Rotterdam, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rotterdam, New York
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A sign depicting the entrance to town of Rotterdam on New York State Route 5
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Location in Schenectady County and the state of New York.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Schenectady |
| Settled | 1661 |
| Established | 1820 |
| Named for | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town board |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.45 sq mi (94.40 km2) |
| • Land | 35.68 sq mi (92.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.77 sq mi (1.99 km2) |
| Elevation | 512 ft (156 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 30,523 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 ((EDT)) |
| ZIP code |
12306 or 12303
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| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-63935 |
| GNIS feature ID | 979437 |
Rotterdam is a town in Schenectady County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 30,523 people lived here.
The town of Rotterdam is in the south-central part of the county. Dutch settlers founded it in 1661. They named it after the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Many immigrants had last touched European ground there. The town is next to the city of Schenectady.
Contents
History of Rotterdam
Rotterdam is near the eastern end of New York State's Heritage Corridor. It was known as the "Gateway to the West." The town's early history is closely linked to Schenectady. The area that is now Rotterdam was once farmland and woods for Schenectady's settlers. Most settlers lived in a stockade in Schenectady. They would travel to their farms during the day.
The lands of Rotterdam became Schenectady's third ward in 1798. This was when Schenectady became a city. Rotterdam kept this status when Schenectady County was formed in 1809. During this time, a group of aldermen and assistants governed Schenectady. They came from each of the city's four wards.
In May 1819, the city council suggested that the third and fourth wards become separate towns. A request was sent to the state legislature on December 31. The law was passed on April 14, 1820. This was the last day of the legislative session. This law created the town of Rotterdam.
Rotterdam became a 'first class town' in 1942. It adopted the old Rotterdam coat of arms. Its motto is Sterker door Strijd, which means "Stronger through Effort." By following this motto, Rotterdam looks to the future with confidence.
Some important historical places are in Rotterdam. The Dellemont-Wemple Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The Enlarged Double Lock No. 23, Old Erie Canal was added in 2008.
The Mabee House is at the Mabee Farm Historic Site. It is the oldest house still standing in the Mohawk Valley. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 22, 1978. The Schenectady County Historical Society owns it. A descendant, Mr. George Eugene Franchere, donated it on January 29, 1993. This was 287 years after the original deed. Today, it is a living history museum. It offers school programs and public events.
Rotterdam's Sports History
Rotterdam has a strong history in baseball. For many years, its teams did well in Little League and Babe Ruth tournaments. One team even won a national championship.
In August 1977, the Carman Little League all-star team qualified for the Little League World Series. This event takes place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The team finished in 4th place. Carman Little League is now called RC Little League.
Three years later, in 1980, many of the same boys from the Carman team, along with players from Rotterdam Little League, became Babe Ruth World Series champions. They fought their way through the tournament. They defeated Hawaii in two games on the same day to win the title. The tournament was held in Williston, North Dakota.
Years later, in 2014, a team from the Rotterdam Babe Ruth League reached the semifinals. This was in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Baseball Tournament. Rotterdam is also home to a large Net Zero housing complex. This means the homes produce as much energy as they use.
Geography of Rotterdam
The Mohawk River forms the northeast border of the town. The New York State Thruway also runs through Rotterdam.
The town covers about 94.4 square kilometers (36.45 square miles). Most of this area is land, about 92.4 square kilometers (35.68 square miles). The rest is water, about 2.0 square kilometers (0.77 square miles).
Population and People
Rotterdam has grown a lot over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,529 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,480 | −3.2% | |
| 1840 | 2,284 | 54.3% | |
| 1850 | 2,446 | 7.1% | |
| 1860 | 2,224 | −9.1% | |
| 1870 | 2,355 | 5.9% | |
| 1880 | 2,326 | −1.2% | |
| 1890 | 3,098 | 33.2% | |
| 1900 | 7,711 | 148.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,406 | −29.9% | |
| 1920 | 7,853 | 45.3% | |
| 1930 | 9,920 | 26.3% | |
| 1940 | 12,560 | 26.6% | |
| 1950 | 19,762 | 57.3% | |
| 1960 | 27,493 | 39.1% | |
| 1970 | 31,067 | 13.0% | |
| 1980 | 29,451 | −5.2% | |
| 1990 | 28,395 | −3.6% | |
| 2000 | 28,316 | −0.3% | |
| 2010 | 29,094 | 2.7% | |
| 2020 | 30,523 | 4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010, 2020 | |||
In 2000, there were 28,316 people living in Rotterdam. There were 11,544 households. About 29.4% of these households had children under 18. Most people were White (97.26%). About 0.97% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had 2.44 people. The average family had 2.94 people. The population was spread out by age. About 23.1% were under 18. About 19.1% were 65 or older. The average age was 41 years old.
The median income for a household was $46,267. For a family, it was $54,542. This means half of households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. About 4.5% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Communities and Places in Rotterdam
Rotterdam has several smaller communities and areas within it:
- Antonia Hills – A small neighborhood near Route 7.
- Carman – A smaller community with Carman Park at its center.
- Cold Brook – A suburban area built on what was once the Campbell Family estate.
- Colonial Manor – A large suburban area. Homes were built here in the 1950s.
- Eldorado Acres
- Gallucci Gardens – A street with several single-family homes.
- Lower Rotterdam Junction – A small hamlet south of Rotterdam Junction. It is on Route 5S.
- Pattersonville – A hamlet in the northern part of the town.
- Rotterdam – A large suburban community west of Schenectady.
- Rotterdam Junction – A hamlet near the Mohawk River on Route 5S.
- Schonowe
- Serafini Gardens – A medium-sized neighborhood with 50-75 homes. It is on the border of Guilderland and Rotterdam.
- South Schenectady
- Skyline – A neighborhood on a hill overlooking Rotterdam.
- Sunrise Estates/Caroline Manor
Images for kids
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White dish U.S.A. BICENTENNIAL TOWN OF ROTTERDAM, N.Y. 1776-1976 with black coat of arms and cityscapes.
See also
In Spanish: Rotterdam (Nueva York) para niños
