Claverack, New York

Claverack, New York
Town

Cornelius Muller House in Claverack

Location of Claverack, New York
Coordinates: 42°13′54″N 73°41′42″W / 42.23167°N 73.69500°W
Country United States
State New York
County Columbia
Government
  Type Town Council
  Town Supervisor Clifford Weigelt (R)
  Town Council
Area
  Total 48.0 sq mi (124.2 km2)
  Land 47.6 sq mi (123.2 km2)
  Water 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)
Elevation 522 ft (159 m)
Population (2010)
  Total 6,021
  Density 127/sq mi (48.9/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 12513
Area code(s) 518
FIPS code 36-16045
GNIS feature ID 0978834
Website townofclaverack.com

Claverack is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 6,021 at the 2010 census.[1] The town name is a corruption for the Dutch word for "Clover Fields" or "Clover Reach". In 1705, the first discovery of a mastodon tooth occurred here.[2]

The town is centrally located in Columbia County, east of the city of Hudson.

History

Claverack was originally approximately 60,000 acres (24,000 ha) in area and was known as the Lower Manor of Rensselaer.[3] The town was formed in 1778 from the older District of Claverack. In 1782, the town lost some of its land to the new town of Hillsdale. The town was reduced again in 1785 to form the city of Hudson. In 1779 Washington Seminary was founded in the town by the local Dutch Reformed pastor. Prominent former students at the school include U.S. President Martin Van Buren. In the nineteenth century the school was renamed Claverack College, and it closed in 1902. The many 18th century homes in the area include the 1786 William Henry Ludlow House.

William Henry Ludlow House

Past residents of note

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 48.0 square miles (124.2 km2), of which 47.6 square miles (123.2 km2) is land and 0.39 square miles (1.0 km2), or 0.81%, is water.[1]

Claverack Creek enters the town at the hamlet of Mellenville and runs southwest before turning north and forming the western town boundary before entering Stockport. Taghkanic Creek is a major tributary from the south and forms the western boundary of the town before entering Claverack Creek.

The Taconic State Parkway passes north-south through the eastern side of the town.

Demographics

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 6,401 people, 2,485 households, and 1,669 families residing in the town. The population density was 134.3 people per square mile (51.9/km²). There were 2,839 housing units at an average density of 59.6 per square mile (23.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.95% White, 3.31% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.47% of the population.

There were 2,485 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,647, and the median income for a family was $50,175. Males had a median income of $32,896 versus $23,925 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,848. About 3.8% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Claverack

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Claverack town, Columbia County, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  2. Richard Conniff (April 2010). "Mammoths and Mastodons: All American Monsters". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  3. "Claverack's Founding & Development". Town of Claverack. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  4. Francis X. Clines (April 1, 1989). "Exiled Artist Now a Star in Moscow". The New York Times
  5. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Claverack, New York.

Coordinates: 42°13′30″N 73°44′04″W / 42.22500°N 73.73444°W