Greenfield, New York

Greenfield is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,362 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Greenfield, New Hampshire. It is located northwest of Saratoga Springs, which it borders, and students living in Greenfield attend schools of the Saratoga Springs City School District.

History

The area was first settled ''circa'' 1786, and in 1793, the town was formed from parts of the Milton and Saratoga. Its land area was reduced in 1794 by contributions of some of its territory to the newly formed towns of Day, Corinth, and Hadley.

Geography

Greenfield is the largest town in the county by area. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (0.46%) is water.

Route 9N, a north–south highway, passes through the eastern part of the town.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,362 people, 2,761 households, and 2,007 families residing in the town. The population density was 109.2 people per square mile (42.2/km²). There were 3,222 housing units at an average density of 47.8 per square mile (18.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.45% White, 0.65% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 2,761 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 20.4% 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 2.66 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,784, and the median income for a family was $48,299. Males had a median income of $35,112 versus $27,127 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,014. About 4.3% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those aged 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Greenfield

*Chatfield Corner – A hamlet in the southwestern part of the town on County Road 12.
*Frink Corner – A location on the southern town line, southwest of Middle Grove.
*Greenfield – A hamlet in the southern part of the town on County Road 19.
* Greenfield Center – A hamlet on NY-9N at the junction of County Road 36.
*Kings – A hamlet south of North Greenfield on NY-9N.
*' Lake Desolation' – (1) A hamlet in the northwestern corner of the town on County Road 12 by (2) a lake, also known as Lake Desolation. The lake itself
is slightly a part of Providence, New York, although it is mainly within Greenfield. It is also listed at that page under communities.
* Middle Grove – A hamlet in the southwestern part of the town. It was earlier known as "Jamesville."
*Mt. Pleasant – A location in the northwest corner of the town, north of Lake Desolation.
*North Greenfield – A hamlet on NY-9N, north of Greenfield Center.
*Pages Corners – A hamlet by the southern town line between Middle Grove and South Greenfield on County Road 21.
* Porter Corners – A hamlet southwest of North Greenfield on County Road 19.
*South Greenfield – A location south of Greenfield village.

Conspiracy Theories

The Last Shah of Iran

One main conspiracy theory that comes out of Greenfield, is the belief that the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, was brought to Greenfield by the United States Military. This was done to keep the Shah, and his family safe. Considering Greenfield's location in Upstate New York, along with its dense forests it seems an ideal location to hide a high value target from Iran.

Anonymous sources have suggested that the Shah's family members attended Saratoga Springs High School, though how long they attended the school for, and if they took up new names for protection is uncertain.

Notable people

* William Aldrich, (1820–1885), born in Greenfield Center, United States Congressman from Illinois
* Elihu Anthony (1818-1905), California pioneer
* William Brayton (1787–1828), Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, resided in Greenfield before attending college and moving to Vermont.
*Blackleach Burritt (1744–1794), noted clergyman in the American Revolution.
*Harry Carman (1884–1964), dean of Columbia College
*Sanford Robinson Gifford, (1823–1880) Hudson River School artist of some acclaim.

References

External links

Town of Greenfield

Greenfield Fire District

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Towns in Saratoga County, New York