Saratoga County is a
county in the
U.S. state of
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
* '' ...
, and is the fastest-growing county in
Upstate New York. As of the
2020 U.S. census, the county's population was enumerated at 235,509, representing a 7.2% increase from the
2010
File:2010 Events Collage New.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2010 Chile earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in history; The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland disrupts air travel in Europe; A scene from the opening ceremony of ...
population of 219,607,
representing one of the fastest growth rates in the
northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States, also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast, is a geographic region of the United States. It is located on the Atlantic coast of North America, with Canada to its north, the Southe ...
. The
county seat is
Ballston Spa.
Saratoga County is included in the
Capital District, encompassing the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Saratoga County's name was derived from the
Iroquois word ''sah-rah-ka'' or ''sarach-togue'', meaning "the hill beside the river", referring to the
Hudson River bordering the county on its eastern flank and the
Mohawk River delineating its southern border. Saratoga County, bisected by the
toll-free, six-lane
Adirondack Northway, serves as an
outdoor recreational haven and as the gateway to the
Adirondack Mountains and State Park for the populations of the
Albany and
New York City metropolitan area
A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...
s. The county is also home to the internationally renowned
Saratoga Race Course, one of the oldest venues in
horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...
.
Saratoga County lies at the heart of eastern New York State's recognized
Tech Valley, a growing center for the
computer hardware
Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the computer case, case, central processing unit (CPU), Random-access memory, random access memory (RAM), Computer monitor, monitor, Computer mouse, mouse, Computer keyboard, ...
side of the
high-technology industry and its concomitant
venture capital investment, with great strides in the
nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal o ...
sector,
digital electronics design, and water- and electricity-dependent
integrated microchip circuit manufacturing, involving companies including
IBM,
GlobalFoundries,
Samsung, and
Taiwan Semiconductor
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC; also called Taiwan Semiconductor) is a Taiwanese multinational semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company. It is the world's most valuable semiconductor company, the world' ...
, among others.
In April 2021,
GlobalFoundries, a company specializing in the
semiconductor industry
The semiconductor industry is the aggregate of companies engaged in the design and fabrication of semiconductors and semiconductor devices, such as transistors and integrated circuits. It formed around 1960, once the fabrication of semiconduct ...
, moved its headquarters from
Silicon Valley, California to its most advanced
semiconductor-chip manufacturing facility in Saratoga County near a section of the Adirondack Northway, in
Malta, New York.
Saratoga County is also frequently recognized for its high
standard of living
Standard of living is the level of income, comforts and services available, generally applied to a society or location, rather than to an individual. Standard of living is relevant because it is considered to contribute to an individual's quality ...
and
quality of life.
History
When counties were established in the
Province of New York in 1683, the present Saratoga County was part of
Albany County. This was an enormous county, including the northern part of New York, as well as all of the present state of
Vermont and, in theory, extending westward to the
Pacific Ocean. This large county was progressively reduced in size by the separation of several counties until 1791, when Saratoga County and
Rensselaer County were split off from Albany County. The
Battles of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) marked the climax of the Saratoga campaign, giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the American Revolutionary War. British General John Burgoyne led an invasion ...
(September 19 and October 7, 1777) marked the climax of the
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga campaign in 1777 was an attempt by the British high command for North America to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley during the American Revolutionary War. It ended in the surrender of the British ...
, giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the
American Revolutionary War, which convinced
France that the
13 colonies
The Thirteen Colonies, also known as the Thirteen British Colonies, the Thirteen American Colonies, or later as the United Colonies, were a group of British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America. Founded in the 17th and 18th centuri ...
could win the war. The government of Louis XVI began lending military and financial aid to the American Patriot cause.
During the 19th century, Saratoga County was an important industrial center. Its location 30 miles north of Albany on the
Delaware and Hudson Railway
The Delaware and Hudson Railway (D&H) is a railroad that operates in the Northeastern United States. In 1991, after more than 150 years as an independent railroad, the D&H was purchased by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). CP operates D&H ...
