Clifton Park is a suburban
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
in
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, and is the fastest-growing county in Upstate New York. As of the 2020 United States census, the county's population was enumerated at 235,509, ...
, United States. It is the largest municipality in the county, with a 2020 population of 38,029, according to the
2020 census. As such, it is the largest municipality in New York state east of Syracuse and north of
Schenectady
Schenectady ( ) is a City (New York), city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the United States Census 2020, 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-most populo ...
. The town's name is derived from an early land patent.
[Bits and Pieces of Saratoga County History by Richard Dorrough, Ballston Journal] The town is in the southern part of Saratoga County, approximately north of
Albany, northeast of Schenectady, and south of
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over ...
.
History
The Indigenous
Mohawks and
Mohicans
The Mohicans ( or ) are an Eastern Algonquian Native American tribe that historically spoke an Algonquian language. As part of the Eastern Algonquian family of tribes, they are related to the neighboring Lenape, whose indigenous territory was ...
referred to the area as ''Canastigione'', meaning corn flats. The first settlements in what is now Clifton Park were established in the 17th century.
The town or area was named in 1707 by Nanning Harmansen.
At that time, Nanning Harmansen sent letters to
Lord Cornbury requesting letters of Patent for Land he bought from the Indigenous Americans.
["Bits and Pieces of Saratoga County History" by Richard Dorrough published in the ''Ballston Journal''.] 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. The
Iroqouis name for the Clifton Park Patent was Shenendehowa
(meaning "Great Plains") which is where
the school district gets its name.
The area along the
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed October 3, 2011 river in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson R ...
was popular for ferries across the waterbed, with Eldert Vischer 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.
In 1828, the town of Clifton Park was created as "Clifton" from the town of
Halfmoon, but was renamed Clifton Park a year later.
It was the last town created in
Saratoga County. The town originally consisted of farmland with a small village of homes, churches and businesses on what is now
U.S. Route 9, but saw a large demographic change when
Interstate 87 was built through the town in 1961.
The
Grooms Tavern Complex was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 2000.
The
Mohawk Valley Grange Hall was added in 2012.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (3.29%) is water.
The town's southern boundary is defined by the
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed October 3, 2011 river in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson R ...
and is the border between Saratoga County and
Schenectady
Schenectady ( ) is a City (New York), city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the United States Census 2020, 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-most populo ...
and
Albany counties.
Interstate 87 (the "Adirondack Northway") and
U.S. Route 9 pass through the eastern part of the town.
New York State Route 146
New York State Route 146 (NY 146) is a state highway in the Capital District, New York, Capital District of New York (state), New York in the United States. It extends for from Gallupville, New York, Gallupville at New York State Rout ...
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
of 2008, there were over 37,707 people, 13,782 households, and 10,077 families residing in the town. There were 14,262 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 92.2%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 2.0%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.02%
Native American, 3.4%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, 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 th ...
, 0.36% from
other races, and 1.6% from two or more races.
There were 13,782 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 27% under the age of 20, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 15.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For 18 and older, there were 49.2% males and 50.8% females.
The median income for a household in the town was $82,850, and the median income for a family was $98,275. Males had a median income of $68,417 versus $46,948 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the town was $37,405. About 1.4% of families and 2.9% 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 ...
, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Recreation
There are many opportunities for youth involvement in typical sports teams such as football, baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer, basketball, wrestling and hockey. 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.
Clifton Park also periodically hosts the Babe Ruth World Series for boys baseball. There are also other annual events, such as Winterfest.
Clifton Common which is located on Vischer Ferry Rd. is a central hub for recreation which features baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, outdoor basketball courts, two NHL-size ice rinks, playgrounds, and an outdoor stage for performing arts.
The
Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve, a 740-acre site in southern Clifton Park adjacent to the
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed October 3, 2011 river in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson R ...
, features a network of walking trails alongside an original section of the
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east–west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigability, navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, ...
and towpath.
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
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District and the
Niskayuna Central School District cover the northwest and southwest corners of Clifton Park respectively.
The main campus of Shenendehowa Central Schools covers about of property along the south side of NY Route 146. With a student body of over 9,800 students in eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools, Shenendehowa Central Schools is one of the largest school districts in New York State. Shenendehowa Central Schools' achievements include twenty-two New York State Championship titles for their Men's Soccer team as well as two National Championships. Their Cross Country team has won six NYS Federation Men's Cross Country Championships.
Shenendehowa schools:
Elementary schools:
Karigon and Orenda (connected), Tesago and Skano (connected), Okte, Chango, Arongen, and the newest addition, Shatekon
Middle schools (all connected): Gowana, Acadia, Koda
High schools: High School West (9th grade only) and High School East (10-12 grades only)
Although there are two different high schools, they are allowed to participate in the same clubs and events (with few exceptions, such as dances and activities during school hours.)
Communities and locations in Clifton Park
*
Ballston Lake – A
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
in the northwestern part of Clifton Park, located at the south end of a lake named
Ballston Lake.
*
Clifton Gardens – A neighborhood and
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
in the eastern part of the town.
*
Clifton Knolls-Mill Creek – A neighborhood and census-designated place southeast of the center of town.
*Clifton Park Center – A hamlet in the vicinity of town hall.
The
Clifton Park Center Baptist Church and Cemetery was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 2004.
*Colonie Reservoir – A
reservoir
A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation.
Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...
in the southern section of the town.
*
Country Knolls – A hamlet and
census-designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
on the town's northern border, near Round Lake.
*Elnora – A hamlet north of Clifton Park Center hamlet on
NY 146A.
The
Smith's Grain and Feed Store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
*Flagler Corners – A hamlet east of Clifton Park Center.
*Grooms Corners – A hamlet in the southwestern part of the town on County Road 91.
The
Grooms Tavern Complex and
Mohawk Valley Grange Hall are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
*
Jonesville – A hamlet north of Elnora on County Road 82.
*
Rexford – A hamlet near the western town line and the Mohawk River.
*
Round Lake – A lake, the southern part of which is in the northeastern corner of the town.
*Ushers – A location south of Round Lake on the Clifton Park-
Halfmoon border.
*
Vischer Ferry – A hamlet on County Road 92, located near the Mohawk River in the southern section of Clifton Park.
Notable people
*
Emma Lee Benedict (1857-1937), editor, educator, author
*
Juergen Hahn, engineering professor.
*
Kevin Huerter, NBA Player.
*
Keith Raniere, cult leader.
*
Reid Scott, actor.
*
Ian Anderson
Ian Scott Anderson (born 10 August 1947) is a British musician best known for being the chief vocalist, Flute, flautist, and acoustic guitarist of the British rock band Jethro Tull (band), Jethro Tull. He is a multi-instrumentalist who also p ...
, MLB pitcher.
[https://www.mlb.com/player/ian-anderson-666120]
See also
*
Shenendehowa United Methodist Church
References
External links
Clifton Park Town HallThe Chamber of Southern Saratoga County
{{Authority control
Towns in Saratoga County, New York
Towns in New York (state)
1707 establishments in the Province of New York