Hamilton County
County
Hamilton County Courthouse in Lake Pleasant
Hamilton County Courthouse in Lake Pleasant
Flag of Hamilton County
Flag
Official seal of Hamilton County
Seal
Map of New York highlighting Hamilton County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°39′N 74°30′W / 43.65°N 74.5°W / 43.65; -74.5
Country United States
State New York
Founded1816
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
 (2020)
 • Total5,107[1]
 • Density3.0/sq mi (1.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district21st
Websitewww.hamiltoncounty.com

Hamilton County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,107,[2] making it the least populous county in New York. With an area nearly the size of Rhode Island, it is the least densely populated county east of the Mississippi River. Its county seat is Lake Pleasant.[3] The county was created in 1816 and organized in 1847.[4]

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 are no permanent traffic lights in the county, and much of the county has no cell phone service.

Etymology

The county is named after Alexander Hamilton,[5] the only member of the New York State delegation who signed the United States Constitution in 1787, and was later the first United States Secretary of the Treasury.

History

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 the state's north central section, northwest of Albany. It lies entirely within Adirondack Park and consists mostly of publicly owned parkland.

The county is very mountainous, broken up by rivers and lakes. The county is famous for its lakes. Indian Lake, and Long Lake are both famous for their long length, small width, and erratic shape, similar to the Finger Lakes. Other notable lakes include Piseco Lake, Lewey Lake, Raquette Lake, Sacandaga Lake, and Lake Pleasant. While notable mountains include: Snowy Mountain, Panther Mountain, and Buell Mountain.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
20205,1075.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2020[2]

As of the 2020 census, among the 5,107 residents the racial makeup of the county was 93.69% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 4.74% from two or more races.[16] 1.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Additional demographics are based on older data. As of the census[17] of 2000, there were 5,379 people, 2,362 households, and 1,558 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2); 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 units per square mile (1.9/km2). 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.

Research published in 2016 found that Hamilton County had by far the highest suicide rate in the state of New York; at 28 per 100,000 people. This meant that Hamilton County had a suicide rate more than double the national average and more than triple the state average of 13 and 8.4 per 100,000 people respectively. Though the report found instances of suicide to be significantly higher in Upstate generally, the rate in Hamilton County was disproportionate regardless of region; being 22.1, high though still significantly lower, in Lewis County, which was found to have the second highest rate in New York.[18]

2020 census

Hamilton County Racial Composition[19]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 4,769 93.4%
Black or African American (NH) 30 0.6%
Native American (NH) 14 0.3%
Asian (NH) 12 0.2%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 181 3.54%
Hispanic or Latino 100 2%

Government and politics

United States presidential election results for Hamilton County, New York[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,225 64.31% 1,178 34.05% 57 1.65%
2016 2,064 64.00% 949 29.43% 212 6.57%
2012 1,932 62.06% 1,128 36.24% 53 1.70%
2008 2,141 62.77% 1,225 35.91% 45 1.32%
2004 2,475 66.98% 1,145 30.99% 75 2.03%
2000 2,388 64.86% 1,114 30.26% 180 4.89%
1996 1,841 50.97% 1,228 34.00% 543 15.03%
1992 2,038 53.39% 963 25.23% 816 21.38%
1988 2,320 69.94% 976 29.42% 21 0.63%
1984 2,637 77.97% 737 21.79% 8 0.24%
1980 2,038 63.10% 925 28.64% 267 8.27%
1976 2,306 68.43% 1,052 31.22% 12 0.36%
1972 2,597 77.89% 731 21.93% 6 0.18%
1968 2,123 69.54% 762 24.96% 168 5.50%
1964 1,269 44.17% 1,603 55.80% 1 0.03%
1960 2,168 73.14% 795 26.82% 1 0.03%
1956 2,619 84.78% 470 15.22% 0 0.00%
1952 2,615 82.65% 546 17.26% 3 0.09%
1948 2,000 71.68% 744 26.67% 46 1.65%
1944 1,834 68.61% 830 31.05% 9 0.34%
1940 2,029 70.62% 840 29.24% 4 0.14%
1936 1,695 64.47% 934 35.53% 0 0.00%
1932 1,603 58.76% 1,107 40.58% 18 0.66%
1928 1,399 59.51% 952 40.49% 0 0.00%
1924 1,063 61.23% 631 36.35% 42 2.42%
1920 881 62.66% 516 36.70% 9 0.64%
1916 612 48.96% 623 49.84% 15 1.20%
1912 454 40.00% 493 43.44% 188 16.56%
1908 632 50.00% 586 46.36% 46 3.64%
1904 688 50.74% 655 48.30% 13 0.96%
1900 651 54.98% 509 42.99% 24 2.03%
1892 454 44.55% 480 47.11% 85 8.34%
1888 638 51.29% 591 47.51% 15 1.21%
1884 521 46.85% 567 50.99% 24 2.16%
1880 406 39.84% 552 54.17% 61 5.99%
1876 322 36.14% 569 63.86% 0 0.00%
1872 353 41.78% 492 58.22% 0 0.00%
1868 287 38.84% 452 61.16% 0 0.00%
1864 218 36.39% 381 63.61% 0 0.00%
1860 134 22.30% 467 77.70% 0 0.00%
1856 149 28.88% 250 48.45% 117 22.67%
1852 126 26.92% 342 73.08% 0 0.00%
1840 123 35.65% 222 64.35% 0 0.00%

Hamilton County has long been one of the most consistently Republican counties in New York. Since Woodrow Wilson carried the county in 1916,[21] 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.[22] 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.[23] Hamilton gave McCain the highest margin of victory in the state.[24]

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, despite Faso and Spencer both losing in landslides statewide. 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.[25]

Transportation

Airports

The following public use airports are located in the county:[26]

Ground

Communities

Larger settlements

# Location Population Type
1 Long Lake 547 CDP
2 Speculator 324 Village
- Wells N/A CDP

Towns

Villages

Other hamlets

Former hamlet

  • Sabattis (formerly Long Lake West)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "US Census 2020 Population Dataset Tables for New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hamilton County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "New York: Individual County Chronologies". New York Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2008. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  5. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 147.
  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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  17. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Suicide in New York: Which counties have highest and lowest rates?" Updated: May. 21, 2019 at 5:23 p.m. Originally published: Nov. 15, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in UpNY: Upstate News. Article by James T. Mulder | jmulder@syracuse.com/. . Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  19. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hamilton County, New York".
  20. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  21. ↑ The Political Graveyard; Hamilton County, New York
  22. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Data Graphs".
  23. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  24. ↑ "County Results - Election Center 2008". CNN.
  25. ↑ "The county backs Gillibrand". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
  26. ↑ Hamilton County Public and Private Airports, New York. Retrieved June 13, 2013.

Further reading

43°40′N 74°30′W / 43.66°N 74.50°W / 43.66; -74.50

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