Hamilton County, New York

Hamilton County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,836,[1] making it the least populous county in New York. With an area nearly the size of Delaware, but with a population of only 4,416,[2] it is the least densely populated county east of the Mississippi River. Its county seat is Lake Pleasant.[3] The county is named after Alexander Hamilton,[4] the only member of the New York State delegation who signed the United States Constitution in 1787 and later the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. The county was created in 1816 and organized in 1847.[5]

Not to be confused with Hamilton, New York or Hamilton (village), New York.
Hamilton County
County
Hamilton County Courthouse in Lake Pleasant
Flag
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°39′N 74°30′W
Country United States
State New York
Founded1847
Named forAlexander Hamilton
SeatLake Pleasant
Largest CDPLong Lake
Area
 • Total1,808 sq mi (4,680 km2)
 • Land1,717 sq mi (4,450 km2)
 • Water90 sq mi (200 km2)  5.0%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
4,416
 • Density2.8/sq mi (1.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district21st
Websitewww.hamiltoncounty.com

Hamilton County is one of only two counties that lie entirely within the Adirondack Park (Essex being the other). Because of its location in the park, any development in the county is restricted by the New York State Constitution, which designates the park as "forever wild." There is no permanent traffic light in the county.

History
For the history of Hamilton County prior to 1816, see Montgomery County, New York.

On April 12, 1816, Hamilton County was created by partitioning 1,800 square miles (4,700 km2) from Montgomery County,[6] but due to low population it remained unorganized and administered from Montgomery County, N.Y. until it was recognized as sufficiently prepared for self-government on January 1, 1838.[7] The organization process was completed by summer 1847.[8]

On April 6, 1860, Fulton County was partitioned, with 10 square miles (26 km2) of land in Sacandaga Park transferred to Hamilton County.[9] On May 24, 1915, land was swapped between Hamilton and Essex counties, with Hamilton ceding Fishing Brook Mountain for Indian Lake. Hamilton gained an additional 20 square miles (52 km2), whereas Essex County lost 30 square miles (78 km2). This left Hamilton with its present size of 1,830 square miles (4,700 km2).[10]

The former town of Gilman was dissolved in 1860. The original county seat was Sageville, now part of Lake Pleasant.

Geography
Road map of Hamilton County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,808 square miles (4,680 km2), of which 1,717 square miles (4,450 km2) is land and 90 square miles (230 km2) (5.0%) is water.[11] It is New York's third-largest county by land area and fifth-largest by total area.

Hamilton County is in state's north central part, northwest of Albany. It lies entirely within Adirondack Park and consists mostly of publicly owned parkland.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18201,251—
18301,3255.9%
18401,90743.9%
18502,18814.7%
18603,02438.2%
18702,960−2.1%
18803,92332.5%
18904,76221.4%
19004,9473.9%
19104,373−11.6%
19203,970−9.2%
19303,929−1.0%
19404,1886.6%
19504,105−2.0%
19604,2673.9%
19704,71410.5%
19805,0346.8%
19905,2794.9%
20005,3791.9%
20104,836−10.1%
Est. 20194,416[2]−8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2018[1]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 5,379 people, 2,362 households, and 1,558 families residing in the county. The population density was 1/km² (3/sq mi); both the total population and population density rank lowest in the state of New York. There were 7,965 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.73% White, 0.45% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.9% were of Irish, 15.7% German, 15.2% English, 10.9% French, 7.3% American and 5.7% Italian ancestry. 97.5% spoke English and 1.7% French as their first language.

