Amsterdam (city), New York
| Amsterdam | |
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| — City — | |
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 Amsterdam
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| Coordinates: 42°56′36″N 74°11′25″W / 42.94333°N 74.19028°WCoordinates: 42°56′36″N 74°11′25″W / 42.94333°N 74.19028°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Montgomery |
| Incorporated (village) | 1830 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1885 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Mayor | Ann Thane (D) |
| • City council |
Members' List
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| Area | |
| • Total | 6.3 sq mi (16.3 km2) |
| • Land | 5.9 sq mi (15.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 361 ft (110 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 18,620 |
| • Density | 3,176.3/sq mi (1,226.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC−05) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC−04) |
| ZIP code | 12010 |
| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-02066 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0942450 |
Amsterdam is a city located in Montgomery County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 18,620. The name is derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
The city of Amsterdam is surrounded on the north, east, and west sides by the town of Amsterdam. The Mohawk River runs through the city. The majority of the city lies on the north bank, but the Port Jackson area on the south side is also part of the city.
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History [edit]
The city is within the original, now defunct town of Caughnawaga (meaning "at the rapids"), formed in northern Montgomery County in 1788.[1]
The first Europeans to settle here were Dutch immigrants about 1710. They called the community Veeders Mills and Veedersburgh after Albert Veeder, an early mill owner, but residents changed the name to Amsterdam in 1803. In 1773, Guy Johnson built Guy Park, a stone Georgian mansion, but as a Loyalist, he fled to Canada during the Revolution.[1]
It was incorporated as a village on April 20, 1830 from a section of the town of Amsterdam. New charters in 1854, 1865, and 1875 increased the size of the village.[citation needed] In 1885, Amsterdam became a city, which subsequently increased in size by annexation of the former village of Port Jackson, which became the fifth ward of the city.
The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 was an economic boom to the city, and finished in 1875, allowed the city to become an important manufacturing area, primarily of carpets. In 1865, the population of Amsterdam was 5,135.[1] By 1920, it was 33,524.
Amsterdam experienced serious flooding damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene in late August 2011.[2]
The Amsterdam (46th Separate Company) Armory, Amsterdam City Hall, Gray-Jewett House, Green Hill Cemetery, Greene Mansion, Guy Park, Guy Park Avenue School, Samuel and Johanna Jones Farm, Saint Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church Complex, Samuel Sweet Canal Store, Temple of Israel, United States Post Office, and Vrooman Avenue School are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3] Chalmers Knitting Mills was added in 2010.[4]
Geography [edit]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it is water. The total area is 5.41% water.
The Mohawk River, along with the Erie Canal, passes through the south part of the city. The Chuctanunda River flows into the Mohawk at Amsterdam.
New York State Route 30, a north-south highway called Market Street in part, crosses the Mohawk River to link the main part of Amsterdam to the 
New York State Thruway. NY-30 also intersects east west highways 
New York State Route 5 and 
New York State Route 67 in the city. 
New York State Route 5S passes along the south side of the Mohawk River.
Amsterdam is currently within New York's 21st congressional district.
Demographics [edit]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 5,426 |
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| 1880 | 9,466 | 74.5% | |
| 1890 | 17,336 | 83.1% | |
| 1900 | 20,929 | 20.7% | |
| 1910 | 31,267 | 49.4% | |
| 1920 | 33,524 | 7.2% | |
| 1930 | 34,817 | 3.9% | |
| 1940 | 33,329 | −4.3% | |
| 1950 | 32,240 | −3.3% | |
| 1960 | 28,772 | −10.8% | |
| 1970 | 25,524 | −11.3% | |
| 1980 | 21,872 | −14.3% | |
| 1990 | 20,714 | −5.3% | |
| 2000 | 18,355 | −11.4% | |
| 2010 | 18,620 | 1.4% | |
| sources:[5][6][7] | |||
As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 18,620 people, 8,324 households, and 4,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,086.5 people per square mile (1,191.1/km²). There were 9,277 housing units at an average density of 1,560.0 per square mile (602.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.4% White, 3.8% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander and 3.4% from two or more races. 28.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Most of the Hispanic residents in Amsterdam are of Puerto Rican descent.
There were 8,324 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22. In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18 and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older.
As of 2011 the median income for a household in the city was $27,517.
Economy [edit]
In the 19th century, the city of Amsterdam was known for carpet, textile, and pearl button manufacturing. It continued to be a center for carpet-making in the 20th century, when the Bigelow-Sanford and Mohawk Mills Carpet companies both were located in Amsterdam, but these companies have relocated to other regions. In the early 1980s, it was also the home of Coleco, makers of the ColecoVision, Cabbage Patch Kids and the Coleco Adam.
The enclosed shopping center, is currently named the Amsterdam Riverfront Center, and is now home to the offices of doctors and politicians, radio station WCSS, and an off-track betting location.
Media in Amsterdam includes one newspaper company, The Recorder, two AM radio stations, WVTL and WCSS.
Places of interest [edit]
Amsterdam's former National Guard Armory, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is now a bed and breakfast inn called Amsterdam Castle.
Amsterdam's municipal golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones.
The city is home to the Amsterdam Mohawks baseball team of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. The team plays at Shuttleworth Park.
Houses of worship [edit]
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Education [edit]
Public schools [edit]
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Private schools [edit]
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Government [edit]
Amsterdam's government consists of a city council and a mayor. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The council consists of five members each elected from wards.