, as well as its proximity to water power from the Hudson River and the
Kayaderosseras Creek, led to rapid industrial development beginning in the early 19th century. Some of the most important industrial employers were paper mills, tanneries,
foundries, and textile mills.
Since the construction of the Adirondack Northway in the 1960s, Saratoga County has consistently been the fastest-growing county in the
Capital District and indeed, in Upstate New York, and one of the fastest-growing in the
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States, also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast, is a geographic region of the United States. It is located on the Atlantic coast of North America, with Canada to its north, the Southe ...
. The county has historically maintained a low county tax rate; according to its official website, Saratoga County levies one of the lowest county tax rates in New York.
Geography
Saratoga County is situated in the eastern portion of New York State, north of the state capital city of
Albany, northwest of
Troy, and east of
Utica. According to the
U.S. 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 county has a total area of , of which are land and (4.0%) are covered by water.
The Hudson River forms the eastern border of the county, while the
Mohawk River demarcates its southern border. The highest elevation in Saratoga County is at the peak of Tennet Mountain in the
Adirondack Mountains, at 2,759 ft (841 m),
[ while the lowest elevation is 69 ft (21 m), at the waterfront of the Village of Waterford, at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers.
]
Adjacent counties
Saratoga County is bordered by eight counties. Listed clockwise, they are:
* Warren County - north
* Washington County - east
* Rensselaer County - southeast
* Albany County - south
* Schenectady County
Schenectady County () is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 158,061. The county seat is Schenectady, New York, Schenectady. The ...
- southwest
* Montgomery County Montgomery County may refer to:
Australia
* The former name of Montgomery Land District, Tasmania
United Kingdom
* The historic county of Montgomeryshire, Wales, also called County of Montgomery
United States
* Montgomery County, Alabama
* Mon ...
- southwest
* Fulton County - west
* Hamilton County - northwest
Demographics
2020 Census
In 1960, Saratoga County had a population of only 89,000, less than half of its population noted at the 2020 United States Census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, enumerated at 235,509.
2010 Census
As of the 2010 U.S. Census
The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...
, there were 219,607 people, 88,296 households, and 58,814 families residing in Saratoga County. The population density was 271 people per square mile (105/km2). There were 98,656 housing units at an average density of 122 per square mile (41/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% White, 1.8% Asian, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 2.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 88,296 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% 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, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, 31.5% of households had individuals under 18 years, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.96.
Of Saratoga County's population in 2010, 6.3% were between ages of 5 and 9 years, 6.7% between 10 and 14 years, 6.5% between 15 and 19 years, 5.5% between 20 and 24 years, 5.5% between 25 and 29 years, 5.8% between 30 and 34 years, 6.6% between 35 and 39 years, 7.9% between 40 and 44 years, 8.5% between 45 and 49 years, 8.0% between 50 and 54 years, 7.0% between 55 and 59 years, 6.4% between 60 and 64 years, and 13.7% of age 65 years and over. 22.7% of the county's population was under age 18. The median age was 40.9 years.
According to the 2009-2013 American Community Survey
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, such as ancestry, citizenship, educati ...
, the median income for a household in Saratoga County was $69,826, and the median income for a family was $87,058. Males had a median income of $59,636 versus $44,743 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,176. About 4.0% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Adirondack Northway
The toll-free, six-lane Adirondack Northway bisects Saratoga County, running in a south–north direction. This highway, designated Interstate 87, is the primary conduit connecting the capital of New York, Albany, northward across the Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge into and through Saratoga County, then past Lake George in the Adirondack Park, through the Adirondack Mountains, and eventually to the Canada–United States border
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Can ...
, where it continues seamlessly as Quebec Autoroute 15 to Montreal. This freeway has been a major catalyst for the growth of population and commerce in Saratoga County.
