Watervliet, New York

This article is about the current city of Watervliet, New York. For the former town of the same name, see Watervliet (town), New York.
Watervliet, New York
City
Watervliet as seen when entering the city on Congress Street Bridge from Troy
Official name: City of Watervliet
Name origin: From Dutch for "water flood"
Nickname: The Arsenal City
Country United States
State New York
Region Capital District
County Albany
Landmark Watervliet Arsenal
River Hudson
Elevation 30 ft (9 m)
Coordinates 42°43′29″N 73°42′22″W / 42.72472°N 73.70611°W / 42.72472; -73.70611Coordinates: 42°43′29″N 73°42′22″W / 42.72472°N 73.70611°W / 42.72472; -73.70611
Lowest point sea level
 - elevation 0 ft (0 m)
Area 3.8 km2 (1 sq mi)
 - land 3.5 km2 (1 sq mi)
 - water 0.3 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population 10,254 (2010)
Density 2,942.5/km2 (7,621/sq mi)
Incorporation as city 1896
Government City Hall
 - location 2 Fifteenth Street
Watervliet, NY 12189
 - coordinates 42°43′31″N 73°42′1″W / 42.72528°N 73.70028°W / 42.72528; -73.70028
Mayor Michael Manning (D)
General Manager Mark E. Gleason
Timezone EST (UTC-5)
 - summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP Code 12189
Area code 518
FIPS code 36-78674[1]
GNIS feature ID 0968918[2]
Location in Albany County and the state of New York.
Wikimedia Commons: Watervliet, New York
Website: www.watervliet.com

Watervliet (/ˈwɔːtərvliːt/ WAW-tər-vleet or /ˈwɔːtərvəliːt/ WAW-tər-və-leet) is a city in Albany County in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 10,254 as of the 2010 census.[3] Watervliet is north of Albany, the capital of the state, and is bordered on the north, west, and south by the town of Colonie. The city is also known as "the Arsenal City".

History

The explorer Henry Hudson arrived in the area of Watervliet around 1609. The area was first settled in 1643 as part of the Rensselaerswyck patroonship, under the direction of Kiliaen van Rensselaer. In 1710, Derrick van der Heyden operated a ferry from the Bleeker Farm (near 16th Street) across the Hudson River to Troy. Troops during the Revolutionary War used this ferry in 1777 on their way to Bemis Heights and Stillwater for the Battle of Saratoga. In 1786, a second ferry was started at Ferry Street (today 14th Street) over to Troy.[4] The town of Watervliet was founded in 1788 and included all of present-day Albany County except what was in the city of Albany at the time. Because so many towns had been created from the town of Watervliet, it is regarded as the "mother of towns" in the county. In 1816, as the first post office was erected, corner of River and Ferry streets (Broadway and 14th Street), it took the name Watervliet.[4]

West Troy in 1866

The location of the future city was taken by the village of Gibbonsville (1824) and its successor West Troy, and the hamlet of Washington (later Port Schuyler).[5] The farm owned by John Bleeker, stretching north from Buffalo Street (Broadway and 15th Street) to the farm owned by the Oothout family near 25th Street was purchased by Philip Schuyler, Isais Warren, Richard P. Hart, Nathan Warren, and others in 1823; they named it West Troy. Gibbonsville was the farm of James Gibbons (which he purchased in 1805), which stretched from North Street (8th Street) to Buffalo Street (15th Street).[4] Washington was settled sometime before 1814 and was the area south of Gibbonsville and today the area of Watervliet south of the Arsenal; it became known as Port Schuyler in 1827.[5] Although Gibbonsville and West Troy sat side by side (West Troy lying on Gibbonsville's northern boundary), there was a rivalry between the two and each named and laid out their streets with no regard to the street names and grids of the other.[5] In 1824 Gibbonsville became incorporated as a village, and in 1836 this was repealed when West Troy became incorporated as a village including Gibbonsville and Port Schuyler;[5] and in 1847 the Watervliet post office changed its name to West Troy.[6] In 1830, Gibbonsville had 559 people, West Troy 510, and Port Schuyler 450.[6]

