Altamont is a town located in Franklin County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 6,137.
The Town of Altamont is located in the southwest corner of the county.
History
In 1850 the Pomeroy Lumber Company began a logging operation in the area. A clearing left by clear-cutting the forest by Raquette Pond became the site of the Village of Tupper Lake. In the 1890s a large number of buildings were erected, but in 1899 a fire burned 169 of them to the ground. As the lumber business swelled, the village became a rail center. The town was organized in 1890 from the Town of Waverly and was the last town organized in the county.
In an effort to avoid confusion with other "Altamonts" around the state and to strengthen ties with the Village of Tupper Lake, town councilors plan to turn the Town of Altamont into the Town of Tupper Lake. The name change will take place in 2004.
Geography
The town is inside the Adirondack State Park. The south town line is the border of Hamilton County, New York and the west town line is the border of St. Lawrence County, New York.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 337.0 km² (130.1 mi²). 304.6 km² (117.6 mi²) of it is land and 32.3 km² (12.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 9.60% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 6,137 people, 2,429 households, and 1,530 families residing in the town. The population density is 20.1/km² (52.2/mi²). There are 3,118 housing units at an average density of 10.2/km² (26.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.56% White, 1.27% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,429 households out of which 32.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% are married couples living together, 12.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% are non-families. 30.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.38 and the average family size is 2.97.
In the town the population is spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $35,636, and the median income for a family is $45,000. Males have a median income of $30,951 versus $25,938 for females. The per capita income for the town is $15,696. 13.4% of the population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.8% of those under the age of 18 and 14.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Communities and locations in Altamont
- Derrick -- A hamlet in the northern part of the town.
- Kildare -- A hamlet near the western town line.
- Moody -- A hamlet south of Tupper Lake village on Route 30.
- Raquette Pond -- An arm of Tupper Lake adjacent to Tupper Lake village.
- Simon Pond -- An arm of Tupper Lake.
- Tupper Lake -- A lake in the south part of the town.
- Tupper Lake -- The Village of Tupper Lake is located in the south-central part of the town.
- Wolf Pond -- A lake north of Tupper Lake village.
External links
Last updated: 09-03-2005 13:33:57
