Ballston Spa, New York

Ballston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saratoga County.^[1] The village is named after Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregationalist clergyman and an early settler.^[2][3] The village lies on the border of two towns and is partly in the Town of Ballston and partly in the Town of Milton. The village is southwest of Saratoga Springs.

History

The village was first settled in 1771 and was incorporated as a village in 1807.

At one time, the village was famous for its mineral water spring used for healing, including the Hawthorne and Lithia springs. It was also known for the San Souci Hotel, which in the early 19th century was the largest in the United States and one of the largest in the world.

The effervescent water, tonic, and cathartic from this city is also known as Ballston Spa. The liquid contains common salt and carbonates of magnesium and calcium

• Was at one time the 11th most populated region in the future United States.

• Ballston Spa is home to the National Bottle Museum.^[4]

• Ballston Spa is the birthplace of Abner Doubleday, believed by some to be the creator of baseball.

• Portions of the novel The Last of the Mohicans were written by James Fenimore Cooper in the present day Brookside Museum and inspired by the local landscape.

• George West (known as the "Paper Bag King") developed a line of square-bottomed paper bags which he manufactured by the millions after the American Civil War, and at one time owned almost a dozen paper mills located along the Kayaderosseras Creek.^[5]

• Is home to Brookside Museum, Saratoga County Historical Society.^[6]

• Several scenes in Sydney Pollack's 1973 film The Way We Were were filmed on Ballston Spa's Front Street.

• Was home to the Ballston Knitting Company from 1918 to 1994.

• In 1787 Benajah Douglas, father of 1860 presidential candidate Stephen Douglas, built the first tavern and hotel at Ballston Spa. It was located near the natural spring.^[7]

• Ballston Spa's San Souci Hotel was the largest hotel in the United States when it was built by Nicholas Low in 1803. Presidents, senators and governors stayed there, as well as many wealthy private citizens.^[8]

• Scenes from "The Horse Whisperer" (1998)--were filmed in Ballston Spa.^[9]

• Was once served by four railroads (Delaware and Hudson Railway, The Ballston Terminal Railroad, Schenectady Railway, Hudson Valley Railway).^[10]

• Was the model for the village of North Bath, NY, the setting for the 1993 best-selling novel and 1994 movie, Nobody's Fool. The book's author, Richard Russo, is a native of nearby Gloversville.

• Location of the fictional "Elspeth Hatch" murder trial ..defended by "Clarence Darrow" set in 1897 the book titled "Angel of darkness" by author "Caleb Carr"

• Recent mayors of Ballston Spa: John Romano (1995–present), James Capasso Jr. (1991–95), Bert Grandin (1983–91), James Capasso Sr. (1971–83)

• Since 2008 has been home to the Ballston Spa Film Festival of short films from around the globe.

Notable citizens

• Abner Doubleday, American Civil War hero and supposed inventor of baseball was born in Ballston Spa. The house he was born in is designated as a New York State landmark.
• Hon. George West acquired ten paper mills situated along the Kayaderosseras Creek from 1862 to 1899 and became the largest manila paper manufacturer in the world. Also was a member of the NYS Assembly and US Congress.^[5]
• Todd Waring, television and movie actor, 1973 graduate of Ballston Spa High School.
• Ebby Thacher, Bill Wilson's (co-founder of Alcohols Anonymous) sponsor.
• Trevor Marsicano, Olympic short-course speedskater, winning a silver medal in the Team Pursuit at the 2010 Games.
• Stephen Steele Barlow, Attorney General of Wisconsin.
• Richie and John Wurster, Olympic speedskaters. Richie competed in the 1,500-meter event at the 1968 Games; John competed in the 500-meter event at the 1968 and 1972 Games.
• Kelly Williams, Graduate of Ballston Spa High School & author of novel "Blue Honor" based on the Civil War.
• Adam Hamilton, Famous local bartender, socialite, male model and entertainer.
• Richard Hengsterman, APUSH teacher at Ballston Spa High School. Well known for being one of the coolest people in Saratoga County.
• Scott Feran, the face of Ballston Spa High School.

Geography

Ballston Spa is located at (43.007185, -73.851168)^[11].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.62% is water.

New York State Route 50 (Milton Avenue), a north-south highway, passes through the village and intersects New York State Route 67 (West High Street). County Road 63 (Malta Avenue) leaves the village to the east, connecting it to US Route 9 and Interstate 87 (The Northway).

Demographics

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 5,556 people, 2,267 households, and 1,385 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,464.8 people per square mile (1,340.7/km²). There were 2,398 housing units at an average density of 1,495.4 per square mile (578.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.33% White, 1.17% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.

There were 2,267 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the village the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,173, and the median income for a family was $49,387. Males had a median income of $36,929 versus $27,281 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,237. About 7.4% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

• Milton Terrace South Elementary School
• Milton Terrace North Elementary School
• Wood Road Elementary School
• Malta Avenue Elementary School
• Ballston Spa Middle School
• Ballston Spa High School
• St. Mary's is a Catholic school located in Ballston Spa. Although not a part of the Ballston Spa Central School District, the students are transported by the district's buses.Website
• Spa Christian School is a small, private, non-denominational Christian school for children Pre-K to 6th grade.
• Church Mouse is not part of the District, but a 3-4 year school. It is also a church.

Before the 2008-2009 school year, the arrangement of public schools was as follows:

• Milton Terrace Primary School
• Wood Road Intermediate School
• Malta Avenue Intermediate School
• Ballston Spa Middle School
• Ballston Spa High School

References

This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 edition of The Grocer's Encyclopedia.

Bibliography

Grose, Edward F. (1907). Centennial History of Ballston Spa 1763-1907. Troy, NY: E. H. Lisk. http://books.google.com/books?id=rn0_AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 9 November 2010. "A Souvenir of the Centennial Celebration Held June 22–25, 1907" 

External links

• Ballston Spa, NY
• Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association
• Ballston Spa and Saratoga County: Industries, Railroads and Inventions
• Brookside Museum, Saratoga County Historical Society
• Ballston Spa School District
• The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Saratoga-Malta