Rail
The Saratoga and North Creek Railway
The Saratoga and North Creek Railway was a heritage railway that began operation in July 2011. Passenger operations ceased on April 7, 2018, and the final revenue freight train to remove stored tank cars operated in May 2018. The railroad ran in t ...
was a heritage railway
A heritage railway or heritage railroad (US usage) is a railway operated as living history to re-create or preserve railway scenes of the past. Heritage railways are often old railway lines preserved in a state depicting a period (or periods) i ...
that operated from 2011 to 2018 between the Saratoga Springs Amtrak station at its southern terminus and North Creek in the Adirondack Park at its northern terminus. Its commercial operations were originally built by the Adirondack Railway (succeeded by the Delaware and Hudson). Amtrak's '' Ethan Allen Express'' and '' Adirondack'' services remain at Saratoga Springs.
Airports
These public-use airports are located in Saratoga County:
* Saratoga County Airport
Saratoga County Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Saratoga Springs, a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. It is included in the ...
(5B2) – Saratoga Springs
* Garnseys Airport
Garnseys Airport is a privately owned, public use airport located one nautical mile (2 kilometre, km) south of the central business district of Schuylerville, New York, Schuylerville, a village in the Saratoga, New York, Town of Saratog ...
(B04) – Schuylerville
Schuylerville () is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The village is located in the northeastern part of the Town of Saratoga, east of Saratoga Springs. The Village of Victory is adjacent to Schuylerville to the southwest ...
* Heber Airpark (K30) – Gansevoort
* Plateau Sky Ranch Airport
Plateau Sky Ranch Airport is a privately owned, public use airport located one nautical mile (2 km) northwest of the central business district of Edinburg, in Saratoga County, New York, United States.
Facilities and aircraft
Pla ...
(1F2) – Edinburg
* Round Lake Airport (W57) – Round Lake
Economy
Tech Valley
Since the 2000s, the economy of Saratoga County and the surrounding Capital District has been redirected toward high technology. Tech Valley is a marketing name for the eastern part of New York, encompassing Saratoga County, the Capital District, and the Hudson Valley. Originated in 1998 to promote the greater Albany area as a high-tech competitor to regions such as Silicon Valley and Boston, it has since grown to represent the counties in the Capital District and extending to IBM's Westchester County plants in the south and the Canada–US border to the north. The area's high-technology ecosystem is supported by technologically focused academic institutions including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute () (RPI) is a private research university in Troy, New York, with an additional campus in Hartford, Connecticut. A third campus in Groton, Connecticut closed in 2018. RPI was established in 1824 by Stephen Van ...
and the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute
The State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Polytechnic Institute or SUNY Poly) is a public university with campuses in Marcy and Albany, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Founded in 1966 u ...
. Tech Valley encompasses 19 counties straddling both sides of the Adirondack Northway and the New York Thruway,[ and with heavy state taxpayer subsidy, has experienced significant growth in the ]computer hardware
Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the computer case, case, central processing unit (CPU), Random-access memory, random access memory (RAM), Computer monitor, monitor, Computer mouse, mouse, Computer keyboard, ...
side of the high-technology industry, with great strides in the nanotechnology
Nanotechnology, also shortened to nanotech, is the use of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale for industrial purposes. The earliest, widespread description of nanotechnology referred to the particular technological goal o ...
sector, digital electronics design, and water- and electricity-dependent integrated microchip circuit manufacturing, involving companies including GlobalFoundries in Malta and others.
Adirondack Trust Company is the largest independent community bank in Saratoga County. Adirondack Trust's 167 full-time employees own the company, which offers banking, loans and investment services, along with insurance through its Amsure subsidiary. As of December 2020, the bank reported almost $1.5 billion in assets, and over $1.3 billion in deposits, across 13 branches.[
]
Recreation
Saratoga County is extremely popular between late July and early September each year due to the Saratoga Race Course being open. This world-famous track dates back to 1863, when it was founded by John Morrissey. Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States has its own Hall of Fame
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...
in Saratoga Springs, which honors remarkable horses, jockey
A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used to describe the individual ...
s, owners, and trainers. Horse-racing fans come from all over to watch the races.
The Saratoga National Historical Park is located along the Hudson River in Stillwater, and features a drive-around trail where one can drive up to each station. The park is also famous for its outstanding views of the area's natural scenery and Vermont's Green Mountains in the distance.
The Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park is a state park located in Saratoga County, New York in the United States. The park is in the City of Saratoga Springs, near US 9 and NY 50.
