Saratoga County, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saratoga County
County
Downtown Saratoga Springs
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	New York
Founded	February 7, 1791; 234 years ago (1791-02-07)
Named for	Iroquois sah-rah-ka, "the hill beside the river"
Seat	Ballston Spa
Area
• Total	844 sq mi (2,190 km2)
• Land	810 sq mi (2,100 km2)
• Water	34 sq mi (90 km2)  4.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	235,509
• Density	290.8/sq mi (112.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	20th
Highest elevation: 2,759 ft (841 m) (Tenant Mountain), in the Adirondack Mountains. Lowest elevation: 69 ft (21 m), at the confluence of the Hudson River and the Mohawk River.

Saratoga County is a county in New York. It is located in the eastern part of the state. It is also the fastest-growing county in Upstate New York.

In 2020, about 235,509 people lived here. This was a 7.2% increase from 2010. The main town, or county seat, is Ballston Spa. Saratoga County is part of the Capital District region.

The name Saratoga comes from the Iroquois words sah-rah-ka or sarach-togue. This means "the hill beside the river." It refers to the Hudson River on the east and the Mohawk River on the south.

Saratoga County is a great place for outdoor fun. It is also the main entrance to the Adirondack Mountains and State Park. Many people from Albany and New York City visit. The county is also home to the famous Saratoga Race Course. This is one of the oldest horse racing tracks in the world.

Saratoga County is a growing center for high-tech jobs. This area is called Tech Valley. Companies like IBM and GlobalFoundries are here. They work on things like nanotechnology and computer chips. In 2021, GlobalFoundries moved its main office to Saratoga County.

Many people think Saratoga County is a great place to live. It has good schools and a clean environment. There is plenty of clean water and electricity. The area is beautiful with many chances for outdoor activities. The county also has low taxes and new homes. This helps bring more high-tech workers to the area.

History of Saratoga County

The historic Verbeck House in Ballston Spa

Saratoga County was once part of a much larger area called Albany County. This was back in 1683. Over time, Albany County became smaller as new counties were created. In 1791, Saratoga County was officially formed. Rensselaer County was also created at the same time.

A very important event happened here during the American Revolutionary War. The Battles of Saratoga took place in 1777. The American soldiers won a big victory against the British. This win convinced France to help the Americans with money and military support. This was a major turning point in the war.

In the 1800s, Saratoga County was an important place for factories. It was close to the Delaware and Hudson Railway. It also had water power from the Hudson River. This helped industries grow quickly. Factories made paper, leather, and textiles. They also had metal foundries.

Since the 1960s, Saratoga County has grown very fast. This was partly because of the Adirondack Northway highway. It has one of the lowest county tax rates in New York. This helps the county continue to grow.

Geography of Saratoga County

Saratoga County is in eastern New York State. It is north of Albany, the state capital. It is also northwest of Troy and east of Utica. The county covers about 844 square miles. Most of this is land, with about 34 square miles of water.

The Hudson River forms the eastern border of the county. The Mohawk River forms its southern border. The highest point in Saratoga County is Tenant Mountain. It is 2,759 feet high and is in the Adirondack Mountains. The lowest point is 69 feet high. This is where the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers meet in the Village of Waterford.

Neighboring Counties

Saratoga County shares borders with eight other counties. They are:

• Warren County - to the north
• Washington County - to the east
• Rensselaer County - to the southeast
• Albany County - to the south
• Schenectady County - to the southwest
• Montgomery County - to the southwest
• Fulton County - to the west
• Hamilton County - to the northwest

	Hamilton County	Warren County	Washington County
	Montgomery County, Fulton County, Schenectady County		Washington County
		Saratoga County, New York
	Albany County, Schenectady County	Albany County	Rensselaer County

Population of Saratoga County

How Many People Live Here?

In 1960, Saratoga County had about 89,000 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 235,509. This shows a lot of growth! The county has continued to grow even after 2020.

Getting Around Saratoga County

The Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge connects Saratoga County to Albany County. It is part of the Adirondack Northway.

A train at the Saratoga Springs Amtrak station.

Adirondack Northway Highway

The Adirondack Northway is a major highway that goes through Saratoga County. It has six lanes and you don't have to pay tolls. This highway, called Interstate 87, runs from south to north. It connects Albany, New York's capital, to Saratoga County. It then goes through the Adirondack Park and Adirondack Mountains. Finally, it reaches the border with Canada, where it continues to Montreal. This highway has helped Saratoga County grow a lot.