In 1865, present-day Watervliet was included in the Capital Police Force within the Troy District. This attempt at regional consolidation of municipal police failed and in 1870 the West Troy Police Force was organized.[4]

By 1895, what was known as the town of Watervliet was reduced to the present-day city of Watervliet (village of West Troy at the time), town of Colonie, and the village/town of Green Island. Colonie would split off in 1895, and the city of Watervliet was incorporated in 1896 at the same time that Green Island became a town of its own.

In the early 19th century Watervliet became a major manufacturing community much like its neighbors Cohoes and Troy, thanks to bell foundries. The first was located on Water Street (Broadway), between 14th and 15th Streets, by Julius Hanks, and the first bell foundry in Gibbonsville was established in 1826 by Andrew Menelly, Sr.[4] This would be the genesis of the Meneely Bell Foundry, which made thousands of bells that are still in use today from Iowa to the Czech Republic.

Historic Iron Building at Watervliet Arsenal

In 1813, the U.S. Federal Government purchased from James Gibbons 12 acres (49,000 m2) in Gibbonsville, in 1828 another 30 acres (120,000 m2), along with later purchases from S. S. Wandell and others.[4] This land was used as the site for the Watervliet Arsenal, founded in 1813 during the War of 1812, it is the oldest Federal arsenal in the country; and is the sole manufacturing facility for large caliber cannon. John C. Heenan, U.S. heavyweight boxing champion and contender for the world title in 1860, was once employed at the Arsenal.[4]

The main route of the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany ran through Watervliet, and because the canal bypassed the city of Troy, the business community of Troy decided that a "short cut" was needed for convenient access to the Erie Canal without having to go through the Albany Basin. A side-cut to the Hudson was located at Watervliet's present-day 23rd Street (the Upper Side cut) finished in 1823,[5] and another just south of the Arsenal (the Lower Side cut).[7] A weigh station and a center for paying canal boat operators was located here as well. As a result of canal boat crews being paid at the end of their trip, the areas around the side cut was once famous for gambling, saloons, and prostitution; there were more than 25 saloons within two blocks,[7] with names like The Black Rag and Tub of Blood.[8] The neighborhood around the side cut had the nickname of "Barbary Coast of the East", Buffalo being the "Barbary Coast of the West".[7][8] In the 1880s, Watervliet had a reputation for over 100 fights a day and a body once in the week in the Canal.[8]

Also linking Watervliet to the transportation network of the region was the Watervliet Turnpike and the Albany and Northern Railway. The Watervliet Turnpike Company in 1828 built present-day New York State Route 32 from the northern boundary of Albany north to the northern limit of Gibbonsville (now Broadway and 15th Street).[4] The Albany and Northern Railway was built in 1852 connecting Watervliet to Albany, with a depot on Genesee Street; a few years later a new depot was built on Canal Street (Central Avenue) but was abandoned in favor of returning to the original location in 1864.[5]

The current mayor of Watervliet is Michael Manning, elected to his first term in 2007. Mr. Manning, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Mayor Robert Carlson in a rare Democratic primary election in September 2007.[9] Mr. Carlson had served as mayor of Watervliet for ten years.

The Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church Complex, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, Watervliet Arsenal, and Watervliet Side Cut Locks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]

St. Patrick's Church controversy

St. Patrick Church as it appeared in 2012.

