Berne is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
in
Albany County,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, United States. The population was 2,689 at the 2020 census. The town is at the western border of Albany County.
History
The town of Berne was originally spelled "Bern", until the Berne Post Office was established in 1825. It was created in 1795 from part of the town of
Rensselaerville. In 1822 the northern half of Berne was spun off to form the new town of
Knox.
The earliest settlers were
Palatine German refugees. Settlement began sometime before 1750. At that time, it was called Beaver Dam (also spelled Beaverdam). The settlers were actually squatters, since in the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, Berne was part of the
Rensselaerswyck
The Manor of Rensselaerswyck, Manor Rensselaerswyck, Van Rensselaer Manor, or just simply Rensselaerswyck ( nl, Rensselaerswijck ), was the name of a colonial estate—specifically, a Dutch patroonship and later an English manor—owned by the va ...
estate. The head of the Van Rensselaer family was the
patroon
In the United States, a patroon (; from Dutch ''patroon'' ) was a landholder with manorial rights to large tracts of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland on the east coast of North America. Through the Charter of Freedoms a ...
who owned all the land on which the tenants in the Hudson Valley lived, and used feudal leases to maintain control of the region. Before the
Revolutionary War, the patroons acted like feudal lords, with the right to make laws.
During the War, inhabitants fought on both sides of the conflict.
Loyalists
Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cr ...
who supported the British left and went to Canada. Those who stayed and fought the British expected that if they won, they would either be released from their tenancy, or at the least, be allowed to purchase the land at fair market value. Instead, the new government of New York decided to honor the lease contracts of the patroons, who contributed heavily to the politicians.
The first meeting of the Town of Rensselaerville (which then included what are now known as the four "Hilltowns") was held in 1790 at the home of Johannes Fischer on Stranahan Lane. He was perhaps the wealthiest man in the town, since he owned eight slaves in 1800. When the town of Bern was created in 1795, the first meeting was also held in the home of Johannes Fisher. It is now known as the Thomas Wood House.
The massacre of the Dietz family in 1781 was the only Iroquois incursion in Beaver Dam during the Revolution.
The first mass meeting of tenant farmers leading to the
Anti-Rent War
The Anti-Rent War (also known as the Helderberg War) was a tenants' revolt in upstate New York in the period 1839–1845. The Anti-Renters declared their independence from the manor system run by patroons, resisting tax collectors and successful ...
was held in Berne on July 4, 1839. In January 1845, one hundred and fifty delegates from eleven counties assembled in St. Paul's Lutheran Church to call for political action to redress their grievances.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (0.99%) is water.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2010, there were 2,794 people, 1,099 households, and 805 families residing in the town. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 43.6 people per square mile (17.1/km
2). There were 1,385 housing units at an average density of 21.6 per square mile (8.3/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.89%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.39%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.39%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.07%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...
, 0.25% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.02% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 1,099 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,174, and the median income for a family was $55,685. Males had a median income of $37,324 versus $29,125 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $22,095. About 3.7% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
Natural history
* Partridge Run
Wildlife Management Area
A Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a protected area set aside for the conservation of wildlife and for recreational activities involving wildlife.
New Zealand
There are 11 Wildlife Management Areas in New Zealand:
* Horsham Downs Wildlife Ma ...
, on West Mountain, consists of of former abandoned upland farms. It has been improved with hiking trails, and parking lots and is available for birdwatching, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, and trapping. Partridge Run and Cole Hill State Forest are units in the
Helderbergs Management Area of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
* Cole Hill State Forest, accessed from County Routes 2 and 3, has been improved with hiking trails, and parking lots and is available for birdwatching, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, and trapping.
*
Thacher State Park is on the eastern town line, partly in Berne but mainly in
New Scotland,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
. It has campgrounds.
*
The Long Path, runs from the
George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting Fort Lee, New Jersey, with Manhattan in New York City. The bridge is named after George Washington, the first president of the United St ...
in
Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee is a borough at the eastern border of Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River atop the Palisades.
