Lake George, New York

Lake George is a town in Warren County, New York, United States. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census.[2] The town is named after the lake, Lake George. Within the town is a village also named Lake George. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]

For the village located within this town, see Lake George (village), New York. For other uses, see Lake George, New York (disambiguation).
Lake George
Town
Downtown Lake George
Location of Lake George in Warren County
Lake George
Location within the state of New York
Coordinates: 43°25′28″N 73°42′55″W
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyWarren
Area
 • Total32.62 sq mi (84.48 km2)
 • Land30.07 sq mi (77.88 km2)
 • Water2.55 sq mi (6.60 km2)
Population
 • Total3,515
 • Estimate 
(2016)[3]
3,450
 • Density114.74/sq mi (44.30/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
12845
Area code(s)518
WebsiteTown website

History

The first European to visit the lake was Father Isaac Jogues in August 1642.[5] He was later captured by Mohawks, escaped, and returned home to France. In 1646, he was sent on a political mission to the Iroquois to propose a treaty of peace, and at that point named the lake "Lac du Saint Sacrement" (Lake of the Blessed Sacrament).[5]

In 1755, the lake was renamed "Lake George" by General William Johnson in honor of King George II.[5]

Lake George was also the site of Fort William Henry, named in honor of Prince William Henry, grandson of King George II, by General Johnson. The fort, its surrender to the Marquis de Montcalm after a six-day siege by the French and Indians, and the following massacre all in 1757 were used by James Fenimore Cooper as the background for his famous novel The Last of the Mohicans. The fort was reconstructed and opened to the public as a museum in 1953.[5]

The town was established in 1810 as the "Town of Caldwell" from parts of the towns of Bolton, Queensbury, and Thurman.[6] In 1962 the town changed its name to Lake George.[5]

The town is also home to Wiawaka, a historic retreat center that was founded in 1903 for female textile workers from Troy but operates as a nonprofit for everyone today.

The FORWARD shipwreck site (motor launch), Royal C. Peabody Estate, Wiawaka Bateaux Site, and Wiawaka Holiday House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Land Tortoise (radeau) Shipwreck Site and Owl's Nest are National Historic Landmarks.[7] The Lake George Battlefield Park Historic District was listed in 2011.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.7 square miles (84.7 km2), of which 30.2 square miles (78.3 km2) is land and 2.5 square miles (6.3 km2) (7.49%) is water. According to the Lake George Association Lake George is 32 miles in length and a maximum of 2 miles in width.[8]

The Adirondack Northway passes through the town.

The last remaining Howard Johnson's restaurant is located in Lake George.[9]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1820723—
183079710.2%
1840693−13.0%
18507528.5%
18601,07442.8%
18701,041−3.1%
18801,22317.5%
18901,37712.6%
19001,4656.4%
19101,4821.2%
19201,297−12.5%
19301,73033.4%
19401,467−15.2%
19501,62110.5%
19602,42949.8%
19702,80615.5%
19803,39421.0%
19903,211−5.4%
20003,57811.4%
20103,515−1.8%
2016 (est.)3,450[3]−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
A row of motels in Lake George, 1973

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 3,578 people, 1,533 households, and 1,002 families residing in the town. The population density was 118.3 people per square mile (45.7/km2). There were 2,456 housing units at an average density of 81.2 per square mile (31.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.74% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92% of the population.

There were 1,533 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,125, and the median income for a family was $48,789. Males had a median income of $31,134 versus $22,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,311. About 3.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Communities
  • Big Hollow – A hamlet northwest of Lake George village.
  • Bloody Pond – A pond in the south part of town that got its name from the Battle of Lake George.
  • Crosbyside – A hamlet east of Lake George village.
  • Diamond Point – A hamlet north of Lake George village on the west shore of Lake George. This hamlet has ZIP code 12824.
  • Fort William Henry – The reconstructed historic fort is in Lake George village, originally built by the British during the French and Indian War.
  • Lake George – A village located at the south end of Lake George.
  • Prospect Mountain – A mountain near Big Hollow.

References
  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 5, 2017.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. "Metropolitan Areas and Components, 1999, with FIPS Codes". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
  5. "History". Town of Lake George website, "About Lake George". Accessed 17 July 2015.
  6. History of Warren County (1885), edited by H. P. Smith, "Chapter XXXII: History of the Town of Caldwell". rootsweb.com. Accessed 17 July 2015.
  7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  8. http://www.lakegeorgeassociation.org
  9. Sharp, David. "Howard Johnson's restaurant to close, leaving only 1 more". Associated Press. August 23, 2016.
  10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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