Canajoharie, New York | |
|---|---|
 The "pot that washes itself", also known as Foley's Water Spout, is apothole located just south of the village ofCanajoharie onCanajoharie Creek. | |
 Location withinMontgomery County and the state ofNew York | |
| Coordinates:42°54′22″N74°34′19″W / 42.90611°N 74.57194°W /42.90611; -74.57194 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Montgomery |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| • Supervisor | Michael Muhlebeck (R) |
| • Town council | |
| Area | |
• Total | 43.10 sq mi (111.63 km2) |
| • Land | 42.60 sq mi (110.34 km2) |
| • Water | 0.50 sq mi (1.29 km2) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,660 |
| • Density | 85.9/sq mi (33.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
|
| FIPS code | 36-057-12122 |
Canajoharie (/ˌkænədʒəˈhɛəri/) is atown inMontgomery County,New York, United States. The population was 3,660 as of the2020 census.[2] Canajoharie is located south of theMohawk River on the southern border of the county. TheErie Canal passes along the northern town line. Thevillage ofCanajoharie is in the northern part of the town. Both are east ofUtica and west ofAmsterdam.
The town is near the former site ofCanajoharie, an important village of theMohawk nation that also became known as the Upper Castle. The Mohawk had as their territory most of the central area of present-day New York, from theHudson River west to whereOneida territory started.[3] They dominated thefur trade with the French based in centralQuebec, and with Dutch and later English in eastern New York. French, Dutch and later English trappers and traders came to this Mohawk village to trade. Both the French and Dutch married or had unions with Mohawk women, increasing their ties with the people. Their mixed-race children married into the Dutch and later English communities.[4] Many of their sons also became interpreters or traders.
Anglo-Europeans began settling in the area c.1737, and the Mohawk gradually adopted certain English customs in their village. Because the Mohawk and three otherIroquois nations were allied with the British during theRevolutionary War, they were forced to cede most of their lands in New York after the United States' victory. The state sold millions of acres of land to speculators and private owners.
After the Revolutionary War,George Washington visited Canajoharie after surveying the damage to nearbyCherry Valley. He stayed the night at the Van Alstyne home, a common meeting place long referred to by some as Fort Rensselaer - though the actual fort (destroyed sometime before theFrench and Indian War) was in nearbyFort Plain.
The modern town was formed in 1788, but was reduced in size to create the towns ofMinden (1797) andRoot (in part, 1822). While the Mohawk Valley developed with the completion of the Erie Canal, the project also enabled considerable migration from New York to theMidwest. The population of the town in 1865 was 4,248.
The town of Canajoharie was consumed by fire twice, causing an ordinance to be passed prohibiting homes to be constructed of wood. Therefore, many of the older homes in the town are made of brick or locally quarried stone.
Beech-Nut, the baby food producer, was founded in Canajoharie in 1890 during the period of early industrialization in the river valley. It served as the largest employer in the town for more than a century. In March 2011, the Beech-Nut factory moved out of Canajoharie, relocating to a new factory in the nearby town ofFlorida, still in Montgomery County.[5]
Canajoharie is in westernMontgomery County and is bordered to the south byOtsego andSchoharie counties. The northern town boundary follows theMohawk River. TheErie Canal is part of the river in this area. According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.1 square miles (112 km2), of which 42.6 square miles (110 km2) are land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2), or 1.16%, are water.[1]Canajoharie Creek drains most of the town, flowing north and dropping over several waterfalls, includingCanajoharie Falls, to join the Mohawk River at Canajoharie village.
TheNew York State Thruway crosses the northern part of the town, following the river, and with access to the village from Exit 29. The Thruway leads east 50 miles (80 km) toAlbany, the state capital, and west 40 miles (64 km) toUtica.New York State Route 5S parallels the Thruway, leading east 12 miles (19 km) toFultonville and west 3.5 miles (5.6 km) toFort Plain.New York State Route 10 is a north–south highway, intersecting the Thruway and NY-5S at Canajoharie village. NY-10 leads north 8 miles (13 km) toEphratah, continuing on into theAdirondacks, and south 9 miles (14 km) toSharon Springs.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 4,677 | — | |
| 1830 | 4,348 | −7.0% | |
| 1840 | 5,146 | 18.4% | |
| 1850 | 4,097 | −20.4% | |
| 1860 | 4,134 | 0.9% | |
| 1870 | 4,256 | 3.0% | |
| 1880 | 4,294 | 0.9% | |
| 1890 | 4,267 | −0.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,838 | −10.1% | |
| 1910 | 3,889 | 1.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,784 | −2.7% | |
| 1930 | 4,023 | 6.3% | |
| 1940 | 4,062 | 1.0% | |
| 1950 | 4,294 | 5.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,233 | −1.4% | |
| 1970 | 4,319 | 2.0% | |
| 1980 | 4,140 | −4.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,909 | −5.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,797 | −2.9% | |
| 2010 | 3,730 | −1.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,660 | −1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] | |||
As of thecensus[7] of 2000, there were 3,797 people, 1,492 households, and 1,026 families residing in the town. The population density was 88.5 inhabitants per square mile (34.2/km2). There were 1,637 housing units at an average density of 38.2 units per square mile (14.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.02%White, 0.63%Black orAfrican American, 0.40%Native American, 0.50%Asian, 0.32% fromother races, and 1.13% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 1,492 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% weremarried couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,701, and the median income for a family was $39,646. Males had a median income of $29,107 versus $22,617 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $16,702. About 11.0% of families and 11.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
The town’s current population of 3,660 (according to the 2020 US Census) is the lowest in its recorded history (dating back to 1820).
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