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the borough's population was 40,191. As of the 2010 U.S. census, th ...
to
Altamont, Albany County,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
. It crosses the Town of Berne, going from
Cotton Hill
Cotton Lyndal Hill (September 1, 1927—November 11, 2007) was a fictional character in the Fox animated series ''King of the Hill'' voiced by Toby Huss. He was the father of Hank Hill, Good Hank Hill (or "G.H."), Junichiro (his illegitimate h ...
and Dutch Settlement State Forests in
Schoharie County
Schoharie County ( ) is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,714, making it the state's fifth-least populous county. The county seat is Schoharie. "Schoharie" comes from a Mohawk word meaning "f ...
,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
to the west, across the Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area, through Cole Hill State Forest, where it has 270-degree views of both the Catskills and Adirondacks from Roemer's High Point along the Helderberg Escarpment, and continues north to
Thacher State Park, the Indian Ladder and finally its current end at NY 146.
*
Thompson's Lake State Park was a state park at the northern end of Thompson's Lake. It is now a part of Thacher Park.
*
Henry Hill
Henry Hill Jr. (June 11, 1943 – June 12, 2012) was an American mobster who was associated with the Lucchese crime family of New York City from 1955 until 1980, when he was arrested on narcotics charges and became an FBI informant. Hill testif ...
, the highest point in Albany County, is in Berne, south of Partridge Run State Forest.
* Kenrose Sanctuary is 280 acres with one and one-half miles of trail through woodland, as farmland reverts to forest. The Nature Conservancy owns and manages the Kenrose Sanctuary, which was donated by the McAlpine family.
Notable people
*
John Warren Butterfield
John Butterfield (November 18, 1801 – November 14, 1869) was a transportation pioneer in the mid-19th century in the American Northwest and Southwest. He founded many companies, including American Express which is still in operation today. The ...
(Nov. 18, 1801 - Nov. 14, 1869), born in Berne, went on to found the
Butterfield Overland Mail
Butterfield Overland Mail (officially the Overland Mail Company)Waterman L. Ormsby, edited by Lyle H. Wright and Josephine M. Bynum, "The Butterfield Overland Mail", The Huntington Library, San Marino, California, 1991. was a stagecoach service i ...
, the stage that was an early operation of
American Express
American Express Company (Amex) is an American multinational corporation specialized in payment card services headquartered at 200 Vesey Street in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. The company was found ...
and
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California; operational headquarters in Manhattan; and managerial offices throughout the United States and intern ...
.
* Justice
Joseph Philo Bradley
Joseph Philo Bradley (March 14, 1813 – January 22, 1892) was an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1870 to 1892. He was also a member of the Electoral Commission that decided ...
(Mar. 14, 1813 - Jan. 22, 1892), born on a farm on the top of Cole Hill, served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1870-1892. Bradley is best remembered as being the 15th and final member of the
Electoral Commission
An election commission is a body charged with overseeing the implementation of electioneering process of any country. The formal names of election commissions vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and may be styled an electoral commission, a c ...
that decided the disputed
1876 presidential election between Republican
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes (; October 4, 1822 – January 17, 1893) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 19th president of the United States from 1877 to 1881, after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and as governor ...
and Democrat
Samuel J. Tilden
Samuel Jones Tilden (February 9, 1814 – August 4, 1886) was an American politician who served as the 25th Governor of New York and was the Democratic candidate for president in the disputed 1876 United States presidential election. Tilden was ...
.
* Capt.
Adam Bogardus
Captain Adam Henry Bogardus (1834–1913) was a world champion and United States champion trap shooter, as well as the inventor of the first practical glass ball trap.
He was born in Berne, New York. There, in 1854, he married Cordelia Dearstyne. ...
(Sep. 17, 1834 - Mar. 23, 1913), born on a farm on Ravine Road on West Mountain, became the World Champion and United States Champion
trap shootist. He is credited with popularizing
trap shooting
Trap shooting, or trapshooting in North America, is one of the three major disciplines of competitive clay pigeon shooting, which is shooting shotguns at clay targets. The other disciplines are skeet shooting and sporting clays.
They are disting ...
. He invented the first practical glass ball trap in 1877. He and his sons were renowned crack shots who toured with the
Buffalo Bill
William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), known as "Buffalo Bill", was an American soldier, Bison hunting, bison hunter, and showman. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa, Le Claire, Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), but ...
