Clifton Park is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the 2006 population estimate for Clifton Park was 36,447.[citation needed] The name is derived from an early land patent.[citation needed] The town is in the south part of the county and is located approx. 12 miles (19 km) north of Albany and northeast of Schenectady, and 10 miles (16 km) south of Saratoga Springs.
History
The first settlements in what is now Clifton Park were established in the 17th century.[2] The town or area was named in 1707 by Nanning Harmansen.[citation needed] At that time Nanning Harmansen sent letters to Lord Cornbury requesting letters of Patent for Land he bought from the Indians known as Shenendehowa.[citation needed] He also stated in this correspondence that he wanted the Patent to be known by "Your name of Cliftons Park," and the patent was named the Clifton Park Patent.[citation needed]
By 1723, the area had grown to twenty inhabitants, and was given the name of "Canastigione". The area along the Mohawk River was popular for ferries across the waterbed, with Eldert Fischer opening the crossing known as Vischer Ferry in 1783. To the northwest, Edward Rexford established Rexford Flats, a small community on the riverbank at the northern end of what became NY 146B.[2]
In 1828, the town of Clifton Park was created as "Clifton" from the town of Halfmoon. It was the last town created in Saratoga County. The town was renamed Clifton Park in 1829.[2] The town originally consisted of farmland with a small village of homes, churches and businesses on what is now U.S. Route 9, but, when Interstate 87 was built through the town, the population and residential and commercial areas of the town skyrocketed.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 50.2 square miles (130.1 km2), of which, 48.6 square miles (125.8 km2) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.3 km2) of it (3.29%) is water.
The town's southern boundary is defined by the Mohawk River and is the border between Saratoga County and Schenectady and Albany Counties.
Interstate 87, The Northway, and US Route 9 pass through the eastern part of the town. New York State Route 146 is an east-west highway through most of the center of Clifton Park until it takes a 90 degree turn southward, passing east of the hamlet of Rexford and then crossing the Rexford bridge into the Town of Niskayuna in Schenectady County.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were over 32,995 people, 12,581 households, and 9,360 families residing in the town. The population density was 262.3/km2 (679.4/mi2). There were 13,069 housing units at an average density of 103.9/km2 (269.1/mi2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.89% White, 1.22% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
There were 12,581 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% 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 3.07.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $68,999, and the median income for a family was $81,410. Males had a median income of $56,030 versus $36,752 for females. The per capita income for the town was $31,997. About 1.2% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Recreation
There are many opportunities for youth involvement in typical sports teams such as football, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, wrestling and hockey.[1] Adults may participate as well. Every year Clifton Park Soccer Club hosts an international tournament called the Rose and Kiernan/Clifton Park Soccer International Soccer Classic.[2]
Schools
The public school district covering most (the eastern two-thirds) of Clifton Park is the Shenendehowa Central School District, located on NY Route 146. In addition, the Ballston Lake-Burnt Hills Central School District and the Niskayuna Central School District cover the northwest and southwest corners of Clifton Park respectively.
The Shenendehowa Central Schools main campus covers about 232 acres (0.94 km2) of property along the south side of NY Route 146. With a student body of over 9,200 students in eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools, Shenendehowa Central Schools is the largest school district in Saratoga County. Shenendehowa Central Schools achievements include three New York State Championship titles for their football program, two Men's Soccer National Championships and six NYS Federation Men's Cross Country Championships.
Communities and locations in Clifton Park
- Ballston Lake – A hamlet in the northwest part of Clifton Park, located at the south end of a lake named Ballston Lake.[3]
- Clifton Park Center – A hamlet in the vicinity of town hall.[4] A shopping center, previously the Clifton Country Mall, shares the name.[5]
- Colonie Reservoir – A reservoir in the south part of the town.[4]
- Country Knolls – A hamlet and census-designated place on the town's northern border near Round Lake.[3]
- Elnora – A hamlet north of Clifton Park Center hamlet[3] on County Road 146A.
- Flagler Corners – A hamlet east of Clifton Park Center.[4]
- Grooms Corners – A hamlet in the southwest part of the town on County Road 91.[4]
- Jonesville – A hamlet north of Elnora on County Road 82.[3]
- Rexford – A hamlet near the west town line and the Mohawk River.[6]
- Round Lake – A lake, the southern part of which is in the northeast corner of the town.[3]
- Ushers – A location south of Round Lake on the Clifton Park-Halfmoon border.[3]
- Vischer Ferry – A hamlet on County Road 92, located near the Mohawk River in the south part of Clifton Park.[4]
References
External links
|
Capital District of New York |
|
| Central Communities |
|
 |
|
Largest communities
(over 20,000 in 2000) |
|
|
Medium-sized communities
(10,000 to 20,000 in 2000) |
|
|
Small communities
(5,000 to 10,000 in 2000) |
|
|
| Counties |
|
|
| History |
|
|
| Religion and Culture |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
