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New Scotland, New York
Clarence Houck's Cattery - New Scotland, NY
Clarence Houck's Cattery - New Scotland, NY
Official seal of New Scotland, New York
Seal
Location in Albany County and the state of New York.
Location in Albany County and the state of New York.
Country United States
State New York
County Albany
Incorporated 1832
Government
 • Type Town Council
Area
 • Total 57.97 sq mi (150.14 km2)
 • Land 57.50 sq mi (148.92 km2)
 • Water 0.47 sq mi (1.21 km2)
Elevation
666 ft (203 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 9,096
 • Estimate 
(2016)
8,760
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
12041 (Clarksville)
12067 (Feura Bush)
12186 (Voorheesville)
12009 (Altamont)
12054 (Delmar)
12158 (Selkirk)
12159 (Slingerlands)
12203 (Albany)
FIPS code 36-001-50672
GNIS feature ID 0979272

New Scotland is a town located in Albany County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 9,096 people lived there.

The town is found southwest of Albany, which is the capital city of New York State. New Scotland is in the central part of Albany County.

History of New Scotland

The area that is now New Scotland was first settled around the year 1660. The town itself was officially created in 1832. It was formed from the western part of the nearby town of Bethlehem.

Some important historical places in New Scotland are recognized nationally. These include the Bennett Hill Farm, the Presbyterian Church in New Scotland and the New Scotland Cemetery, and the Onesquethaw Valley Historic District. These sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means they are important to the history of the United States.

Geography and Landscape

New Scotland covers a total area of about 58.4 square miles (151.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 58.1 square miles (150.5 square kilometers), is land. The remaining small part, about 0.3 square miles (0.8 square kilometers), is water.

Population Changes Over Time

The population of New Scotland has changed quite a bit over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the town during different census years:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 2,912
1850 3,459 18.8%
1860 3,304 −4.5%
1870 3,411 3.2%
1880 3,251 −4.7%
1890 3,207 −1.4%
1900 3,058 −4.6%
1910 2,834 −7.3%
1920 2,470 −12.8%
1930 2,841 15.0%
1940 3,302 16.2%
1950 3,956 19.8%
1960 5,818 47.1%
1970 8,481 45.8%
1980 8,976 5.8%
1990 9,139 1.8%
2000 8,626 −5.6%
2010 8,648 0.3%
2020 9,096 5.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 8,626 people living in New Scotland. Most of the residents were White (about 98%). A small number of people were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 0.87% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average household in New Scotland had about 2.58 people. The average family size was about 2.98 people. About 33.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. The median age of people in the town was 41 years old.

Communities and Places in New Scotland

ThacherParkPano
View of New Scotland and Bethlehem from Thacher Park

New Scotland is home to several smaller communities and interesting locations:

  • Camp Pinnacle – This spot is in the northwestern part of the town.
  • Clarksville – A small community called a hamlet. It's in the southwestern part of the town, located on Route 443.
  • Feura Bush – Another hamlet found in the southeastern part of the town. It's south of Unionville.
  • Meads Corner – This location is southeast of Clarksville.
  • New Salem – A hamlet situated west of the main New Scotland hamlet.
  • New Scotland – This is the main hamlet that shares the town's name. It is located south of Voorheesville.
  • Tarrytown (also known as "Onesquethaw") – A hamlet found south of Clarksville.
  • Unionville – This hamlet is near the eastern border of the town, next to Bethlehem.
  • Vly Creek Reservoir – A large body of water that stores water, located south of New Salem. The Town of Bethlehem now owns it.
  • Voorheesville – An official village located in the northern part of the town.
  • Wolf Hill – A hamlet located right at the western edge of the town.

Town Government and Leadership

The town of New Scotland is governed by a Town Board. This board includes a Supervisor and several Councilpersons. They make decisions for the town and its residents.

  • Supervisor, Douglas LaGrange, Term ends: December 31, 2025
  • Councilperson, Daniel Leinung, Term ends: December 31, 2025
  • Councilperson, Adam Greenberg, Term ends: December 31, 2025
  • Councilperson, Bridget Burke, Term ends: December 31, 2027
  • Councilperson, William Hennessy, Jr., Term ends: December 31, 2027

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: New Scotland (Nueva York) para niños

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