of NY-8 and the Village of Speculator.
Lewey Lake -- A lake in the northern part of the town.
Oxbow Lake -- A lake at the west town line next to NY-8.
Sacandada Lake -- One of the large lakes in the town north of Lake Pleasant and NY-8.
Speculator Mountain -- A mountain south of the Village of Speculator. Its height is 2977 feet (907 meters). It gave its name to the Village of Speculator.
Wakely Dam -- A location in the northern part of the town at the north end of Cedar River Flow.