| Gloversville, New York | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| City of Gloversville[1] | |
|
Gloversville, New York
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Fulton |
| Incorporated (village)[2] | 1853 |
| Incorporated (city)[2] | March 19, 1890 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Council |
| • Mayor | Dayton J. King (I) |
| • Common Council |
Members' List[3]
|
| Area[4] | |
| • Total | 5.10 sq mi (13.2 km2) |
| • Land | 5.09 sq mi (13.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 820 ft (250 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 15,665 |
| • Density | 3,027.0/sq mi (1,168.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 12078 |
| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-29443 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0951265 |
| Website | http://www.cityofgloversville.com |
Gloversville is a city in Fulton County, New York, that was once the hub of America's glovemaking industry with over two hundred manufacturers in Gloversville and Johnstown. In 2000, Gloversville had a population of 15,413.[5] Ten years later, the population had increased to 15,665
Contents |
The region, known as "Kingsborough" was acquired by Sir William Johnson. In 1752, Arent Stevens bought land. Puritans from New England settled there at the end of the 18th century. The proximity of forests to supply bark for tanning made the community a center of leather production early in its history. It earned its name for being the center of the American glove making industry for many years. Upon the establishment of a United States Post Office in 1828, Gloversville became the official name of the community. In 1890-1950, 90 percent of all gloves sold in the United States were made in Gloversville.[6]
Large tanneries and glove shops employed nearly 80% of the residents of Gloversville and environs. Home workers sewed the gloves from leather that had been cut in factories. Related businesses, such as box makers, sewing machine repairmen, and thread dealers opened to serve the industry.
In 1853, Gloversville incorporated as a village. In 1890, it incorporated as a city.[2]
Until 1936, Gloversville had a very active electric interurban line, the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville Railroad. It ran from Gloversville, through Johnstown, along the Mohawk River to Amsterdam, then to Scotia, then across the Mohawk River, and into downtown Schenectady to the New York Central station. In 1932 in a bold move during the Great Depression it acquired unique Bullet cars in an attempt to revive business. Passenger service ended in 1936, but freight operation continued.[7]
Gloversville was the main headquarters for the Schine movie industry. The Glove Theatre was the Schines' favorite movie house. Hollywood movies sometimes premiered in Gloversville before they opened in California.
The decline of the glove industry left the city financially depressed, with many downtown storefronts abandoned and store windows covered with plywood. Many of the houses were abandoned when people moved out of town to find jobs elsewhere.
The mayor of Gloversville is Dayton King. He began a four-year term on January 1, 2010.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.10 square miles (13.2 km2), of which 0.20% is water.[4]New York State Route 29A (Fulton Street) is an east-west road through the city. New York State Route 30A is a north-south highway through the east side of the city. Another north-south highway, New York State Route 309 (Bleecker Street) terminates its southern reach at NY-29A in Gloversville. The Cayadutta Creek flows southward through the city, which is southwest of the Great Sacandaga Lake. The city sits in the foothills of the Adirondacks.
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,413 people, 6,500 households, and 3,828 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,027.0 people per square mile (1,169.2/km²). There were 7,540 housing units at an average density of 1,480.8 per square mile (571.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.37% White, 1.86% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.67% of the population.[5]
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.[5]
The median income for a household in the city was $26,755, and the median income for a family was $34,713. Males had a median income of $27,109 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,207. About 14.9% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.[5]
Gloversville falls almost entirely within the Gloversville Enlarged School District, with small portions of the city falling within Mayfield Central and Greater Johnstown School Districts.[8] Nearly all of Gloversville ESD's schools are within city limits, with the exception of Meco Elementary, which is in the Town of Johnstown within 0.5 miles (0.80 km) of the city's western border. Boulevard Elementary School is partially within the city and partially within the Town of Johnstown.[9][10]
In 1899, the Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn immigrated from Poland through England to Canada, walked through snow into the United States at an unmanned border point in rural Maine, eventually making his way to Gloversville, where he worked as a glove maker and commissioned salesman for the Elite Glove Company.[11]
Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Russo (Empire Falls, The Risk Pool) was raised in Gloversville. The city and its residents were the inspiration for many of his characters and locations in his novels, especially his novel "Mohawk."
Physicist William A. Edelstein, one of the key developers of MRI scanning, was born in Gloversville.
Harvard University physician, pathologist, and immunologist Dr. Albert Coons grew up in Gloversville. Coons devised the technology of immunofluorescence microscopy and was given the prestigious Albert Lasker Award in 1959 for his achievements in medical science.
Actress Elizabeth Anne Allen, who played Amy Madison on Buffy the Vampire Slayer was raised in Gloversville. Artist Frederic Remington was a one-time resident.
Eugene Goossen (1921–1997), an art historian, was born in Gloversville.[12]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||