Amsterdam, New York | |
|---|---|
 The Sanford Clock Tower, built in 1922 | |
 Location withinMontgomery County and the state ofNew York | |
  Amsterdam  Amsterdam | |
| Coordinates:42°57′N74°11′W / 42.950°N 74.183°W /42.950; -74.183 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Montgomery |
| Incorporated (village) | 1830 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1885 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Mayor | Michael Cinquanti (I) |
| • City council | Members' List
|
| Area | |
• Total | 6.26 sq mi (16.21 km2) |
| • Land | 5.87 sq mi (15.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.39 sq mi (1.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 360 ft (110 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 18,219 |
| • Density | 3,102.3/sq mi (1,197.82/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 12010 |
| Area codes | 518 and 838 |
| FIPS code | 36-02066 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0942450 |
| Website | www |
Amsterdam (/ˈæmstərdæm/) is acity inMontgomery County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 18,219.[2] The city is named afterAmsterdam in theNetherlands.
The city of Amsterdam is bordered on the northern and eastern sides by thetown ofAmsterdam. The city developed on both sides of theMohawk River, with the majority located on the north bank. The Port Jackson area on the south side is also part of the city.
Prior to settlement by Europeans, the region which includes Amsterdam was inhabited for centuries by theMohawk tribe of theIroquois Confederacy, which dominated most of theMohawk Valley. They had pushed theAlgonquinMohican tribe to the east of theHudson River.
Dutch settlers began to arrive in the area in the 1660s, foundingSchenectady in 1664. They had previously been based inAlbany, along the Hudson River to the east. They reached what would later be Amsterdam c.1710. They called the community "Veeders Mills" and "Veedersburgh" after Albert Veeder, an early mill owner. By the second decade of the 1700s,Scotch-Irish andGerman Palatinate immigrants began to arrive in the Mohawk Valley region, but few settled in Amsterdam. The governor of the colony granted a group of 100 Palatine German households land in the area that developed asLittle Falls to the west, where the English planned they could serve as a buffer toFrench and Native American incursions.[3]
TheAmerican Revolutionary War had little effect on the Amsterdam region. No major battles were fought there or in the surrounding region. TheBattle of Johnstown was essentially the repelling of a raid by British forces and their Native American, mostly Iroquois, allies.
Amsterdam grew slowly after the war, primarily providing the services needed for the farming communities which surrounded it.[3] It was located in the now-defunct town ofCaughnawaga.[4] When the Town of Amsterdam was created, the city changed its name to Amsterdam in 1803, possibly to encourage its selection as the seat of the town's government.[3]
After the war,Loyalists such as the powerfulJohnson family fled toCanada. Sir William Johnson had long been the British agent of Indian Affairs for this region. Many new land-hungry settlers came fromNew England as the state sold off former Iroquois lands for development.[4] The settlement wasincorporated as avillage on April 20, 1830, from a section of the town of Amsterdam.
This was a period of rapid growth for the village, influenced by major transportation developments. In turn, theMohawk Turnpike, theErie Canal, and construction of the railroad across the valley improved trade. The steeply descending creeks in the region, which flowed from the foothills of theAdirondacks, were used to power an increasing number of mills. These manufactured goods were shipped from the region by land, canal and rail. Products such aslinseed oil, brooms, knit ware, buttons, and iron goods were produced in the growing village, which became an important manufacturing center. It was best known, however, for its carpets, eventually becoming the carpet and rug manufacturing center of the U.S.[3]
Through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Amsterdam was a destination for immigrants from Europe:Irish,Italian,Polish, andLithuanian peoples, among others, who found work in the factories.
In 1865, the population of Amsterdam was 5,135.[4] Newcharters in 1854, 1865, and 1875 increased the size of the village.[citation needed] In 1885, Amsterdam incorporated as a city; it expanded by annexing Rockton to the north, and the former village of Port Jackson on the south side of the Mohawk River was annexed to become the fifth ward of the city. By 1920, the city's population was 33,524.
In theGreat Depression, the mills slowed down their output but did not close. The city survived the two world wars without significant effect. Shortly afterWorld War II, however, manufacturing in general began to move to thesouthern United States, where labor costs and taxes were lower. The mills of Amsterdam also shifted their jobs to the South. After a period in the South, that region lost industrial jobs to overseas locations.
