Latham, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Latham
Hamlet
Etymology: For former hotel owner William G. Latham
Latham Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
Region	Capital District
County	Albany
Elevation	354 ft (108 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,680
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	12110
Area code(s)	518

Latham is a small community called a hamlet in Albany County, New York. It's also a census-designated place, which means it's an area the government counts for population. Latham is found along U.S. Route 9 in the town of Colonie. This area is a busy suburb located just north of the city of Albany. Major roads like Interstate 87 and U.S. Route 7 also pass through the town. In 2020, about 13,680 people lived in Latham.

Latham's Past: A Look at Its History

The area we know as Latham today has had many different names over time. Around 1829, it was called Yearsley's. Later, it became Van Vranken's in the 1850s, and then Town House Corners around 1860. Finally, it was named Latham's Corners after a hotel owner named William G. Latham. The "corner" everyone talked about is where Troy-Schenectady Road (NY Route 2) and Old Loudon Road meet today.

Long before Europeans arrived in North America, the Mohicans lived in the Latham area. In 1755, during the French and Indian War, Old Loudon Road was built. This road helped move soldiers and supplies from Albany to places like Lake George and Ticonderoga.

Later, in 1802, the Troy and Schenectady Turnpike was built, and it crossed Old Loudon Road. One of the first people to live in this hamlet was Jonas Yearsley, who arrived in 1785. He built the first hotel close to this important intersection. The hamlet was first known as Yearsley's Corners because of him. Years later, in the 1850s, it was called Van Vrankens Corners. The name changed to Latham when William Latham bought the hotel. His son, James, continued to run the hotel until he passed away in 1933.

Latham's Location: Exploring Its Geography

The hamlet of Latham is quite narrow from east to west but long from north to south. It's centered around the intersection of Troy-Schenectady Road and Old Loudon Road. Since it's a hamlet, its exact borders aren't always clear. However, the New York State Department of Transportation has signs marking its western, eastern, and southern edges.

On the west, Latham starts near the old Latham Circle Mall. To the south, it begins near where U.S. Route 9 and Old Loudon Road split. The eastern border is close to Kiwanis Park. To the north, Latham reaches the Crescent Bridge, which crosses the Mohawk River into Halfmoon in Saratoga County. A small stream called Blue Creek flows around an area known as Pirate's Island.

The name "Latham" is often used for a much larger area than just the hamlet itself. This is because the local post office uses the 12110 ZIP Code for a wider region. Some places often thought of as part of Latham actually use a Cohoes ZIP Code, and others in the east use a Watervliet ZIP Code.

Latham's land is mostly hilly, with many different kinds of trees, like oak and pine. You can also find ponds, creeks, and swamps here. Some of these water areas are protected by New York State laws as Wetlands. Streams on the east side of Old Loudon Road and US 9 usually flow into the Hudson River. Streams on the west side of Old Loudon Road and US 9 drain into the Mohawk River.

Notable People from Latham

Many interesting people have connections to Latham:

• Jeff Hoffman: A talented pitcher who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
• Tommy Kahnle: Another skilled pitcher, known for playing with the New York Yankees.
• Sam Perkins: A professional basketball player who played for four different teams during his 17-year career in the National Basketball Association.
• Jeff Spraker: A person involved in NASCAR, both as a driver and a crew chief.
• David Wu: An American politician.
• Ron Vawter: An actor.