Train Travel

The Saratoga and North Creek Railway used to run trains for fun from 2011 to 2018. It went from the Saratoga Springs Amtrak station into the Adirondack Park. Today, Amtrak trains still stop at Saratoga Springs. You can take the Ethan Allen Express and Adirondack services from here.

Airports

There are several small airports in Saratoga County:

• Saratoga County Airport (5B2) in Saratoga Springs
• Garnseys Airport (B04) in Schuylerville
• Heber Airpark (K30) in Gansevoort
• Plateau Sky Ranch Airport (1F2) in Edinburg
• Round Lake Airport (W57) in Round Lake

Economy and Jobs

Tech Valley Growth

Since the 2000s, Saratoga County has become a hub for high technology. This area is known as Tech Valley. It includes Saratoga County and other parts of eastern New York. Tech Valley started in 1998 to bring more tech jobs to the region. It is now a growing center for computer hardware, nanotechnology, and digital electronics. Companies here also make computer chips and work on artificial intelligence.

Big companies like GlobalFoundries in Malta are part of Tech Valley. Saratoga County wants to attract more tech workers. It offers a high standard of living and good quality of life. The county has strong schools, a clean environment, and lots of natural beauty. It also has low county taxes and new housing.

Adirondack Trust Company is the largest local bank in Saratoga County. Its employees own the company. It offers banking, loans, and investment services. It also provides insurance.

Fun Things to Do

Northwestern Saratoga County is a gateway to the Adirondack Park.

Tall trees line the Avenue of the Pines in Saratoga Spa State Park.

An entrance to the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs.

The Broadway Historic District in Downtown Saratoga Springs.

The historic Village of Ballston Spa is the main town of Saratoga County.

Waterford Harbor in the Village of Waterford, on the Mohawk River.

The Town of Malta, home to the "Fab 8" campus of GlobalFoundries.

Nightlife on Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga County is very popular in late summer. This is because the Saratoga Race Course is open. This famous horse track started in 1863. It was founded by John Morrissey. Horse racing fans come from all over to watch the races. The Hall of Fame for horse racing is also in Saratoga Springs. It honors amazing horses, jockeys, owners, and trainers.

The Saratoga National Historical Park is located near the Hudson River. You can drive through the park and stop at different historical spots. The park also has beautiful views of the area. You can even see Vermont's Green Mountains in the distance.

The Saratoga Spa State Park is a large park. It is known for its natural mineral springs. The park has a hotel, swimming pools, and mineral baths. It also has the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, picnic areas, and hiking trails.

Saratoga County is the southern entrance to the Adirondack Park. This is the largest park in the United States. It covers about 6.1 million acres. This is bigger than Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks combined! A part of northwestern Saratoga County is inside the Adirondack Park. This includes Hadley Mountain.

Schools and Learning

School Districts

Here are some of the school districts in Saratoga County:

Colleges and Universities

Saratoga County is home to several colleges:

• Bryant & Stratton College
• Skidmore College
• SUNY Empire State College

Towns and Villages

Cities

• Mechanicville
• Saratoga Springs

Towns

Villages

Other Communities

• Clifton Gardens
• Clifton Knolls-Mill Creek
• Country Knolls
• Hadley
• Milton
• North Ballston Spa
• Bloodville
• Burnt Hills
• Crescent
• Gansevoort
• Greenfield Center
• Jonesville
• Middle Grove
• Porter Corners
• Quaker Springs
• Rexford
• Rock City Falls
• Vischer Ferry
• West Milton

Famous People from Saratoga County

• David Hyde Pierce - actor
• Dottie Pepper - professional golfer
• Scott Underwood - drummer, former member of the band Train
• Justin Morrow - figure skater, two-time U.S. national ice dancing medalist
• George Crum - chef, known for creating potato chips
• Scott Valentine - actor, known for his role on "Family Ties"
• Monty Woolley - stage and screen actor, known for "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
• Chauney Olcott - actor, songwriter, and singer
• Kevin Huerter - professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings
• Elise Stefanik - U.S. Congresswoman for New York

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Saratoga para niños