The grounds contain mineral springs, classical bath and spa houses, and the S ...
capitalizes on the culture and the mineral spring
Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produces hard water, water that contains dissolved minerals. Salts, sulfur compounds, and gases are among the substances that can be dissolved in the spring water during its passage underg ...
s that once drove Saratoga County. This is a large state park and includes a hotel, two pool complexes, mineral baths, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, picnic areas, hiking trails, and numerous mineral springs.
Saratoga County serves as the southern gateway to the Adirondack Park, the largest park in the contiguous United States, covering about , a land area roughly the size of Vermont and greater than the areas of the National Parks of Yellowstone, Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon (, yuf-x-yav, Wi:kaʼi:la, , Southern Paiute language: Paxa’uipi, ) is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is long, up to wide and attains a depth of over a m ...
, Glacier, and Great Smoky Mountains combined. A portion of northwestern Saratoga County lies within the boundaries of the Adirondack Park and includes Hadley Mountain.
Education
Unified school districts
* Ballston Spa School District
* Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District
* Corinth Central School District
* Edinburg Common School District
* Galway Central School District
* Hadley-Luzerne Central School
* Mechanicville City School District
* Saratoga Springs City School District
The Saratoga Springs City School District is the public school district of Saratoga Springs, New York. The district is an independent public entity. It is governed by the Saratoga Springs City School District Board of Education, whose members ...
* Schuylerville Central School District
* Shenendehowa Central School District
The Shenendehowa Central School District, often shortened to Shen, is a public school district located in New York's Capital District. The district's main campus is located off NY 146 in Clifton Park, and is home to eight of the district's 1 ...
* South Glens Falls Central School District
* Stillwater Central School District
* Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District
Colleges and universities
* Bryant & Stratton College
Bryant & Stratton College (BSC) is a private for-profit college with campuses in New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as an online campus. Founded in 1854, the college offers associate degree programs at all campuses and bachelor's ...
* Skidmore College
* SUNY Empire State College
Empire State College (SUNY Empire or ESC) is a public university headquartered in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Empire State College is a multi-site institution offering associate, ...
Communities
Cities
* Mechanicville
Mechanicville is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,196 at the time of the 2010 census. It is the smallest city by area in the state. The name is derived from the occupations of early residents.
The city is lo ...
* Saratoga Springs
Towns
* Ballston Ballston may refer to:
* Ballston, New York, a town in Saratoga County, New York, US
* Ballston, Oregon, an unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, US
* Ballston, Arlington, Virginia, a neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia, US
* Bal ...
* Charlton
Charlton may refer to:
People
* Charlton (surname)
* Charlton (given name)
Places Australia
* Charlton, Queensland
* Charlton, Victoria
* Division of Charlton, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in New South Wale ...
* Clifton Park
* Corinth
* Day
A day is the time period of a full rotation of the Earth with respect to the Sun. On average, this is 24 hours, 1440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. In everyday life, the word "day" often refers to a solar day, which is the length between two so ...
* Edinburg
* Galway
* Greenfield
Greenfield or Greenfields may refer to:
Engineering and Business
* Greenfield agreement, an employment agreement for a new organisation
* Greenfield investment, the investment in a structure in an area where no previous facilities exist
* Greenf ...
* Hadley
* Halfmoon
The halfmoon (''Medialuna californiensis''), also known as the blue perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea chub from the subfamily Scorpidinae, part of the family Kyphosidae. It is native to the coasts of the eastern Pacific Ocean ...
* Malta
* Milton
Milton may refer to:
Names
* Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname)
** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet
* Milton (given name)
** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...
* Moreau
Moreau may refer to:
People
*Moreau (surname)
Places
*Moreau, New York
*Moreau River (disambiguation)
Music
*An alternate name for the band Cousteau, used for the album ''Nova Scotia'' in the United States for legal reasons
In fiction
*Dr. Mo ...
