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Schodack
Location in Rensselaer County and the state of New York.
Location in Rensselaer County and the state of New York.
Country United States
State New York
County Rensselaer
Area
 • Total 63.60 sq mi (164.73 km2)
 • Land 61.93 sq mi (160.39 km2)
 • Water 1.68 sq mi (4.34 km2)
Elevation
308 ft (94 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 12,794
 • Estimate 
(2016)
13,151
 • Density 212.36/sq mi (81.99/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code 36-65541
GNIS feature ID 0979469
Website www.schodack.org

Schodack is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 12,794 at the 2010 census. The town name is derived from the Mahican word, Escotak. The town is in the southwestern part of the county. Schodack is southeast of Albany, New York.

History

Prior to the arrival of the Dutch, the region was at the heart of the Mahican tribe. The location of their principal village was "Esquatak, the "fireplace of the nation." The town was partly explored by Henry Hudson in 1609.

The town was first settled in the 17th Century and was part of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck in the New Netherland colony. The town was established in 1795 when Rensselaerwyck was divided. In 1896, Part of the town was used to provide some territory for the Towns of Nassau and Berlin.

Blink Bonnie, Elmbrook Farm, and the Muitzes Kill Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 63.7 square miles (165 km2), of which, 62.2 square miles (161 km2) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) of it (2.25%) is water. By area, it is the third largest town in Rensselaer County.

The west town line is the Hudson River with Albany County on the opposite bank. The south town line is the border of Columbia County.

The New York Thruway Ext, Interstate 90, US Route 9, and US Route 20 pass through the town.

The town of East Greenbush is to the north, the towns of Stuyvesant and Kinderhook in Columbia County are to the south, the town of Nassau is to the east, and the town of Coeymans is located across the Hudson River in Albany County in the west.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 3,493
1830 3,795 8.6%
1840 4,125 8.7%
1850 3,510 −14.9%
1860 3,993 13.8%
1870 4,442 11.2%
1880 4,319 −2.8%
1890 4,338 0.4%
1900 4,334 −0.1%
1910 4,780 10.3%
1920 3,992 −16.5%
1930 4,639 16.2%
1940 5,081 9.5%
1950 6,164 21.3%
1960 8,052 30.6%
1970 11,196 39.0%
1980 11,345 1.3%
1990 11,839 4.4%
2000 12,536 5.9%
2010 12,794 2.1%
2016 (est.) 13,151 2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,536 people, 4,737 households, and 3,500 families residing in the town. The population density was 201.5 people per square mile (77.8/km2). There were 4,942 housing units at an average density of 79.4 per square mile (30.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.54% White, 0.68% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 4,737 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,176, and the median income for a family was $63,622. Males had a median income of $40,090 versus $31,278 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,560. About 2.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Schodack

  • Braeside – A hamlet south of East Schodack.
  • Brookview – A location northeast of Castleton-on-Hudson.
  • Castleton-on-Hudson – A village at the Hudson River in the southwest part of the town.
  • East Schodack – A hamlet in the northeast quadrant of the town. It was formerly known as Scotts Corners.
  • Lower Schodack Island – An island in the Hudson River near Schodack Landing.
  • Morey Park – A hamlet at the east town line, north of Nassau Lake.
  • Muitzeskill – A hamlet east of Schodack Landing, named after a local stream. The Muitzes Kill Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
  • Nassau Lake – A lake at the east town line.
  • Rice Corners – A location east of Schodack Center.
  • Rosecrans Park – A hamlet south of east Schodack.
  • Schodack Center – A hamlet near the center of the town on Routes 9 and 20.
  • Schodack Landing – A hamlet at the Hudson River in the southwest part of the town. The Schodack Landing Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
  • Schodack Island State Park – A state park in the southwest part of the town.
  • Shivers Corners – A location in the northeast part of the town, west of East Schodack.
  • South Schodack – A hamlet in the south part of the town, east of Castleton-on-Hudson.
  • Stony Point – A hamlet near the Hudson River in the western part of the town.
  • Van Hoesen Station – A location north of South Schodack at the intersection of South Schodack Road and Van Hoesen Road, on the Boston-Albany rail line.


Education

Most of the town is encompassed by the Schodack Central School District, which is made up of three schools. Maple Hill High School and Maple Hill Middle school are located in Schodack, while Castleton Elementary school is located a few miles west, in the village of Castleton. A small portion of Schodack is located within the larger East Greenbush Central School District, and Green Meadow Elementary School is located near Schodack Center. Another small area, on Schodack's southern border, is served by the Ichabod Crane Central School District.

Notable people

  • Elizabeth Jessup Eames (1813-1856), writer
  • George McClellan, former US Congressman
  • Jaime Schultz, Major League Baseball pitcher for Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Schodack para niños

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