Stephentown, New York
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Stephentown 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
Rensselaer County, New York Rensselaer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 161,130. Its county seat is Troy. The county is named in honor of the family of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the original Dutch owner of the l ...
, United States. The population was 2,903 at the 2010 census. The town, which was originally Jericho Hallow in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around the Massachusetts Bay, the northernmost of the several colonies later reorganized as the ...
, was renamed for Stephen Van Rensselaer. The town is located in the southeastern corner of the county, and has a sign proclaiming it to be the only Stephentown on Earth.


History

Stephentown was first settled around 1765. The town was formed in 1788, from the East Manor of
Rensselaerwyck 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 ...
District. The Stephentown pioneers were from
New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
, primarily
Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the List of U.S. states by area, smallest U.S. state by area and the List of states and territories of the United States ...
and
Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
.


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 (0.16%) is water. The southern town line is the border with
Columbia County, New York Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 61,570. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the ...
, and the eastern town boundary is the border of
Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...
. The western and central portions of the town are part of the
Rensselaer Plateau The Rensselaer Plateau is a small plateau located in the central portion of Rensselaer County, New York; it generally encompasses significant parts of the towns of Berlin, Stephentown, Sand Lake, Poestenkill, and Grafton, along with small secti ...
.


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 2,903 people, 1,141 households, and 838 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 49.8 people per square mile (19.1/km2). There were 1,339 housing units at an average density of 23.1 per square mile (8.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.7%
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 ...
, 0.31%
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 ...
, 0.21% Native American, 0.14%
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 ...
, and 0.77% 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 3.11% of the population. There were 1,141 households, out of which 35.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.94. In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $59,769, and the median income for a family was $61,347. Males had a median income of $31,535 versus $26,611 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 $25,352. About 5.7% of families and 6.6% 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 9.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.


Communities and locations in Stephentown

*
Cherry Plain State Park Cherry Plain State Park is a state park located in Rensselaer County, New York in the United States. The park is located in Cherry Plain at the southwest part of the Town of Berlin, near the Massachusetts border. Outdoor recreational opportunit ...
– Only a small southern section of the
state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...
is in the northern part of the town. * East Nassau – The eastern section of the Village of East Nassau is located at the western town line. *Garfield – A hamlet southwest of Stephentown village. *North Stephentown – A hamlet near the northern town line on Route 22. *Stephentown – The hamlet of Stephentown is in the eastern part of the town. *Stephentown Center – A hamlet northwest of Stephentown village. (It was formerly called "Mechanicville", which now refers to a city in Saratoga County.) *Stephentown Flats – A former community south of Stephentown village. *West Stephentown – A hamlet near the western town line. *Wyomanock – A hamlet south of Stephentown village on Route 22.


Notable people

* Smith A. Boughton, leader of 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 ...
*
Ezra S. Carr Ezra Slocum Carr (March 9, 1819 – November 27, 1894) was a professor at the University of Wisconsin (where he was also briefly a member of the Board of Regents) and at the University of California - Berkeley. He was originally trained as a medi ...
,
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 across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
academic An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...
* Solomon C. Carr, Wisconsin state legislator and farmer *
Roy Face Elroy Leon Face (born February 20, 1928), nicknamed The Bullpen Baron, is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. During a 17-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he pitched primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates. A pioneer of ...
,
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
relief pitcher In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue (medical), fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection (sports), ejection, or for other strategic ...
with the
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
,
Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
and
Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...
, who pioneered the role of the modern closer *
Brian Holloway Brian Douglass Holloway (born July 25, 1959) is a former professional American football offensive tackle for the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders from 1981 to 1988. He is the father of David Holloway, who also played professional ...
,
National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
offensive tackle Offensive may refer to: * Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative * Offensive (military), an attack * Offensive language ** Fighting words or insulting language, words that by their very utterance inflict inj ...
* David Holloway,
National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, p ...
*
Amaziah B. James Amaziah Bailey James (July 1, 1812 in Stephentown, Rensselaer County, New York – July 6, 1883 in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. Life His family removed to Sweden, New York in ...
,
Judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
and
Congressman A Member of Congress (MOC) is a person who has been appointed or elected and inducted into an official body called a congress, typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature. The term member of parliament (MP) is an equivalen ...
from New York * Hosea Moffitt,
Congressman A Member of Congress (MOC) is a person who has been appointed or elected and inducted into an official body called a congress, typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature. The term member of parliament (MP) is an equivalen ...
from New York *
Zadock Pratt Zadock Pratt Jr. (October 30, 1790 – April 5, 1871) was a tanner, banker, soldier, and member of the United States House of Representatives. Pratt served in the New York militia from 1819–1826, and was Colonel of the 116th regiment ...
, Congressman from New York * Darius Quimby, first peace officer in the United States to be killed in the line of duty