's Wild West Show. He is in th
National Trapshooting Hall of Fame
*
Albert Gallup (January 30, 1796 - November 5, 1851), born in Berne, was a U.S. Representative from New York from 1837 - 1839.
*
M. E. Grenander (21 November 1918 – 28 May 1998), born in Rewey, Wisconsin, was a professor of English and philanthropist, for whom the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives of the University Libraries of the University at Albany, the State University of New York is named. She and her second husband, James Corbett (a professor of physics at SUNY), prospered through the stock market. She donated $1 million to SUNY in his memory after his death in 1994. Grenander died in East Berne, New York, at 79 years of age.
*
Adelmorn Sherman
Adelmorn Sherman (January 30, 1820 – January 26, 1875) was an American farmer and politician.
Born in Berne, New York, Sherman moved to Wisconsin Territory in 1844 and settled in Rock County, Wisconsin. He lived in La Prairie, Wisconsin. Sh ...
(January 30, 1820 - January 26, 1875) born in Berne, farmer, served in the
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin.
Representatives are elected for two-year terms, ...
1869-1871.
['The Legislative Manual of the Wisconsin Legislature 1871,' Biographical Sketch of Adelmorn Sherman, pg. 383]
*
Hiram Walden
Hiram Walden (August 21, 1800 – July 21, 1880) was an American businessman and politician from New York (state), New York. He was most notable for his service as a United States Representative from 1849 to 1851.
Biography
Walden was born in Pa ...
(August 21, 1800 - July 21, 1880), born in Pawlet, Vermont, lived in Berne from 1818–1821, and manufactured axes. He then moved his ax factory to the Town of Wright to what became known as Waldensville. From 1849 - 1851 he was a United States Representative from New York 21st District.
* Lawrence Van Deusen, president of the Anti-Rent Association of Albany County, New York.
Communities and locations in Berne
*Berne – The largest hamlet in the Town, it is located at the intersection of
New York State Route 443
New York State Route 443 (NY 443) is an east–west state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The route begins at an intersection with NY 30 in the town of Schoharie and ends later at a junction with ...
and
New York State Route 156
New York State Route 156 (NY 156) is a state highway in Albany County, New York. NY 156 begins at a junction with NY 443 in the town of Berne. Serving the hamlet of Knox and the village of Altamont, NY 156 soon reache ...
. Before the Post Office was located here in 1825 it was called "Bernville." In the 19th and first half of the 20th century it had a number of stores, up to three hotels, several blacksmith shops, a funeral home, cabinet makers, harness makers, etc.; now it almost entirely residential. The Town Hall is located here in a former hotel. Upstairs is the Berne Museum with "ten rooms of history" operated by the Berne Historical Society.
*East Berne – A hamlet east of Berne village on
New York State Route 443
New York State Route 443 (NY 443) is an east–west state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The route begins at an intersection with NY 30 in the town of Schoharie and ends later at a junction with ...
. It has a Stewarts and a hardware store. In 2019, Dollar General opened a store in East Berne.
*Reidsville – A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town.
*South Berne – A hamlet near the southern town line.
*Thompsons Lake – A small community in the northeastern section of the town, south of Thompsons Lake. In the late 19th and early 20th century, it was a summer resort. Now the major hotels are gone and most of the cottages around the lake are lived in year-round.
*Warners Lake – A lake and the surrounding community in the north-central part of the town, just west of East Berne. In the late 19th and early 20th century, it was a summer resort. Now the public beaches are closed and the boarding houses are private residences. Many of the cottages around the lake are lived in year-round. There is one restaurant on the northeastern side of the lake.
*West Berne – A hamlet near the western town line and west of Berne hamlet
New York State Route 443
New York State Route 443 (NY 443) is an east–west state highway in the Capital District of New York in the United States. The route begins at an intersection with NY 30 in the town of Schoharie and ends later at a junction with ...
. The community was once called "Mechanicsville" and "Peoria." In the 19th and first half of the 20th century, it had a number of stores and a couple of blacksmith shops; now it is strictly residential.
Politics
References
External links
Town of Berne official web page Berne Historical Project
{{authority control
Towns in Albany County, New York