Mayors of Amsterdam [edit]
| Name | party | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Carmichael, John | 1885 | |
| Kline, Harlan P. | 1886 | |
| Liddle, Thomas | 1887-88 | |
| Dwyer, John F. | 1889 | |
| Waldron, Hicks B. | 1890 | |
| Breedon, William A. | 1891-92 | |
| Nisbet, Charles S. | 1893 | |
| Hannon, George R. | 1894 | |
| Fisher, William A. | 1895-96 | |
| Kafman, William H. | 1897 | |
| Westbrook, Zerah S. | 1898-99 | |
| Wallin, Samuel | 1900-01 | |
| Gardner, William A. | 1902-03 | |
| Clark, Robert N. | 1904-05 | |
| Dealy, Jacob H. | 1906-09 | |
| Conover, Seely | 1910-11 | |
| Dealy, Jacob H. | 1912-13 | |
| Cline, James R. | 1914-17 | |
| Conover, Seely | 1918-19 | |
| Akin, Theron | 1920-23 | |
| Salmon, Carl S. | 1924-29 | |
| Gardner, William A. | 1930-31 | |
| Brumagin, Robert B. | 1932-33 | |
| Carter, Arthur | Dem. | 1934-43 |
| Lynch, Wilbur H. | 1944-45 | |
| Pabis, Dave R. | 1946-47 | |
| Deal, Burtiss E. | 1948-55 | |
| Martuscello, Frank J. | Rep. | 1956-57 |
| Gregg, Thomas F. | Dem. | 1958-59 |
| Martuscello, Frank J. | Rep. | 1960-63 |
| Breier, Marcus I. | Rep. | 1964-67 |
| Gomulka, John P. | Dem. | 1968-79 |
| Villa, Mario | Rep. | 1980-87 |
| Parillo, Paul | Dem. | 1988-91 |
| Villa, Mario | Ind. | 1992–1995 |
| Duchessi, John M. | Dem. | 1996–2003 |
| Emanuele, Joseph | Rep. | 2004–2007 |
| Thane, Ann M. | Dem. | 2008-incumbent |
Notable persons [edit]
Notable natives or residents of Amsterdam include:
- Gary Aldrich, FBI agent assigned to the White House under Presidents George H. W. Bush and Clinton; author of a book about the Clinton administration
- Bruce Anderson, Medal of Honor recipient, American Civil War soldier
- Benedict Arnold (1780–1849), United States Congressman from New York[18]
- Felix Joseph Aulisi, New York Supreme Court Justice, Appellate Division
- Josh Beekman, former National Football League offensive guard (Chicago Bears)
- Matthias J. Bovee, United States Congressman from New York[18]
- Roger Bowman, professional baseball player
- Lucille Bremer, actress
- Tim Buckley, musician
- Todd Cetnar, played professional basketball in the United Kingdom
- Jessica Collins (Birth name: Jessica Capogna), actress
- Charles Dayan, United States Congressman from New York and former Lieutenant Governor of New York[18]
- Kirk Douglas, actor
- Mary Anne Krupsak, New York State Lieutenant Governor
- H. Edmund Machold, Speaker of the New York State Assembly
- Chris Marcil, television producer, writer, and actor
- Marilyn Hall Patel, federal judge for United States District Court for the Northern District of California, vacated the conviction of Fred Korematsu of the 1944 Supreme Court ruling in Korematsu v. United States
- Rocco Petrone, Apollo program director
- Todd Pettengill, former professional wrestling show host and announcer for World Wrestling Entertainment.
- David Pietrusza, author
- Lemuel Smith, convicted serial killer
- Ray Tomlinson, implemented the first person-to-person network email
- Paul Tonko, Congressional Representative from New York, former New York State Assemblyman
- Alex Torres, Grammy Award-winning performer and bandleader[19]
- Ruth Zakarian, (professional name Devon Pierce), actress on The Young and the Restless
References [edit]
- Notes
- ^ a b c Hamilton Child, History of Amsterdam, New York; Syracuse, New York 1869
- ^ "Manor That Has Stood for Centuries Teeters in Storm’s Wake", New York Times, September 2, 2011
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 1/10/11 through 1/14/11. National Park Service. 2011-01-21.
- ^ http://www.city-data.com/city/Amsterdam-New-York.html
- ^ http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/
- ^ a b "Amsterdam, New York (city)" QuickFacts page from the U.S. Census Bureau's American FacFinder. Accessed: May 21, 2012
- ^ http://www.amsterdamny.gov/business/business-incentives.php
- ^ Congregation Sons of Israel
- ^ [www.crcommunity.org]
- ^ First Baptist Church of Amsterdam
- ^ William H. Barkley Elementary
- ^ William B. Tecler Arts in Education Magnet School
- ^ Marie Curie Institute of Engineering & Communications
- ^ Raphael J. McNulty Academy for International Studies and Literacy
- ^ Wilbur H. Lynch Literacy Academy
- ^ Amsterdam High School
- ^ a b c Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
- ^ Alex Torres and the Latin Kings Orchestra
External links [edit]
- City of Amsterdam website
- Amsterdam Community website
- Amsterdam Free Library
- Montgomery County Historical Society & Museum
- Amsterdam Business & Community links
- Greater Amsterdam School District
- The Recorder (local newspaper)
- David Pietrusza's Amsterdam
- Our Town: Amsterdam Documentary produced by WMHT (TV)
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