Voorheesville, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Voorheesville
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Location in Albany County and the state of New York.
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 Voorheesville, New York
Location in New York
Voorheesville, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Albany |
| Town | New Scotland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.14 sq mi (5.55 km2) |
| • Land | 2.14 sq mi (5.54 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 338 ft (103 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,841 |
| • Density | 1,328.19/sq mi (512.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
12186
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| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-77684 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0968604 |
Voorheesville is a small village in Albany County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of New Scotland. This village is like a suburb of Albany, a bigger city nearby.
In 2020, about 2,841 people lived here. The village got its name from a railroad lawyer named Alonzo B. Voorhees. It sits near the northern edge of the town of New Scotland.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Early Settlers and a Big Change
Long ago, farmers sent by the Rensselaer family settled this area. In the 1800s, their descendants had a disagreement with the land owners. This led to a conflict known as the Rent War.
The Railroads Arrive
In 1864, two railroads were built through the town of New Scotland. They were heading west from the Hudson River. Both railroads wanted to find a way around the Helderberg Mountains. The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad and the New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroads crossed each other in a farm field.
How Voorheesville Began
A village soon grew up around this railroad crossing. In 1899, the village of Voorheesville was officially formed. It was named after Alonzo B. Voorhees, the railroad attorney. Before it was called Voorheesville, it was known as Union Depot.
In 1870, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company took over the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad. These railroads crossed at South and North Main streets. For many years, a passenger train came through Voorheesville.
Early Village Life
In its early days, Voorheesville was a bit of a tourist spot. The village had a hotel called the Friars Grove Hotel, right across from the train station. Next to the hotel was a brick oven bakery. Further down Grove Street was a cider mill. This mill was later bought by Duffy Mott and Mott's Cider before it closed.
The village also had the famous Harris House. This was a tavern and hotel for travelers. There was also a foundry, which is a place where metal is melted and shaped. It closed after a fire, but its remains can still be seen today. Vly Creek runs through the village. It was dammed up near the elementary school to create a swimming hole.
Changes to the Railroads
For many years, until 2003 or 2004, the village railroad crossing was special. Four different sets of railroad tracks crossed at one point. This was very rare in the United States. Today, the double-tracked CSX line is still used often. The remains of the D&H line west of the village are now used by SMS Rail lines. They work for Canadian Pacific. The West Shore line is no longer used. In 2003 and 2004, the D&H line east of the village was removed. This made the unique crossing a part of history.
Who Lives Here
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 554 | — | |
| 1910 | 533 | −3.8% | |
| 1920 | 614 | 15.2% | |
| 1930 | 644 | 4.9% | |
| 1940 | 717 | 11.3% | |
| 1950 | 895 | 24.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,228 | 37.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,826 | 130.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,320 | 17.5% | |
| 1990 | 3,225 | −2.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,705 | −16.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,789 | 3.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,841 | 1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The numbers above show how the population of Voorheesville has changed over the years.
According to the 2010 Census, most people in the village were White (96.5%). A smaller number were African American (0.8%), Asian (1.5%), or American Indian (0.2%).
Learning in Voorheesville
Voorheesville has two main schools:
- Voorheesville Elementary School
- Clayton A. Bouton High School
These schools serve students from the village itself. They also welcome students from most parts of the Town of New Scotland and the hamlet of Slingerlands. Some students even come from nearby areas like the Town of Guilderland, the Town of Bethlehem, and the Village of Altamont.
The elementary school teaches students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Clayton A. Bouton High School serves students from sixth grade through twelfth grade. It has a separate area just for middle school students.
See also
In Spanish: Voorheesville para niños
