Amsterdam, New York

Amsterdam, New York
City
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Montgomery
Area
• Total	6.3 sq mi (16.3 km2)
• Land	5.9 sq mi (15.4 km2)
• Water	0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2)
Elevation	361 ft (110 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	18,355
• Density	3,086.5/sq mi (1,191.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12010
Area code	518
FIPS code	36-02066
GNIS feature ID	0942450

Amsterdam is a city located in Montgomery County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,355. The name is derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

The City of Amsterdam is surrounded on three sides by the Town of Amsterdam and is on the banks of the Mohawk River. The majority of the city lies on the north bank, but the Port Jackson area on the south side is also part of the city.

The city is within the original "Town of Caughnawaga" (now defunct), formed in northern Montgomery County in 1788.

The community was previously called "Veeders Mills" and "Veedersburgh," after an early mill owner, but was changed to "Amsterdam" in 1803.

The city was incorporated as a village in 1830 from a section of the Town of Amsterdam. New charters in 1854, 1865, and 1875 increased the size of the village. In 1885, Amsterdam became a city, which was subsequently increased in size again by annexation of the former "Village of Port Jackson," which became the fifth ward of the city.

The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 was an economic boon to the city.

A dam on the Chuctenunda River, finished in 1875, allowed the city to become an important manufacturing area, primarily of carpets.

In 1920, the population of Amsterdam was 33,524.

Notable natives or residents of Amsterdam include:

• David Pabis, God from Fort Johnson, worshiped by a group of students at AHS
• Gary Aldrich, Clinton-era personage
• Benedict Arnold (1780-1849), United States Congressman from New York^[1]
• Felix J. Aulisi,New York State Supreme Court Justice, Appellate Division
• Josh Beekman, NFL offensive guard (Chicago Bears)
• Matthias Bovee, born in Amsterdam, United States Congressman from New York^[1]
• Andrew Blakely, First federally investigated computer hacker/malicious coder from Amsterdam, New York.[1]
• Lucille Bremer, actress
• Todd Cetnar, former professional basketball player
• Jessica Collins (Birth name: Jessica Capogna), actress
• Charles Dayan, born in Amsterdam, United States Congressman from New York and former Lieutenant Governor of New York^[1]
• Kirk Douglas, actor
• Mary Anne Krupsak, New York State Lieutenant Governor
• Henry E. Machold, Speaker of the New York State Assembly
• Rocco Petrone, Apollo Program Director
• David Pietrusza, author
• Lemuel Smith, convicted serial killer
• Bobby Stewart, former professional boxer who was 1974 National Boxing Champion and later became Mike Tyson's first trainer.
• Samuel S. Stratton, United States Congressman
• Michael J. Wytrwal, founder of textile mills, coal, oil and timber firms, and local bank

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.3 km² (6.3 mi²). 15.4 km² (5.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.41% water.

The Mohawk River, along with the Erie Canal, passes through the south part of the city. The Chuctenunda River flows 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 the New York State Thruway. NY-30 also intersects east west highways New York State Route 5 and New York State Route 67 in the city. New York State Route 5S passes along the south side of the Mohawk River.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 18,355 people, 7,983 households, and 4,686 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,191.1/km² (3,086.5/mi²). There were 9,277 housing units at an average density of 602.0/km² (1,560.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.01% White, 2.17% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.79% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 20.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Many local residents believe the census understates the Latino population, and that the actual number should be closer to 28%. Amsterdam is sometimes derogatorily called "Amsterico" in reference to the Latino population, who come primarily from Puerto Rico and are therefore citizens of the US.

There were 7,983 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.

