Austerlitz, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Austerlitz, New York
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Town hall, along NY 203 in Spencertown
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Location of Austerlitz, New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Columbia |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 48.81 sq mi (126.43 km2) |
| • Land | 48.72 sq mi (126.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,175 ft (358 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,625 |
| • Density | 33.292/sq mi (12.853/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
12017
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| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-021-03287 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978700 |
Austerlitz is a small town in Columbia County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 1,625 people lived there. The town was named after the famous Battle of Austerlitz. This battle was a big victory for Napoleon, a famous French leader.
The town is located in the eastern part of Columbia County.
Contents
Town History
Austerlitz was created on March 28, 1818. It was formed from parts of three other towns: Hillsdale, Chatham, and Canaan. Most of the new town came from Hillsdale.
The northern part of Hillsdale was once called "Spencer's-town." This was because many families named Spencer lived there. When people discussed creating a new town, they thought about calling it "New Ulm."
However, a New York State Senator named Martin Van Buren had another idea. He was a big fan of Napoleon. Another town in New York had just been named "Waterloo," which was where Napoleon lost a major battle. To balance this, Van Buren suggested naming the new town "Austerlitz." He said, "There's an Austerlitz for your Waterloo," meaning a victory to match the defeat.
Famous People from Austerlitz
Edna St. Vincent Millay was a famous poet who won a Pulitzer Prize. She lived in Austerlitz at a large property called Steepletop. It was once a farm with over 800 acres (about 3.2 square kilometers).
After Edna St. Vincent Millay passed away in 1950, her sister, Norma, took over the property. In 1973, Norma and her husband started a special program called the Millay Arts. This program helps artists by giving them a place to live and work. They gave a small part of the land to this organization.
Later, in 1978, Norma created the Edna St. Vincent Millay Society. This group now takes care of the house and the rest of the property. You can even take tours to see it! Steepletop was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 because of its historical importance.
Town Geography
Austerlitz covers about 48.8 square miles (126.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small amount of water.
The western part of the town has streams that flow into the Kinderhook Creek and Claverack Creek. These creeks then flow west towards the Hudson River. The eastern part of Austerlitz has water that flows into the Green River. This river goes southeast into Massachusetts and then joins the Housatonic River, which flows south into Connecticut.
The eastern edge of Austerlitz is also the border with Massachusetts. The Taconic State Parkway, a major road, runs through the far western side of the town.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 2,355 | — | |
| 1830 | 2,245 | −4.7% | |
| 1840 | 2,091 | −6.9% | |
| 1850 | 1,873 | −10.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,889 | 0.9% | |
| 1870 | 1,442 | −23.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,341 | −7.0% | |
| 1890 | 1,142 | −14.8% | |
| 1900 | 974 | −14.7% | |
| 1910 | 811 | −16.7% | |
| 1920 | 666 | −17.9% | |
| 1930 | 643 | −3.5% | |
| 1940 | 626 | −2.6% | |
| 1950 | 753 | 20.3% | |
| 1960 | 809 | 7.4% | |
| 1970 | 905 | 11.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,314 | 45.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,456 | 10.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,453 | −0.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,654 | 13.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,625 | −1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 | |||
In 2000, there were 1,453 people living in Austerlitz. There were 620 households, and 427 of these were families. About 25.6% of households had children under 18 living with them.
The average household had 2.34 people, and the average family had 2.81 people. The population was spread out in terms of age. About 20.4% of the people were under 18 years old. About 17.5% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 46 years old.
Communities and Locations in Austerlitz
- Austerlitz – This is the main hamlet (a small community) of Austerlitz. It is located in the eastern part of the town where routes 22 and 203 meet.
- Morehouse Corner – Another hamlet in the northwestern part of the town, also on Route 203.
- Red Rock – A hamlet located at the northern border of the town.
- Spencertown – A hamlet in the western part of the town, found on Route 203.
See also
In Spanish: Austerlitz (Nueva York) para niños