In September 2011, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany decided to close St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, citing physical deterioration of the building. The parish was merged with Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, was unable to afford the estimated $4 million cost to rehabilitate St. Patrick's.[11] In March 2012, a developer filed a proposal to rezone the property from residential to business status so that it could raze the church (as well as an attached rectory, former school building, and six private residences) in order to make way for a Price Chopper grocery store.[11]

St. Patrick's Church, which was the tallest point in the city, was closely modeled on the Upper Basilica in Lourdes, and many considered it a defining piece of Watervliet's architecture. Some members of the community responded to the proposal to raze the church with criticism[12][13] and legal challenges.[14][15] On November 20, 2012, the Watervliet City Council voted unanimously to rezone the St. Patrick's Church property for business use, thus "clearing the way" for the redevelopment of the property and the deconstruction of the church.[16] The deconstruction of the church was completed in May 2013.[17]

Notable people

Education

The city is served by the Watervliet School District.

There are two schools in Watervliet:

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km2), of which 1.4 square miles (3.5 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 8.79%, is water.[3]

Watervliet is on the west bank of the Hudson River. It is bordered on three sides by the town of Colonie; to the north by the hamlet of Maplewood, on the west by Latham and the hamlet of Mannsville, and on the south by the hamlet of Schuyler Heights. To the northeast is the town and village of Green Island. The Hudson River to the east is the boundary between Albany County and Rensselaer County. In Rensselaer County the city of Troy borders Watervliet. The city is mostly flat but begins an extreme slope in the center of its most westerly edge, especially between the Watervliet Arsenal and 19th Street, an area once called "Temperance Hill".

Location

 Town of Colonie

Hamlet of Maplewood

 Town and village of Green Island
Town of Colonie

Hamlets of Latham and Mannsville

 Hudson River

Rensselaer County City of Troy

   City of Watervliet  
Town of Colonie

Hamlet of Schuyler Heights and Schuyler Flatts Cultural Park

Demographics

Watervliet Historical Populations
YearPop.±%
18404,572—    
18506,900+50.9%
18608,952+29.7%
187010,693+19.4%
18808,820−17.5%
189012,967+47.0%
190014,321+10.4%
191015,074+5.3%
192016,073+6.6%
193016,083+0.1%
194016,114+0.2%
195015,197−5.7%
196013,917−8.4%
197012,404−10.9%
198011,354−8.5%
199011,061−2.6%
200010,207−7.7%
201010,254+0.5%
201410,233−0.2%
201510,214−0.2%
Notes: Census numbers for 1840 to 1890 are for the village of West Troy (incorporated 1836), which became the city of Watervliet in 1896.
*1880 census was not considered accurate and estimates put population at roughly 11,000*[6]
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 10,254 people, 4,683 households, and 2,564 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,888.0 people per square mile (2,941.0/km²). There were 5,140 housing units at an average density of 3,827.3 per square mile (1,474.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.00% White, 10.87% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.34% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.21% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.62% of the population.

There were 4,665 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.9% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,910, and the median income for a family was $38,735. Males had a median income of $31,656 versus $26,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,294. About 12.3% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.7% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Watervliet city, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 James T. Myers. "History of the City of Watervliet: 1630–1910". Henry Stowell & Son. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 George Howell. Bi-centennial History of County of Albany, 1609–1886. W.W. Munsell & Company. pp. 974–993. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  6. 1 2 3 Weise, Arthur James (1886). The city of Troy and its vicinity. Troy, New York: Edward Green. p. 341. OCLC 8989214.
  7. 1 2 3 "Erie Canal". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  8. 1 2 3 Lionel D. Wyld (1962). Low Bridge!: Folklore and the Erie Canal. Syracuse University Press. p. 71. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  9. ↑ "Primary Election Results". WRBG. Freedom Communications. 2007-09-18.
  10. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  11. 1 2 Crowe, Kenneth (30 May 2012). "St. Patrick's public hearing in Watervliet Wednesday". Times Union. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  12. ↑ Churchill, Chris (28 April 2012). "A prayer of a chance for St. Patrick's?". Times Union. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  13. ↑ Morrow, Ann (26 April 2012). "Is Nothing Sacred?". Metroland. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  14. ↑ Sanzone, Danielle. "Another lawsuit filed to save Watervliet's St. Patrick's Church", The Record, January 14, 2013
  15. ↑
  16. ↑
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
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