Ballston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saratoga County.[1] The name is from Eliphalet Ball, an early settler.[citation needed] The village lies on the border of two towns and is partly in the Town of Ballston and partly in the Town of Milton. The village is southwest of Saratoga Springs.
History
The village was first settled in 1771 and was incorporated as a village in 1807.
- It was formerly famous due to a mineral water spring used for healing, and for the San Souci Hotel, which in the early 19th century was the largest in the United States and one of the largest in the world. It was known (in the 18th and 19th centuries) for its healing springs, including the Hawthorne and Lithia Springs.[2]
- Was at one time the 11th most populated region in the future United States.
- Ballston Spa is the birthplace of Abner Doubleday, believed by some to be the creator of baseball.
- George West (known as the "Paper Bag King") developed a line of square-bottomed paper bags which he manufactured by the millions after the Civil War, and at one time owned almost a dozen paper mills located along the Kayaderosseras Creek. [4]
- Is home to Brookside Museum, Saratoga County Historical Society. [5]
- Was home to the Ballston Knitting Company from 1918 to 1994.
- The Potato chip was invented near by. "In the summer of 1853, Native American George Crum was employed as a chef at an elegant resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. One dinner guest found Crum's French fries too thick for his liking and rejected the order. Crum decided to rile the guest by producing fries too thin and crisp to skewer with a fork. The plan backfired. The guest was ecstatic over the browned, paper-thin potatoes, and other diners began requesting Crum's potato chips"[6]
- In 1787 Benajah Douglas, father of 1860 presidential candidate Stephen Douglas, built the first tavern and hotel at Ballston Spa. It was located near the natural spring[7]
- Ballston Spa's San Souci Hotel was the largest hotel in the United States when it was built by Nicholas Low in 1803. Presidents, senators and governors stayed there, as well as many wealthy private citizens.[8]
- Was the model for the village of North Bath, NY, the setting for the 1993 best-selling novel and 1994 movie, Nobody's Fool. The book's author, Richard Russo, is a native of nearby Gloversville.
- Recent mayors of Ballston Spa: John Romano (1995-present), James Capasso Jr. (1991-95), Bert Grandin (1983-91), James Capasso Sr. (1971-83)
Notable citizens
- Abner Doubleday, American Civil War hero and supposed inventor of baseball was born in Ballston Spa. The house he was born in is designated as a New York State landmark.
- Hon. George West acquired ten paper mills situated along the Kayaderosseras Creek from 1862 to 1899 and became the largest manila paper manufacturer in the world. Also was a member of the NYS Assembly and US Congress.[11]
- Todd Waring, television and movie actor, 1973 graduate of Ballston Spa High School.
Geography
Ballston Spa is located at 43°0′26″N 73°51′4″W / 43.00722°N 73.85111°W / 43.00722; -73.85111 (43.007185, -73.851168)[12].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.62% is water.
New York State Route 50 (Milton Avenue), a north-south highway, passes through the village and intersects New York State Route 67 (West High Street). County Road 63 (Malta Avenue) leaves the village to the east, connecting it to US Route 9 and Interstate 87 (The Northway).
Demographics
As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 5,556 people, 2,267 households, and 1,385 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,464.8 people per square mile (1,340.7/km²). There were 2,398 housing units at an average density of 1,495.4/sq mi (578.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.33% White, 1.17% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.61% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.
There were 2,267 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,173, and the median income for a family was $49,387. Males had a median income of $36,929 versus $27,281 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,237. About 7.4% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.(there is also a social services office in the heart of the town)
Schools
The list below was the previous school arrangement. This was changed as of the 2008/09 school year.
The list below is the new school arrangement as of the 2008/09 school year.
- Milton Terrace South Elementary School
- Milton Terrace North Elementary School
- Wood Road Elementary School
- Malta Avenue Elementary School
- Ballston Spa Middle School
- Ballston Spa High School
- St. Mary's School is a catholic school located in Ballston Spa. Although not a part of the Ballston Spa Central School District, the students are transported by the district's buses.
- Spa Christian School is a small, private, non-denominational Christian school for children Pre-K to 6th grade.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 edition of The Grocer's Encyclopedia.
External links
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