Saratoga Springs, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Saratoga Springs | |
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| Nickname: "The Spa City" | |
| Motto: Health, History, Horses | |
| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Saratoga |
| Incorporated | 1915 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Valerie Keehn |
| Area [1] | |
| - City | 29.0 sq mi (75.2 km²) |
| - Land | 28.4 sq mi (73.6 km²) |
| - Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²) |
| - Urban | 36.89 sq mi (95.57 km²) |
| Elevation | 300 ft (91.4 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - City | 26,186 |
| - Density | 921.1/sq mi (355.6/km²) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Website: http://www.saratoga-springs.org | |
Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The population was 26,186 at the 2000 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American place name, authorities[2] disagree on what the exact word was, and hence its meaning.
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[edit] History
According to historical accounts, Sir William Johnson, British soldier and a hero of the French and Indian Wars, was brought to what would become the city by native friends in 1767 to treat war wounds at a spring thought to have medicinal properties. The spring is now known as High Rock Spring, and may be visited today.
The first permanent settler arrived around 1776, and a tourist trade swiftly grew, with hotels being constructed by such Revolutionary War luminaries as Gideon Putnam.
Saratoga Springs was established as a town in 1819 from a western portion of the Town of Saratoga. Its principal community was incorporated as a village in 1826 and the entire region became a city in 1915.
In the 19th Century, the community became famous as a spa.
The famous Battle of Saratoga, the turning point of the American Revolution, did not take place in Saratoga Springs. Rather, the battlefield is 15 miles (24 km) to the southeast in the town of Stillwater.
[edit] Geography
Saratoga Springs is in the center of Saratoga County in upstate New York. The Adirondack Northway (Interstate 87) and US Route 9 pass alongside and through the city.
Saratoga Springs is located at (43.075337, -73.782422)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 75.3 km² (29.1 mi²). 73.6 km² (28.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (2.17%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 26,186 people, 10,784 households, and 5,985 families residing in the city. The population density was 355.6/km² (921.1/mi²). There were 11,584 housing units at an average density of 157.3/km² (407.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.53% White, 3.11% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.85% of the population.
There were 10,784 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city the population was spread out with 19.4% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,130, and the median income for a family was $59,281. Males had a median income of $39,573 versus $29,439 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,250. About 5.5% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Additional facts about Saratoga Springs
[edit] Racing
The city is perhaps most famous for the Saratoga Race Course, the oldest continuously-operating thoroughbred track in the United States. The track holds a summer meet lasting approximately six weeks, from late July to Labor Day, every day but Tuesdays. The track season sees a dramatic influx of people into the city. Hotels fill to capacity, and many Saratogians rent out their homes.
Also located in the city is the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, a harness (Standardbred) racetrack that includes a video gaming facility, the Racino.
[edit] Culture
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (known by its acronym "SPAC," rhymes with "track") is a covered outdoor amphitheater located on the grounds of the Saratoga Spa State Park, with a capacity of 5,000 in reserved seating and 20,000+ on its general admission lawn area. SPAC is the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York City Ballet, and has hosted a weekend-long jazz festival for several decades. It is a stop for touring national recording artists: over 20 popular bands grace the stage every summer. Steps away on State Park grounds, the Spa Little Theater hosts a chamber music festival as well as the geographically-misdescriptive Lake George Opera Festival during the summer.
There are several museums in the area, including the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, and more than 20 golf courses.
The city is also notable for its vibrant night life. Caffè Lena was one of the first venues in the Eastern US at which Bob Dylan performed, in 1961. Arlo Guthrie played the Caffè early in his career and has returned for occasional benefit concerts. Singer Don McLean is said to have composed his "American Pie" sitting at a table in the Tin & Lint, a bar on Caroline Street. A plaque marks the table today. Numerous other establishments exist on Broadway, Caroline Street, and the redeveloped Putnam Street.
Recently, Beekman Street (four blocks west of Broadway) has become an art district, housing four galleries and a bistro. Artists live and work in co-ops and arrange social events. While many congratulate themselves on "revitalizing" a "deteriorating" area, others consider such declarations an insult to the generations of Saratogians of marginalized ethnicities that toiled in support the tourism economy of the city, and were traditionally segregated to this once-remote quarter.
Skidmore College is located in the north of the city. During the summer, Skidmore is one of several hosts for the Johns Hopkins' CTY program.
Saratoga Springs is also home to Yaddo, a 400 acre (1.6 km²) artists' community, founded by Spencer Trask and his wife Katrina. Since its inception in 1900, Yaddo has been home to 60 Pulitzer Prize winning authors and one Nobel Prize winner. Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, and David Sedaris have all been artists-in-residence. The Yaddo grounds are adjacent to the backstretch of the Saratoga Race Course.
It is believed that potato chips were invented in Saratoga Springs, by Native American/African American chef George Crum, at the Moon Lake Lodge on August 24, 1853.
Walt Disney World Resort has a theme resort called Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, inspired by this city.
Saratoga Springs was noted in The Hipster Handbook as one of the "college towns" where hipsters often dwell.
