Crescent, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Crescent
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Crescent Bridge, Crescent, New York
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| Etymology: named for the crescent shaped curve of the Mohawk River | |
 Crescent
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Region | Capital District |
| County | Saratoga |
| Elevation | 210 ft (60 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
12065 (Clifton Park),
12188 (Waterford) |
| Area code(s) | 518 |
Crescent is a small community, also called a hamlet, located in the town of Halfmoon, New York, in the United States. It sits on the northern side of the Mohawk River, within Saratoga County.
Contents
History of Crescent
The Erie Canal and Aqueducts
Crescent was once a very important spot for the Erie Canal. This famous canal helped boats travel across New York. At Crescent, the canal needed to cross over the Mohawk River. To do this, engineers built a special bridge called an aqueduct. An aqueduct is like a water bridge that carries a canal over another river or valley.
The first aqueduct in Crescent was made of wood and was built in 1825. Later, a much stronger stone aqueduct with 26 arches replaced it. This stone structure was taken down in 1918. Today, you can only see small pieces of its stone supports.
Growth and Business
In the 1840s, the Erie Canal made transportation very cheap. This helped Crescent grow and become a busy place. Many businesses started here because of the canal.
There was a factory that made paint, a place that worked with iron, and a brick-making business. Other companies helped supply the canal boats with what they needed. Farmers would bring their grain to Crescent to be shipped. It was said that sometimes, lines of wagons a half-mile long would wait to unload their goods! By 1860, about 593 people lived in Crescent.
Crescent Today
Today, Crescent is still an important crossing point. The Crescent Bridge carries U.S. Route 9 over the Mohawk River. This road connects Albany County with Saratoga County.
Some historic buildings in Crescent have been recognized for their importance. The Crescent Methodist Episcopal Church (which is no longer standing), the Noxon Bank Building, and a home called Oakcliff are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special places that tell us about the past.
Images for kids
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Dismantling the Crescent aqueduct in 1915.