* Northumberland
* Providence
Providence often refers to:
* Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion
* Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity
* Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
* Saratoga
* Stillwater
* Waterford
* Wilton
Villages
* Ballston Spa (county seat)
* Corinth
* Galway
* Round Lake
* Schuylerville
Schuylerville () is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The village is located in the northeastern part of the Town of Saratoga, east of Saratoga Springs. The Village of Victory is adjacent to Schuylerville to the southwest ...
* South Glens Falls
South Glens Falls is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 3,518 at the 2010 census. The village is in the northern part of the Town of Moreau, south of the City of Glens Falls.
Cooper's Cave, shown on the v ...
* Stillwater
* Victory
* Waterford
Census-designated places
* Clifton Gardens
Clifton Gardens is an urban locality in the suburb of Mosman in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Clifton Gardens is located in the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman and is part of the Lower North Shore. Clifton Gardens ...
* Clifton Knolls-Mill Creek
* Country Knolls
* Hadley
* Milton
Milton may refer to:
Names
* Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname)
** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet
* Milton (given name)
** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...
* North Ballston Spa
Hamlets
* Bloodville
* Burnt Hills
The Burnt Hills are a mountain range in Santa Clara County, California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents acr ...
* Crescent
* Gansevoort
* Greenfield Center
* Jonesville
* Middle Grove
* Porter Corners
* Quaker Springs Quaker Springs is a hamlet in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The zip code is 12871. Quaker Springs is between NY-32 Route 4. Quaker Springs United Methodist Church is located in the hamlet. An anti-slavery society was based in Quaker Spr ...
* Rexford
* Rock City Falls
* Vischer Ferry
* West Milton
Government
Saratoga County is governed by a Board Of Supervisors, with each town Supervisor acting as the representative from that community. The City of Saratoga Springs elects two Supervisors and the City of Mechanicville elects one supervisor to sit on the Board of Supervisors, but have no power in their respective city governments. The Town of Clifton Park also elects two Supervisors, one being the elected Town Supervisor, and one having only County duties. Voting is by weighted vote of each of the communities based on population, which is the reason why Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park, the two largest communities in Saratoga County, elect two Supervisors. The political makeup of the 2016-17 Board consists of 21 Republicans
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, and two Democrats. By long-standing tradition, whoever serves as Chairman of the Board of Supervisor's powerful Law and Finance Committee one year serves as Chairman of the full Board the following year—a tradition that has been broken only three times in Saratoga County's history. Under this custom, current Law and Finance Committee Chairman Arthur "Mo" Wright, the Supervisor of the Town of Hadley, is slated to become Chairman of the full Board in 2016.
Republicans hold the county-wide offices of Sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...
, District Attorney
In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a l ...
, County Clerk, Treasurer, and Judges of the County, Family, and the Surrogate Courts.
On the presidential level, like most of the Hudson Valley, Saratoga County was historically powerfully Republican. It only supported a Democrat for president twice in the 20th century, in 1964 and 1996. As a measure of how Republican the county was, it rejected Franklin D. Roosevelt in all four of his successful bids for the White House; Roosevelt did no better than 42.7 percent in the county.
The Republican edge narrowed somewhat in the 1990s, and since then Saratoga County has been a Republican-leaning swing county. George W. Bush won the county narrowly in 2004 with 53% of the vote, while Barack Obama slightly edged out John McCain
John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two terms ...
and Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American politician, businessman, and lawyer serving as the junior United States senator from Utah since January 2019, succeeding Orrin Hatch. He served as the 70th governor of Massachusetts f ...
in both 2008 and 2012, becoming the first Democrat to win a majority in the county since 1964. In 2016, Saratoga County flipped back to the Republicans, with Donald Trump capturing a narrow plurality of the vote over Hillary Clinton. This flip proved temporary, with Democratic candidate Joe Biden winning the county in 2020. Saratoga County has backed the winning candidate in every presidential election since 1996.
The county is represented in the U.S. Congress by Republican Elise Stefanik and Democrat Paul Tonko.
In the State Senate, the county is divided between Republicans Daphne Jordan and Jim Tedisco, while in the State Assembly Democrats John T. McDonald III and Carrie Woerner
Caroline Caird Woerner is the Assembly member for the 113th District of the New York State Assembly. She is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
Life and career
A graduate of Carnegie-Mellon Un ...