Electric power facilities


Stephentown Spindle

Pursuant to Section 68 of the Public Service Law, Stephentown Regulating Services LLC (SRS) (now operating as Stephentown Spindle LLC (SS)) was granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for a 20-
megawatt The watt (symbol: W) is the unit of Power (physics), power or radiant flux in the International System of Units, International System of Units (SI), equal to 1 joule per second or 1 kg⋅m2⋅s−3. It is used to quantification (science), ...
(MW)
flywheel A flywheel is a mechanical device which uses the conservation of angular momentum to store rotational energy; a form of kinetic energy proportional to the product of its moment of inertia and the square of its rotational speed. In particular, ass ...
-based
energy storage Energy storage is the capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time to reduce imbalances between energy demand and energy production. A device that stores energy is generally called an accumulator or battery. Energy comes in ...
facility in 2009. It went in-service in 2010. There are 200 flywheels set within 20 pods on 5-acres that spin at high rates of speed (8,000 rpm to 16,000 rpm) storing energy as
rotational energy Rotational energy or angular kinetic energy is kinetic energy due to the rotation of an object and is part of its total kinetic energy. Looking at rotational energy separately around an object's axis of rotation, the following dependence on the o ...
. Each flywheel weighs 5 tons. The flywheels are energized by and discharge their energy into the New York State transmission system. The project was initially financed in 2010 with a $43 million loan from the federal
Department of Energy A Ministry of Energy or Department of Energy is a government department in some countries that typically oversees the production of fuel and electricity; in the United States, however, it manages nuclear weapons development and conducts energy-rel ...
, however, this amount was reduced to $25 million in 2012 when SS acquired the SRS assets. The company does not sell energy into the NYISO's electric wholesale market or capacity market, however, it does receive revenue from the ancillary services market for providing
frequency regulation Ancillary services are the services necessary to support the transmission of electric power from generators to consumers given the obligations of control areas and transmission utilities within those control areas to maintain reliable operations of ...
service. The stakeholder-driven policy at the NYISO excludes the facility from providing power into the NYISO's wholesale electric and capacity markets because it does not meet minimum criteria - a minimum of 5 minutes or 1 hour - for sustained energy delivery. The regulation service market in the NYISO provides revenue via two streams, a main regulation capacity price ($/MWh over a five-minute interval in the real-time market) based on a day-ahead and real-time market price, and a movement (performance) award ($/MW). For example, if the facility were able to provide its 20 MW output for 12 hours of the day at an average regulation price of $11 per MWh the facility would receive $963,600 a year. Revenue received from the performance fee, which averaged about $2.30 per MW in Q2 of 2018, is a much smaller proportion of annual revenue. It is the first commercial flywheel project in the United States to provide frequency regulation service. The only other comparable utility-scale energy storage facilities in New York are NYPA's 1,100 MW pumped storage facility at Blenheim-Gilboa and NYPA's 240 MW Lewiston pumped storage facility at Niagara Falls. For a power comparison, the capital region's peak summer demand was 2,032 MW in 2017.


References


Further reading

* * * *


External links


Early history of Stephentown

Stephentown Genealogy
{{authority control Towns in Rensselaer County, New York