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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
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
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
- Calvary Assembly of God (Pentecostal)
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
- Congregation Sons of Israel (Jewish)
- Covenant Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian)
- Crossroads International Church
- First Baptist Church of Amsterdam (Baptist)
- First Reformed Church (Reformed)
- Good Shepherd Church (Polish National Catholic)
- Iglesia de Dios, Torre Fuerte (Hispana Pentecostal)
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Catholic)
- Pilgrim Holiness Church
- Salvation Army
- Segunda Sinagoga (Pentocostal)
- Seventh-day Adventist Church
- St. Ann's (Episcopal)
- St. Casimir's (Roman Catholic) (Closed)
- St. John the Baptist's (Roman Catholic) (Closed)
- St. Luke's (Lutheran)
- St. Mary's (Roman Catholic)
- St. Michael the Archangel (Roman Catholic) (Closed)
- St. Nicholas (Ukrainian Catholic)
- St. Stanislaus (Roman Catholic)
- The Time for Truth
- Trinity Lutheran (Lutheran)
- United Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian)
Cemeteries
- Greenhill Cemetery
Education
Public schools
- William H. Barkley Elementary
- William B. Tecler Arts in Education Magnet School
- Marie Curie Institute of Engineering & Communications
- Raphael J. McNulty Academy for International Studies and Literacy
- Clara S. Bacon Elementary (Now Closed)
- Wilbur H. Lynch Literacy Academy
- Amsterdam High School (part of the Greater Amsterdam School District, located in the Town of Amsterdam)
Private schools
- St. Mary's Institute
- Bishop Scully High School (Catholic, now closed)
- St. Stanislaus (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.