Waterford
Town
Town of Waterford
Waterford Harbor on the Mohawk River
Waterford Harbor on the Mohawk River
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountySaratoga
Area
 • Total7.4 sq mi (19.2 km2)
 • Land6.6 sq mi (17.0 km2)
 • Water0.8 sq mi (2.2 km2)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total8,423
 • Density1,100/sq mi (440/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
12188
Area code518
FIPS code36-78977
GNIS feature ID0979619

Waterford is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 8,423 at the 2010 census. The name of the town is derived from its principal village, also called Waterford. The town is located in the southeast corner of Saratoga County and north-northwest of Troy at the junction of the Erie Canal and the Hudson River.

History

The village of Waterford is the oldest incorporated village in the United States, having been incorporated in 1794 before the town was formed. Waterford has been host to "Canal Fest" and "Tugboat Roundup" celebrations for many years.

The town of Waterford was formed from the town of Halfmoon in 1816.

The Northside Historic District, Ormsby-Laughlin Textile Companies Mill, Peebles (Peobles) Island, and Waterford Village Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

Geography

Saratoga County, New York. Town of Waterford highlighted in red

The Village of Waterford is located at 42°47′28″N 73°40′47″W / 42.791127°N 73.679758°W / 42.791127; -73.679758,[2] in the southeastern corner of the Town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.2 km2), of which 6.6 square miles (17.0 km2) is land and 0.9 square mile (2.2 km2) (11.59%) is water.

The eastern town line, defined by the Hudson River, is the border with Rensselaer County, and the southern town line, defined by the Mohawk River, is the border with Albany County. The easternmost section and locks of the Erie Canal pass through the town and connect with the Hudson River. The Waterford Flight series of locks is one of the steepest in the world.[3][4]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18201,184—
18301,47324.4%
18401,82423.8%
18502,68347.1%
18603,26021.5%
18703,63111.4%
18804,32819.2%
18905,28622.1%
19006,15716.5%
19106,128−0.5%
19204,552−25.7%
19305,66724.5%
19405,7090.7%
19506,0526.0%
19607,23119.5%
19707,6445.7%
19807,194−5.9%
19908,69520.9%
20008,515−2.1%
20108,423−1.1%
2016 (est.)8,496[5]0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the 2010 census, there were 8,423 residents of the Town of Waterford. The racial makeup of the town was 94.8% White, 1.3% African-American, 0.1% Native American, and 1.5% Asian; in addition, 1.8% of residents were Hispanic or Latino.[7]

Communities and locations in the town of Waterford

  • Cohoes Falls – A waterfall on the Mohawk River, and a source of water power to early industry
  • Peebles Island – An island at the south part of the town
  • Momentive Performance Materials Inc. (formerly General Electric Silicone Products) – Manufacturer of silicone products and specialty chemicals, may be largest employer in the town
  • Northside – Actually the south side of the town of Waterford. The name may be derived from its location on the north side of the Mohawk River. Northside may also derive its name from at one time being served by the "northside" part of the Cohoes Post Office (e.g. 123 Any Street, Northside, Cohoes, NY). After around 1960, all of Waterford was served by the Waterford Post Office.
  • Peebles Island State Park – A state park in the south part of the town
  • Prospect Hill – A hamlet north of Waterford village, on County Road 96
  • State Canal Park – A state park in the western part of Waterford
  • Sugarloaf Pond – A pond in the south part of the town
  • Waterford Village – The village of Waterford, located within the Town, and right at the confluence of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers
  • St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church
  • St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic School

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  3. ↑ Finch, Roy G. (1988) [1925]. The Story of the New York State Canals: Historical and Commercial Information (PDF). New York State Canal Corporation. p. 19. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Dedication of the Flight of Five Locks as a Civil Engineering Landmark (9/9/2012)". ASCE Rennselaer. American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), RPI Chapter. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
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