'Fort Plain' is a
village in
Montgomery County,
New York,
USA. As of the 2000 census, the
village population was 2,288. The village is named after a fort built during the American Revolution.
The 'Village of Fort Plain' is at the border of the Towns of
Minden and
Canajoharie and is west of
Amsterdam.
History
The village is in a region where a branch of the
Mohawk had four major villages.
In 1738, the governor of New York built a stone house for the use of his sons. Other early settlers included Palatinate Germans.
The village is built on the site of a
Revolutionary War fort. The fort was constructed in
1776 and a blockhouse was maintained here throughout the war. While many of the village's men were fighting elsewhere, the women, dressed as men, were able to fend off indian attacks by manning the walls of the fort.
Fort Plain became an incorporated village in
1823. The opening of the Erie Canal was an economic boon. It became a center of manufacturing during the
Nineteenth Century for textiles and furniture.
Geography
Fort Plain is located at (42.930846, -74.624799).
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.7
km² (1.4
mi²). 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (3.55%) is water.
The village is located on the south bank of the
Mohawk River, where the ''Otsquago Creek' enters the Mohawk. The
Erie Canal, using the Mohawk River, is adjacent to the village. The
Village of Nelliston is on the opposite shore of the river.
New York State Thruway (
Interstate 90) passes through the community. Fort Plain is at the intersection of
NY Route 80 (Reid Street),
NY Route 5S (Canal Street), and
NY Route 163.
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 2,288 people, 960 households, and 599 families residing in the village. The
population density was 649.6/km² (1,680.0/mi²). There were 1,108 housing units at an average density of 314.6/km² (813.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.60%
White, 0.09%
African American, 0.09%
Native American, 0.31%
Asian, 0.48% from
other races, and 0.44% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 960 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were
married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the village the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,476, and the median income for a family was $40,302. Males had a median income of $28,462 versus $21,557 for females. The
per capita income for the village was $16,369. About 10.5% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
External links
★
Fort Plain Village Government
★
Fort Plain information