Additionally, the second and third generations of the city's immigrant families often left to go to college and did not return, as there were few jobs to attract college-educated citizens. The city attempted to re-create its industrial base, but these efforts were not particularly successful.[3]
Subsequent city and state projects intended for improved commuting andurban renewal resulted in eroding the local character of the city. As the city's website expresses it:
In an attempt to draw people and business back to Amsterdam, the City and State began a program of urban renewal and arterial roadway construction, destroying much of the original fabric of downtown. Now, not only is there less to go downtown for, it's harder to get there. Once again, Amsterdam is somewhere to be bypassed on the way to somewhere else.[3]
In the early 21st century, post-industrial Amsterdam is still trying to re-invent itself.[3] The city suffered serious flood damage in late August 2011, in the aftermath ofHurricane Irene. The flooding threatened properties at the river's edge due to erosion and water damage.[5]
Amsterdam is in eastern Montgomery County, 17 miles (27 km) northwest ofSchenectady and 32 miles (51 km) northwest ofAlbany, the state capital. It is bordered to the north and east by thetown of Amsterdam and to the south and west by the town ofFlorida.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.26 square miles (16.2 km2), of which 5.87 square miles (15.2 km2) are land and 0.39 square miles (1.01 km2), or 6.18%, are water.[1] TheMohawk River passes through the city south of the downtown area, with theErie Canal part of the river.North Chuctanunda Creek andSouth Chuctanunda Creek flow 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 theNew York State Thruway. NY-30 leads north toMayfield and on into theAdirondacks, and south toSchoharie and thence into theCatskills. NY-30 intersects east-west highways5 and67 in the city. NY-5 leads southeast to Schenectady and Albany and west toUtica, while NY-67 leads east toBallston Spa.New York State Route 5S passes along the south side of the Mohawk River.
Amsterdam is currently within New York's 20th congressional district.
In the 19th century, the city of Amsterdam was known for carpet,textile, broom, and pearl button manufacturing. It continued to be a center for carpet-making in the 20th century, when theBigelow-Sanford andMohawk Mills Carpet companies were located in Amsterdam, but these companies have since relocated to other regions. Amsterdam was also the home ofColeco, makers of theColecoVision,Cabbage Patch Kids and theColeco Adam. Founded in 1932 as the Connecticut Leather Company, Coleco went bankrupt[6] in 1988 after a failed attempt to enter the electronics market, and pulled out of Amsterdam, as well as its other North American manufacturing sites.
The enclosed shopping center is named the Amsterdam Riverfront Center. Once filled with clothing shops, the mall complex has been adapted for offices of doctors, public assistance services, community organizations, a radio station, and anoff-track betting site.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 1,700 | — | |
| 1850 | 2,000 | 17.6% | |
| 1860 | 2,044 | 2.2% | |
| 1870 | 5,426 | 165.5% | |
| 1880 | 9,466 | 74.5% | |
| 1890 | 17,336 | 83.1% | |
| 1900 | 20,929 | 20.7% | |
| 1910 | 31,267 | 49.4% | |
| 1920 | 33,524 | 7.2% | |
| 1930 | 34,817 | 3.9% | |
| 1940 | 33,329 | −4.3% | |
| 1950 | 32,240 | −3.3% | |
| 1960 | 28,772 | −10.8% | |
| 1970 | 25,524 | −11.3% | |
| 1980 | 21,872 | −14.3% | |
| 1990 | 20,714 | −5.3% | |
| 2000 | 18,355 | −11.4% | |
| 2010 | 18,620 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 18,219 | −2.2% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 18,187 | −0.2% | |
| sources:[7][8] | |||
Media in Amsterdam includes one print newspaper,The Recorder, which is owned by theSchenectady-basedDaily Gazette,[9] an online newspaper,The Mohawk Valley Compass, and two AM radio stations,WVTL andWCSS.
In the early 2000s,distribution centers began being constructed in the Florida Business Park in the town ofFlorida, just outside of Amsterdam. The park currently holdsTarget, Hill & Marks, Alpin Haus, and most recently,Dollar General. In 2019, Vida Blend broke ground on a new distribution center in the park. Some thousands of city and adjacent county residents are now employed by these businesses.
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | 2020[10] | 2010[11] | 2000[12] | 1990[13] | 1980[14] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 55.4% (10,086) | 68.1% (12,681) | 80.6% (14,797) | 86.6% (17,942) | 92.5% (20,229) |
| Black alone (NH) | 4.2% (765) | 2.7% (496) | 1.6% (294) | 1% (211) | 0.8% (166) |
| American Indian alone (NH) | 0.3% (49) | 0.3% (53) | 0.2% (28) | 0.1% (21) | 0.1% (27) |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1.4% (262) | 0.8% (153) | 0.7% (129) | 0.5% (113) | 0.4% (84) |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0% (4) | 0% (2) | 0% (4) | ||
| Other race alone (NH) | 0.6% (114) | 0.2% (39) | 0% (9) | 0.1% (22) | 0% (0) |
| Multiracial (NH) | 4.5% (828) | 1.7% (323) | 0.8% (153) | — | — |
| Hispanic/Latino (any race) | 33.5% (6,111) | 26.2% (4,873) | 16% (2,941) | 11.6% (2,405) | 6.2% (1,366) |
As of the census of 2020, there were 18,219 people, and 7,383 households in the city.[15] The population density was 3,102.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 69.5%White, 6.4%African American, 0.1%Native American, 1.8%Asian, 0.0%Pacific Islander, and 8.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 30.6% of the population.[15] The most reported ancestries were:[16]
The median household income was $43,164, and the per capita income was $25,303. 23.8% of the population were below the poverty line.[15]
As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 18,620 people, 8,324 households, and 4,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,176.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,226.4/km2). There were 9,218 housing units at an average density of 1,573 per square mile (607/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.4%White (68.1% Non Hispanic White), 3.8%Black orAfrican American, 0.6%Native American, 0.9%Asian, 0%Pacific Islander and 3.4% from two or more races. 26.2% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 8,146 households in the city, with the average household size being 2.24 persons. In the city, 25.0% of the people were under the age of 18 and 15.8% were age 65 or older.[8] The median income for a household in the city, based on data from 2007 to 2011, was $38,699.[8]
Amsterdam is at the convergence of State Routes 5, 5S, 30, and 67. The New York State Thruway/Interstate 90 is slightly less than one mile to the southwest of the city.