Property taxes in this city and the surrounding county (Montgomery county)are some of the highest in the country compared to property values and income. ^{[citation needed]}

In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,517, and the median income for a family was $37,169. Males had a median income of $31,397 versus $23,681 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,680. 16.3% of the population and 12.4% of families were below the poverty line. 25.1% of those under the age of 18 and 12.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

In the nineteenth century, the city of Amsterdam was known for carpet, textile, and pearl button manufacturing. It continued to be a center for carpet-making in the 20th century, when the Bigelow-Sanford and Mohawk Mills Carpet companies both were located in Amsterdam, but these companies have relocated to other regions. In the early 1980s, it was also the home of Coleco, makers of the ColecoVision, Cabbage Patch Kids and Adam Computer. Current industries include the Longview Fibre Co.,^[2] the Fownes Glove Co. and Fiber Glass Industries (FGI).

The enclosed shopping center formerly known as the Amsterdam Mall is in decline; it currently is called the Amsterdam Riverfront Center.

Calvary Assembly of God
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
Congregation Sons of Israel (Jewish)
Covenant Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian)
First Reformed Church (Reformed)
Good Shepherd Church (Polish National Catholic)
Pilgrim Holiness Church
Salvation Army
Seventh-day Adventist Church
St. Ann's (Episcopal)
St. Casimir's (Roman Catholic)
St. John the Baptist's (Roman Catholic)
St. Luke's (Lutheran)
St. Mary's (Roman Catholic)
St. Michael's (Roman Catholic)
St. Nicholas (Ukrainian Catholic)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Catholic)
St. Stanislaus (Roman Catholic)
Segunda Sinagoga (Pentocostal)
The Time for Truth
Trinity Lutheran (Lutheran)
United Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian)

• Greenhill Cemetery
• Saint Stanislaus Cemetery
• Fairview Cemetery located off of Steadwell Avenue on Upper Steadwell Avenue, is a beautiful cemetery full of many of Amsterdam's old wealthy carpet manufacturing families as well as middle Americans. A surgeon of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America, built a farm house on a large plot of land between Amsterdam (city), New York and Fort Johnson, New York in the 1700's. In the late 1800's a group of people decided to make a resort of this farm. When many of the financial backers of this plan turned against it, they decided to make the farmland into a cemetery. In 1899 the first person was buried in the cemetery. Fairview is still in operation today.

John Carmichael 1885
Harlan P. Kline 1886
Thomas Liddle 1887-88
John F. Dwyer 1889
Hicks B. Waldron 1890
William A. Breedon 1891-92
Charles S. Nisbet 1893
George R. Hannon 1894
William A. Fisher 1895-96
William H. Kafman 1897
Zerah S. Westbrook 1898-99
Samuel Wallin 1900-01
William A. Gardner 1902-03
Robert N. Clark 1904-05
Jacob H. Dealy 1906-09
Seely Conover 1910-11
Jacob H. Dealy 1912-13
James R. Cline 1914-17
Seely Conover 1918-19
Theron Akin 1920-23
Carl S. Salmon 1924-29
William A. Gardner 1930-31
Robert B. Brumagin 1932-33
Arthur Carter (D) 1934-43
Wilbur H. Lynch 1944-45
Dave R. Pabis 1946-47
Burtiss E. Deal 1948-55
Frank J. Martuscello (R) 1956-57
Thomas F. Gregg (D) 1958-59
Frank J. Martuscello (R) 1960-63
Marcus I. Breier (R) 1964-67
John P. Gomulka (D) 1968-79
Mario Villa (R) 1980-87
Paul Parillo (D) 1988-91
Mario Villa (R) 1992-1995
John M. Duchessi (D) 1996-2003
Joseph Emmanuelle (R) 2004-2008

• William H. Barkley Elementary[2]
• William B. Tecler Elementary[3]
• Clara Bacon Elementary (Now Closed)
• Raphael J. McNulty Academy for International Studies and Literacy[4]
• Marie Curie Institute of Engineering & Communications

• Wilbur H. Lynch Middle School[5]
• Amsterdam High School[6]

• St. Stanislaus (now closed)
  
• St. Mary's Institute
  
• Bishop Scully High School (now closed)
  

• Montessori School of Amsterdam[7]

• Fulton Montgomery Community College[8]

• Amsterdam Business & Community Links
• Amsterdam Links
• The Recorder (Local Newspaper)
• Greater Amsterdam School District

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