There were 2,362 households out of which 23.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 6.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.00% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the county, the population was spread out with 19.70% under the age of 18, 5.20% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 30.90% from 45 to 64, and 20.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 100.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,287, and the median income for a family was $39,676. Males had a median income of $29,177 versus $21,849 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,643. About 6.00% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics
Presidential elections results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 64.0% 2,064 29.4% 949 6.6% 212
2012 62.1% 1,932 36.2% 1,128 1.7% 53
2008 62.8% 2,141 35.9% 1,225 1.3% 45
2004 67.0% 2,475 31.0% 1,145 2.0% 75
2000 64.9% 2,388 30.3% 1,114 4.9% 180
1996 51.0% 1,841 34.0% 1,228 15.0% 543
1992 53.4% 2,038 25.2% 963 21.4% 816
1988 69.9% 2,320 29.4% 976 0.6% 21
1984 78.0% 2,637 21.8% 737 0.2% 8
1980 63.1% 2,038 28.6% 925 8.3% 267
1976 68.4% 2,306 31.2% 1,052 0.4% 12
1972 77.9% 2,597 21.9% 731 0.2% 6
1968 69.5% 2,123 25.0% 762 5.5% 168
1964 44.2% 1,269 55.8% 1,603 0.0% 1
1960 73.1% 2,168 26.8% 795 0.0% 1
1956 84.8% 2,619 15.2% 470 0.0% 0
1952 82.7% 2,615 17.3% 546 0.1% 3
1948 71.7% 2,000 26.7% 744 1.7% 46
1944 68.6% 1,834 31.1% 830 0.3% 9
1940 70.6% 2,029 29.2% 840 0.1% 4
1936 64.5% 1,695 35.5% 934 0.0% 0
1932 58.8% 1,603 40.6% 1,107 0.7% 18
1928 59.5% 1,399 40.5% 952 0.0% 0
1924 61.2% 1,063 36.4% 631 2.4% 42
1920 62.7% 881 36.7% 516 0.6% 9
1916 49.0% 612 49.8% 623 1.2% 15
1912 40.0% 454 43.4% 493 16.6% 188
1908 50.0% 632 46.4% 586 3.6% 46
1904 50.7% 688 48.3% 655 1.0% 13
1900 55.0% 651 43.0% 509 2.0% 24
1892 44.6% 454 47.1% 480 8.3% 85

Since World War I Hamilton County has been the most consistently Republican of New York. Since Woodrow Wilson carried the county in 1916,[18] the Republican candidate has lost only once, when Barry Goldwater in 1964 failed to win a single county in the state. The county was Goldwater's third strongest in the state however.[19] In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, John McCain carried Hamilton County by a 26.9% margin over Barack Obama, with Obama winning statewide by a virtually equal margin over McCain; Republican nominee Mitt Romney won the county over President Obama in the 2012 election, too.[20] Hamilton gave McCain the highest margin of victory in the state.[21]

It was the only county won by Howard Mills over incumbent Chuck Schumer in the 2004 U.S. Senate election. It also voted for John Faso over Eliot Spitzer for governor in 2006, and for John Spencer 55.5%-42.1% over incumbent Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate in 2006. It was one of only a handful of counties outside Western New York to have voted for Carl Paladino over eventual winner Andrew Cuomo for Governor in 2010.

Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, however, won the county in her bid to be elected for a full term to the U.S. Senate in 2012.[22]

Transportation

Airports

The following public use airports are located in the county:[23]

Communities

Towns

Village

Census-designated places

Other hamlets

Former hamlet
  • Sabattis (formerly Long Lake West)
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See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  2. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hamilton County, New York". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2020-03-28.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 147.
  5. "New York: Individual County Chronologies". New York Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  6. New York. Laws of New York;1816; 39th Session; Chapter 120; Section 1; Page 16.
  7. New York. Laws of New York;1837; 60th Session; Chapter 238; Section 1; Page 227.
  8. Aber, Ted, and King, Stella (1965). History of Hamilton County. Lake Pleasant, New York: Great Wilderness Books. p. 51.
  9. New York. Laws of New York;1860; 83rd Session; Chapter 178; Page 298.
  10. New York. Laws of New York;1915; 138th Session; Chapter 718; Section 1; Page 2364.
  11. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 19, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
  18. The Political Graveyard; Hamilton County, New York
  19. https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/datagraph.php?year=1964&fips=36&f=1&off=0&elect=0
  20. U.S. Election Atlas
  21. CNN Election Results for New York
  22. The county backs Gillibrand Archived March 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  23. Hamilton County Public and Private Airports, New York. Retrieved June 13, 2013.

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