Niskayuna (town), New York

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Niskayuna is a town in Schenectady County, New York, USA. The population was 20,295 at the 2000 census.

The Town of Niskayuna is located in the southeast part of the county, north and east of the City of Schenectady.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Communities and locations in Niskayuna 5 Notable residents 6 External links

[edit] History

Niskayuna was formed on March 7, 1809 with an original population of 681. The name of town was derived from the term "Nis-ti-go-wo-ne" or "Co-nis-ti-glo-no." [1] The original meanings of the words translate roughly as "Extensive Corn Flats" or "Land of Much Corn."

[edit] Geography

The northern and eastern town lines are defined by the Mohawk River with Saratoga County, New York on the opposite bank. The south town line is the Town of Colonie in Albany County, New York. The town borders the city of Schenectady to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.0 km² (15.1 mi²). 36.5 km² (14.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it (6.25%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 20,295 people, 7,787 households, and 5,793 families residing in the town. The population density was 555.3/km² (1,438.3/mi²). There were 8,046 housing units at an average density of 220.2/km² (570.2/mi²). The town's population was 51.7% female and 48.3% male. The racial makeup of the town was 90.7% White, 6.0% Asian, 1.6% African-American, and 1.6% "Other."[2]

There were 7,787 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $70,800, and the median income for a family was $79,539. Males had a median income of $59,738 versus $39,692 for females. The per capita income for the town was $33,257. About 2.1% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over. The average family income in Niskayuna is the highest in the Capital District.[3]

[edit] Communities and locations in Niskayuna

• Aqueduct -- A hamlet at the northern tip of the town.
• Avon Crest -- A large suburban development in the south part of the town.
• Catherine's Woods Estates -- A small neighborhood on the east side of the town near the Mohawk River.
• Edison Woods -- A small, newer suburban development near the Knolls Atomic Power Lab.
• Hawthorne Hill -- A suburban community east of Schenectady.
• Niskayuna -- The hamlet of Niskayuna in the southeast part of the town.
• Orchard Park -- A small neighborhood situated between the GE Research Center, and the Niskayuna High School; bordered by Balltown Road on the west and River Road to the north.
• Rosendale Estates -- A large suburban development in the central part of the town.
• Windsor Estates -- Another small, upscale development near the General Electric R&D center and KAPL. The front entrance leading to Van Antwerp Road, the Niskayuna High School and Town Hall, while the back entrance leads to River Road.

[edit] Notable residents

• Jeff Blatnick -- winner of the gold medal in wrestling at the 1984 Summer Olympics
• André Davis -- Wide Receiver for the Buffalo Bills; drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2002. Tied a NFL record with a 99 yard touchdown reception. Exceptional star for the Virginia Tech football team, where he played with Michael Vick. Atlantic 10 conference record holder in the 200m and 100m dash.
• Ivar Giaever -- Winner of the Nobel Prize in physics

[edit] External links

• Official Town Homepage
• Niskayuna Town Court
• Niskayuna Central School District
• What's in a Name: Niskayuna An essay on the origin of the name 'Niskayuna'