Snyder's Lake
| Snyder's Lake, New York | |
|---|---|
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  Snyder's Lake, New York Location within the state of New York | |
| Coordinates: 42°41′32″N 73°38′40″W / 42.69222°N 73.64444°WCoordinates: 42°41′32″N 73°38′40″W / 42.69222°N 73.64444°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Rensselaer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.0 sq mi (6.3 km2) |
| • Land | 2.0 sq mi (6.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.75 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 600 ft (182.88 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | Unknown |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 12198 |
| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-83349 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0971770 |
Snyder's Lake is an unofficial hamlet of North Greenbush in Rensselaer County, New York, United States.
The area is centered by the lake which bears its name. It is the only lake within the town of North Greenbush. The lake lies in an area that was once populated by the Native American tribe known as the Mahicans. It was known as "Aries Lake" until the early 1900s, when it was renamed for the Snyder Family, whose descendents still reside there. Its original name is unknown.
The exact current population of the area is unknown, however it is estimated to be less than 1000. Snyder's Lake is located in the southeast corner of the town of North Greenbush. West Sand Lake Road (NY Route 150) borders the area on the north side while NY Route 43 borders the area's south side. Part of Rensselaer County Route 68, known as Pershing Avenue, goes through the center of the area. It is one of the area's two main thoroughfares, with Troy Avenue / Geiser Road being the other.
The area is almost entirely residential with a few businesses. It has a small grocery store on the east end of town. The Villa Valenti restaurant (located at Snyder's Corners at the east end of Pershing Ave.) was also considered by most local residents to be part of Snyder's Lake. It burned down in January 2014. On the western border is a Muslim cemetery, located on farmland owned by the Mohamed family.
It is a middle class community of less than 1000. The number of households is estimated to be between 100 and 200. Many residents are traditionally outdoorsmen, who enjoy the abundance of local hunting and fishing. A 15 minute drive to downtown Albany allows for abundant career commuters as well.
There is no official government, as it is governed and represented by the town of North Greenbush. However, it has traditionally had an unelected person referred to as its mayor throughout its history. Most notable of these "mayors" was Webster "Whoopie" Scoville (b.1928 d.1991).
On the east end of the lake stood the Excelsior House, a speak-easy/night club which was destroyed by fire in 2009. The Excelsior House operated from the 1920s until the 1970s and was frequented by members of the Irish Mafia and notable characters such as Legs Diamond.
Geography
Snyder's Lake is located near 42°41′32″N 73°38′40″W / 42.69222°N 73.64444°W (42.666879, -73.639114).
It has a total area of over 2 square miles (5.2 km2).
Location
 |
Hamlet of Wynantskill, New York | Town of Poestenkill Snyder's Corners |
Town of Sand Lake Town of Poestenkill |
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| hamlet of Defreestville |  |
Town of Sand Lake | ||
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 | ||||
| hamlet of Defreestville | Town of East Greenbush | Town of Sand Lake |
Demographics
There are no official demographic statistics for Snyder's Lake.
Schools
Snyder's Lake is completely within the boundaries of the Averill Park Central School District, although a small percentage of its children attend private schools.