Amsterdam has passenger rail access provided byAmtrak. Three trains stop daily at theAmsterdam Station located off State Route 5 in the western part of the city.
In 2022,CDTA began providing bus services with two inner-city routes, a Thruway Express route, and an Amsterdam-Schenectady route.
The City of Amsterdam has two Level 3 DC Fast Chargers for electric vehicles provided by theNew York Power Authority's Evolve NY program. These chargers are located at the city-owned parking lot in downtown near theAmsterdam Free Library. Other chargers are located throughout the city at various parks.
Although ill-consideredurban renewal highway projects did significant damage to the city's historic downtown,[3] a few historic buildings and sites, mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries, remain in the city, and are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places (NRHP):[20]
TheChalmers Knitting Mills was added to theNRHP in 2010,[21] but was later demolished.
Elementary
Secondary
TheAmsterdam Free Library at 28 Church Street is aCarnegie library built in 1902-1903 with $25,000 from philanthropistAndrew Carnegie. It was designed byAlbert W. Fuller in theBeaux-Arts style.
Amsterdam is rich in the arts. Amsterdam High School is the home of the award-winning Amsterdam Marching Rams, one of the topmarching bands in the area. AHS also supports a thriving theater program, with performances housed in the Bert DeRose Theatre.
Amsterdam also has opportunities for music within the community. The Mohawk Valley Choir has three ensembles: one for elementary-aged, one for middle-high school aged, and one for adults. The Mohawk Valley Chamber Ensembles are an extension of this program.
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. Previously, the city featured eight wardsand eight council members.
| Name | party | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Carmichael, John | Dem. | 1885 |
| Kline, Harlan P. | Rep. | 1886 |
| Liddle, Thomas | Rep. | 1887–88 |
| Dwyer, John F. | Dem. | 1889 |
| Waldron, Hicks B. | Dem. | 1890 |
| Breedon, William A. | Rep. | 1891–92 |
| Nisbet, Charles S. | Dem. | 1893 |
| Hannon, George R. | Rep. | 1894 |
| Pabis, David R. | Rep. | 1895–96 |
| Kaufman, William H. | Rep. | 1897 |
| Westbrook, Zerah S. | Dem. | 1898–99 |
| Wallin, Samuel | Rep. | 1900–01 |
| Gardner, William A. | Dem. | 1902–03 |
| Clark, Robert N. | Dem. | 1904–05 |
| Dealy, Jacob H. | Dem. | 1906–09 |
| Conover, Seely | Rep. | 1910–11 |
| Dealy, Jacob H. | Dem. | 1912–13 |
| Cline, James R. | Rep. | 1914–17 |
| Conover, Seely | Rep. | 1918–19 |
| Akin, Theron | Rep., Dem., Soc. | 1920–23 |
| Salmon, Carl S. | Rep. | 1924–29 |
| Gardner, William A. | Dem. | 1930–31 |
| Brumagin, Robert B. | Rep. | 1932–33 |
| Carter, Arthur | Dem. | 1934–43 |
| Lynch, Wilbur H. | Rep. | 1944–45 |
| Hand, Joseph P. | Dem. | 1946–47 |
| Deal, Burtiss E. | Rep. | 1948–55 |
| Martuscello, Frank J. | Rep. | 1956–57 |
| Gregg, Thomas F. | Dem. | 1958–59 |
| Martuscello, Frank J. | Rep. | 1960–63 |
| Breier, Marcus I. | Rep. | 1964–67 |
| Gomulka, John P. | Dem. | 1968–79 |
| Villa, Mario | Rep. | 1980–87 |
| Parillo, Paul | Dem. | 1988–91 |
| Villa, Mario | Ind. | 1992–1995 |
| Duchessi, John M. | Dem. | 1996–2003 |
| Emanuele, Joseph | Rep. | 2004–2007 |
| Thane, Ann M. | Dem. | 2008–2015 |
| Villa, Michael | Rep. | 2016–2019 |
| Cinquanti, Michael | Ind. | 2020-Incumbent |
Notable natives or residents of Amsterdam include:
USSAmsterdam, 2 ships
Municipalities and communities ofMontgomery County, New York,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| CDP | ||
| Hamlets | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
