Ghent, New York Explained

Official Name:Ghent, New York
Settlement Type:Town
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:New York
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Columbia
Government Type:Town council
Leader Title:Town Supervisor
Leader Name:Craig Simmons (R)
Leader Title1:Town Council
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:117.58
Area Land Km2:116.89
Area Water Km2:0.69
Area Total Sq Mi:45.40
Area Land Sq Mi:45.13
Area Water Sq Mi:0.27
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:5303
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation M:123
Elevation Ft:404
Coordinates:42.3156°N -73.6492°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:12075
Area Code:518
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:36-021-28871
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0979000

Ghent is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States, with a ZIP code of 12075. The population was 5,303 at the 2020 census, down from the 2010 census population of 5,402.[2] [3] Ghent is centrally located in the county and is northeast of the city of Hudson.

History

Around 1735, early settlers, exploiting areas cleared by the natives, moved into the area. In 1818, the town of Ghent was founded from parts of the towns of Chatham, Claverack and Kinderhook.[4] It was named after the Treaty of Ghent.[5]

Located at Ghent is the historic Van Valkenburgh-Isbister Farm, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 117.6sqkm, of which 116.9sqkm is land and 0.7sqkm, or 0.59%, is water.[3]

The Taconic State Parkway crosses the southeastern corner of the town.

Demographics

At the 2020 census,[6] there were 5,303 people, 1,914 households and 1,307 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 2,244 housing units at an average density of 49.7sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup was 96.93% white, 1.1% African American, .23% Native American, .19% Asian, .28% from other races and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 2,020 households, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

24.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median household income was $43,529 and the median family income was $52,096. The median house value was $114,000. Males had a median income of $32,191 and females $23,958. The per capita income was $21,365. About 2.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Ghent

Education

High schools in Ghent include Columbia Christian Academy and Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School.[8]

Notable people

External links

42.3292°N -73.6156°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. July 4, 2017.
  2. US Census Bureau, 2020 Census Report, Ghent town, New York
  3. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ghent town, Columbia County, New York. https://archive.today/20200212153439/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US3602128871. dead. February 12, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. December 10, 2014.
  4. Ellis, Capt. Franklin, History of Columbia County, New York, (1878), page 331. Republished in electronic format at http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/county/columbia/ghent2/intro.htm
  5. https://www.thebulletin.be/ghent-new-york-celebrates-200-years Ghent, New York, celebrates 200 years
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website . January 31, 2008 . United States Census Bureau.
  7. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Listings. May 18, 2012. Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 5/07/12 through 5/11/12. National Park Service.
  8. Web site: Overview . July 8, 2023 . Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School . en-US.
  9. Web site: Author Koethi Zan's Thriller of a Turnaround - WSJ. Ralph Gardner. July 16, 2013. WSJ. September 6, 2015.
  10. Web site: Biography of Hon. Henry Hogeboom. September 6, 2015.
  11. Web site: Drohojowska. Hunter. December 13, 1992. Out of the Doghouse : William Wegman has been painting and taking photos of, gasp, people. But he always finds a way back to his Weimaraners . Los Angeles Times. May 24, 2019.