, along with Republicans Mary Beth Walsh and Dan Stec
Daniel George Stec (born February 21, 1969) is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate for the 45th district. He represents all of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Warren Counties, and parts of St. Lawrence County a ...
, each represent portions of the county.
James A. Murphy III
James A. Murphy III (born c. 1961) is an American politician, a former district attorney, and a jurist. He is currently an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York and the county court judge for Saratoga County, New York.
Mur ...
, a Republican, is the County Court Judge and a former District Attorney.
James A. Bowen had been the dean of NYS Sheriffs, having served as Sheriff since 1972, when he was appointed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. Bowen won election in his own right in 1973 and had been elected every four years up until his retirement at the end of his tenth term in office in 2013. Michael H. Zurlo is the current Sheriff, winning the election to succeed Bowen in 2013.
Democratic strength is best shown in the City of Saratoga Springs, which has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1988. Republican strength is concentrated in the western part of the county, which is mostly rural or exurban
An exurb (or alternately: exurban area) is an area outside the typically denser inner suburban area, at the edge of a metropolitan area, which has some economic and commuting connection to the metro area, low housing density, and growth. It sh ...
. In 2005, the Democrats gained a majority on the Saratoga Springs City Council after decades of Republican dominance. The Republicans, however, reclaimed the council majority in the 2007 General Elections due to a split Democratic Party in the mayor's race. In 2009, the Republicans reclaimed their supermajority (4-1) on the City Council, by winning every contested election (Mayor, Finance, Public Safety, and Public Works). In 2011, Democrats reclaimed the Majority on the City Council, while Republican Scott Johnson was reelected as Mayor. The Current City Council (2016-2017)is 4-1 Democratic led by Mayor Meg Kelly. At the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, the City is split, with one Republican and one Democrat holding the two Supervisor seats.
State Assembly
* John McDonald, Democratic, 108th District
* Mary Beth Walsh, Republican, 112th District
* Carrie Woerner
Caroline Caird Woerner is the Assembly member for the 113th District of the New York State Assembly. She is a Democrat. The district includes portions of Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
Life and career
A graduate of Carnegie-Mellon Un ...
, Democratic, 113th District
* Dan Stec
Daniel George Stec (born February 21, 1969) is an American politician serving as a member of the New York State Senate for the 45th district. He represents all of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Warren Counties, and parts of St. Lawrence County a ...
, Republican, 114th District
State Senate
* Daphne Jordan, Republican, 43rd District
* Jim Tedisco, Republican, 49th District
United States House of Representatives
* Paul Tonko, Democratic, 20th District
* Elise Stefanik, Republican, 21st District
Notable people
* David Hyde Pierce - actor
* Dottie Pepper - professional golfer
* Scott Underwood
Scott may refer to:
Places Canada
* Scott, Quebec, municipality in the Nouvelle-Beauce regional municipality in Quebec
* Scott, Saskatchewan, a town in the Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380
* Rural Municipality of Scott No. 98, Sask ...
- drummer - Member of Train
* Justin Morrow - figure skater - 2-time U.S. Figure Skating national ice dancing medalist
* Scott Valentine - actor - Best known for his role on "Family Ties"
* Monty Woolley
Edgar Montilion "Monty" Woolley (August 17, 1888May 6, 1963) was an American film and theater actor.Obituary ''Variety'', May 8, 1963, page 223. At the age of 50, he achieved a measure of stardom for his role in the 1939 stage play ''The Man Wh ...
- stage and screen actor - Best known for his role in "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
* Chauney Olcott - actor, songwriter, and singer - Best known for writing "My Wild Irish Rose"
* Kevin Huerter - professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings
See also
* List of counties in New York
* National Register of Historic Places listings in Saratoga County, New York
Notes
References
Further reading
*
*
*
External links
Saratoga County, New York site
*
Brookside Museum, Saratoga County Historical Society
Saratoga County history links and information
{{Coord, 43.11, -73.87, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-NY_source:UScensus1990
1791 establishments in New York (state)
Populated places established in 1791