Fort Johnson, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Johnson, New York
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| Hamlet of Fort Johnson | |
 Fort Johnson, New York
Location in New York
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York (state) |
| County | Montgomery |
| Town | Amsterdam |
| Dissolved | December 31, 2023 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.85 sq mi (2.19 km2) |
| • Land | 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| Elevation | 308 ft (94 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 401 |
| • Density | 542.63/sq mi (209.38/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
12070
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| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-26880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0950482 |
Fort Johnson (once known as Akin) is a small community called a hamlet. It is located in Montgomery County, New York, United States. This community sits on the north side of the Mohawk River in the town of Amsterdam. In 2010, about 490 people lived there. Fort Johnson used to be an official village, but it was dissolved at the end of 2023.
Contents
History of Fort Johnson
Early Settlements and Land Sales
Around 1710, some early German immigrants, known as Palatine Germans, tried to settle in this area. Many of them were working in an English camp to pay for their journey from London. In 1716, the Mohawk people, who had lived in this territory for centuries, sold some land to Philip Groat. This land is now in the eastern part of the Town of Amsterdam.
William Johnson's Influence
In 1739, William Johnson bought land here. He was an important Anglo-Irish person who had lived near Amsterdam before. In 1744, he built a mill. The community was first called "Mount Johnson."
William Johnson became very powerful. He was the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the northern colonies. He had strong friendships with the Iroquois tribes, especially the Mohawk. He later moved to found the City of Johnstown. His old home in Fort Johnson is now a preserved site called Old Fort Johnson. William Johnson also had a long-term partner, Molly Brant, who was a Mohawk woman.
Village Life and Dissolution
The community of Fort Johnson officially became a village in 1909. However, in November 2022, the people living there voted to dissolve the village. This happened because not enough people were interested in being part of the local government. The village officially stopped existing on December 31, 2023.
In 1972, Old Fort Johnson was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Geography of Fort Johnson
Fort Johnson is located at 42°57′30″N 74°14′10″W / 42.95833°N 74.23611°W.
Area and Waterways
The community covers about 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 0.7 square miles (1.9 square kilometers). The rest, about 0.1 square miles (0.28 square kilometers), is water.
Fort Johnson is on the north side of the Mohawk River. The Kayaderosseras Creek also flows into the Mohawk River here. South of the community, in the Mohawk River, is Pepper Island.
Roads and Transportation
Two main roads pass through Fort Johnson. New York State Route 5 runs east and west through the southern part of the community. New York State Route 67, also known as Fort Johnson Avenue, joins Route 5 here.
Population and People
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Fort Johnson has changed over the years. Here's how the population has been recorded by the U.S. Census:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 600 | — | |
| 1920 | 680 | 13.3% | |
| 1930 | 833 | 22.5% | |
| 1940 | 868 | 4.2% | |
| 1950 | 930 | 7.1% | |
| 1960 | 876 | −5.8% | |
| 1970 | 711 | −18.8% | |
| 1980 | 646 | −9.1% | |
| 1990 | 615 | −4.8% | |
| 2000 | 491 | −20.2% | |
| 2010 | 490 | −0.2% | |
| 2020 | 401 | −18.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Community Makeup
In 2000, there were 491 people living in Fort Johnson. Most people were White. A small number were African American or Native American, or from two or more races. Some people were also of Hispanic or Latino background.
There were 198 households in the community. About 30% of these households had children under 18 living there. Many households were married couples living together. Some households were single-parent families, and others were individuals living alone. The average household had about 2.5 people.
The population included people of all ages. About 22% were under 18 years old. About 17% were 65 years or older. The average age in the community was 40 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Fort Johnson para niños