[edit] Notable Saratogians
| David Hyde Pierce | |
 David Hyde Pierce at the 1994 Emmy Awards. |
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| Born | April 3, 1959 (age 47) Saratoga Springs, New York, USA |
| Notable roles | "Niles Crane" in Frasier |
- David Hyde Pierce, actor; 1977 Saratoga Springs Senior High School graduate and winner of the Yaddo Medal
- James Howard Kunstler, writer and social critic
- Dottie Pepper, golfer
- Scott Underwood, musician; drummer for and member of Train; 1990 Saratoga Springs Senior High School graduate
- Scott Valentine, actor; grew up in Saratoga Springs
- Marylou Whitney, socialite; maintains a home at Cady Hill
- Dave Luetkenhoelter, bass player for Kutless; lived in Saratoga Springs for a short time during high school
- Bill Parcells, Dallas Cowboys football coach; owns a summer/retirement home overlooking a local golf course [3]
- Solomon Northup, prominent abolitionist and author of Twelve Years a Slave; born a free man but kidnapped into slavery, eventually regaining freedom in 1853
- The Figgs, a band formed in 1987 by Mike Gent, Pete Donnelly, and Guy Lyons, 1989 and 1990 Saratoga Springs Senior High School graduates
- Dorian Crozier, musician; drummer who has sat in with Five for Fighting and The Rembrandts; 1989 Saratoga Springs Senior High School graduate
- Justin Michael Jenkins, Surreal artist; Artist / Designer for Susan Polgar; 1989 Saratoga Springs Senior High School Graduate
[edit] Transportation
- See also: Saratoga Springs (Amtrak station)
The closest scheduled air service is available at Albany International Airport (ALB). There is also a general aviation facility, Saratoga County Airport (5B2), located just outside city limits.
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Saratoga Springs, operating its Adirondack daily in both directions between Montreal and New York City. The local station was built in 1956, but dramatically rehabilitated in 2004. The 6,400 square foot passenger area contains a coffee shop/newsstand, murals, an automated teller machine, a visitors information kiosk, outside patio area and benches, and a children’s play area. The station serves about 23,000 passengers every year. The Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express trains stop in Saratoga.
Greyhound Bus Lines also serves the city frequently, sending buses every few hours towards Albany or Montreal. Its station is the Saratoga Diner on South Broadway, distinguished by a fiberglass statue of a young horse mounted on the roof of the building. The bus station is also served by the Capital District Transportation Authority.
Long-distance motorists generally reach Saratoga via I-87, which north of Albany is known as the Adirondack Northway. Three exits access the city. Exit 13-S is optimal for reaching Saratoga Lake, and 13-N for SPAC, and the southern and western quadrants of the city. Visitors to the racetrack use Exit 14, which is also arguably best for reaching downtown. Exit 15 serves the shopping malls just north of city limits.
[edit] Sister cities
Saratoga Springs has one sister city as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI):
Chekhov, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Waveland, Mississippi – In the fall of 2005, Saratoga Springs decided to help out the people of Waveland in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ US Census Bureau List of urbanized Areas
- ^ Peck, Willys. "A Floating Scum Partisan Reveals Himself" (HTML), Silicon Valley Community Newspapers, 1998-04-29. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
- ^ Humphries, Shawn. "How Bill Parcells Made Big Gains" (HTML), Golf Online, 2005-10-14. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- ^ Diakopoulos, Christopher. "City looks to get new sister" (HTML), The Saratogian, 2006-04-27. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
[edit] External links
- Saratoga Race Course
- Saratoga Gaming and Raceway Harness Track
- City of Saratoga Springs
- Discover Saratoga - official website of the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau
- Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce tourist information
- Saratoga Springs Naval Support Unit
- Yaddo Artists' Community
- Saratoga Springs area information
- Saratoga Springs Restaurants, Hotels and Shopping
- Saratoga Springs Apartment and Vacation Rentals
- SPAC homepage
- Early history of SaratogaSprings
- Beekman Street Artists
- Arnold Rothstein's Saratoga
- The Saratoga National Historical Park web site
- Saratoga Springs-Chekhov twinning website
- New York State Heritage Areas
- National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame
- Saratoga Springs City Court information
- Saratoga Environmental Expo
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
| Capital District, New York |  |
|---|---|
| Central Communities: Albany • Schenectady • Troy Largest communities (over 20,000 in 2000): Bethlehem • Clifton Park • Town of Colonie • Glenville • Guilderland • Niskayuna • Rotterdam • Saratoga Springs Medium-sized communities (10,000 to 20,000 in 2000): City of Amsterdam • Brunswick • Cohoes • East Greenbush • North Greenbush • Schodack • Watervliet Small communities (5,000 to 10,000 in 2000): Town of Amsterdam • Ballston Spa • Cobleskill • Village of Colonie • Delmar • Duanesburg • Kinderhook • Loudonville • Mechanicville • New Scotland • Rensselaer • Sand Lake • Scotia • Slingerlands • Town of Stillwater • Town of Waterford Counties: Albany • Saratoga • Rensselaer • Schenectady • Columbia • Washington • Montgomery • Greene • Schoharie |
 |
County Seat: Ballston Spa |
|---|---|
| Cities |
Mechanicville | Saratoga Springs |
| Towns |
Ballston | Charlton | Clifton Park | Corinth | Day | Edinburg | Galway | Greenfield | Hadley | Halfmoon | Malta | Moreau | Northumberland | Providence | Saratoga | Stillwater | Waterford | Wilton |
| Villages |
Ballston Spa | Corinth | Galway | Round Lake | Schuylerville | South Glens Falls | Stillwater | Victory | Waterford |
| Hamlets |
Ballston Lake | Burnt Hills | Country Knolls | Crescent | Gansevoort | Rexford |
