Amsterdam is a
city located in
Montgomery County, New York,
USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,355. The name is derived from the city of
Amsterdam in the
Netherlands.
The city of Amsterdam is surrounded on the north, east, and west sides by the
town of
Amsterdam and is on the banks of the
Mohawk River. The majority of the city lies on the north bank, but the Port Jackson area on the south side is also part of the city.
History
Market Street in 1909
The city is within the original, now defunct town of Caughnawaga (meaning "at the rapids"), formed in northern Montgomery County in 1788.
It was first settled about 1710 by the
Dutch. The community was called Veeders Mills and Veedersburgh after Albert Veeder, an early mill owner, but was changed to Amsterdam in 1803. In 1773,
Guy Johnson built
Guy Park, a stone
Georgian mansion, but as a
Loyalist, he fled to
Canada during the
Revolution.
A community in the town of Amsterdam
incorporated as a
village on
April 20,
1830 from a section of the town of Amsterdam. New
charters in 1854, 1865, and 1875 increased the size of the village. In 1885, Amsterdam became a city, which was subsequently increased in size again by annexation of the former village of Port Jackson, which became the fifth
ward of the city.
The completion of the
Erie Canal in 1825 was an economic boon to the city.
A dam on the Chuctenunda River, finished in 1875, allowed the city to become an important manufacturing area, primarily of
carpets.
In 1865, the population of Amsterdam was 5,135.
By 1920, it was 33,524.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3
square miles (16.3
km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it is water. The total area is 5.41% water.
The
Mohawk River, along with the Erie Canal, passes through the south part of the city. The Chuctenunda River flows into the Mohawk at Amsterdam.
New York State Route 30, a north-south highway called Market Street in part, crosses the Mohawk River to link the main part of Amsterdam to the
New York State Thruway. NY-30 also intersects east west highways
New York State Route 5 and
New York State Route 67 in the city.
New York State Route 5S passes along the south side of the Mohawk River.
Amsterdam is currently within
New York's 21st congressional district.
Demographics
Historic Amsterdam
As of the
census of 2000, there were 18,355 people, 7,983 households, and 4,686 families residing in the city. The
population density was 3,086.5 people per square mile (1,191.1/km²). There were 9,277 housing units at an average density of 1,560.0/sq mi (602.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.0%
White, 2.2%
Black or
African American, 0.3%
Native American, 0.7%
Asian, 0%
Pacific Islander, 5.5% from
other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 16.0% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 7,983 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were
married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,517, and the median income for a family was $37,169. Males had a median income of $31,397 versus $23,681 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $16,680. 16.3% of the population and 12.4% of families were below the
poverty line. 25.1% of those under the age of 18 and 12.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Economy
In the nineteenth century, the city of Amsterdam was known for
carpet,
textile, and
pearl button manufacturing. It continued to be a center for carpet-making in the 20th century, when the Bigelow-Sanford and
Mohawk Mills Carpet companies both were located in Amsterdam, but these companies have relocated to other regions. In the early 1980s, it was also the home of
Coleco, makers of the
ColecoVision,
Cabbage Patch Kids and the
Coleco Adam. Current industries include the Longview Fibre Company, the Fownes Glove Company, Power and Composite Industries,, and Fiber Glass Industries (FGI).
Rt. 30, just outside of downtown, has undergone major changes in recent years and is where most commercial business is located. Stores include,
Target Corporation including a
Starbucks,
Hannaford Supermarket, and
Sears outlet.
The
enclosed shopping center, formerly known as the
Amsterdam Mall and currently named the Amsterdam Riverfront Center, is now home to the offices of doctors and politicians, radio station
WCSS, and an
off-track betting location.
Media in Amsterdam include one newspaper, The Recorder, and two AM radio stations,
WVTL and
WCSS.
Places of interest
Amsterdam's former
National Guard Armory, which is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places, is now a bed and breakfast inn called
Amsterdam Castle. It has been used as a location in several
ABC,
HGTV, and movie productions.
Amsterdam is also home to the
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, the only brick-and-mortar organization dedicated to the many legends of
professional wrestling. The annual inducation ceremony attracts wrestling fans from around the world.
Amsterdam's municipal
golf course was designed by
Robert Trent Jones.
The city is home to the
Amsterdam Mohawks baseball team of the
New York Collegiate Baseball League. The team plays at
Shuttleworth Park.
Houses of worship
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
- Congregation Sons of Israel (Jewish)
- Crossroads International Church
- First Baptist Church of Amsterdam (Baptist)
- Segunda Sinagoga (Pentocostal)
- St. John the Baptist's (Roman Catholic) (Closed)
- St. Mary's (Roman Catholic)
- St. Michael the Archangel (Roman Catholic) (Closed)
- St. Stanislaus (Roman Catholic)
- Trinity Lutheran (Lutheran)
- United Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian)
Cemeteries
- Saint Stanislaus Cemetery
Education
Public schools
Elementary
- William H. Barkley Elementary
- William B. Tecler Arts in Education Magnet School
- Raphael J. McNulty Academy for International Studies and Literacy
- Clara S. Bacon Elementary (Now Closed)
Secondary
- Wilbur H. Lynch Literacy Academy
- Amsterdam High School (part of the Greater Amsterdam School District, located in the Town of Amsterdam)
Private schools
- Bishop Scully High School (Catholic, now closed)
Government
Amsterdam's government consists of a city council and a mayor. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The council consists of five members each elected from wards.
List of Mayors of Amsterdam
Notable Amsterdamians
Notable natives or residents of Amsterdam include:
- Justice Smith, football player - New York State High School Player of Year 1991, Played professional football in Finland/ Rovaniemi Arctic Circle Stars 1998)
- Bobby Stewart, former professional boxer who was 1974 National Boxing Champion and later became Mike Tyson's first trainer.
- Alex Torres, Grammy Award-winning performer and bandleader, founder of Alex Torres and the Latin Kings
See also
