Potsdam (town), New York

Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany.

The Town of Potsdam also contains a village named Potsdam. Potsdam is centrally located within the county and is northeast of Canton, the county seat. The town and village are south of the U.S.–Canadian border.

History

The region was part of Macomb's Purchase. David Clarkson and Garret van Horn were early investors in the town, and settlement began around 1803. The pioneers found Native Americans still residing in the town and in the fur trade.

The town was established in 1806 from part of the Town of Madrid. Potsdam is one of the original ten towns of St. Lawrence County.

The community of Potsdam set itself apart from the town in 1831 by incorporating as a village. The community of Raquetteville incorporated as the Village of Potsdam Junction (now Norwood) in 1871.

St. Lawrence Academy, the predecessor of the State University of New York at Potsdam was founded in 1816. In 1896, Clarkson University was founded.

The Potsdam area is well known for its reddish-orange Potsdam sandstone. A large slab of it is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Potsdam Central School is also known for its hockey program. The program has won many honors for both the middle and high school. In the winter 2007-2008 program, they were first in the state for Division I. The high school takes great pride in the rest of the athletic programs especially the varsity soccer teams, who have won many section titles.

In the school year of 2006-2007 the 7th graders of A.A Kingston were one of two NY state schools to exceed the level of statetest scores for the New York state Math and English test with the help of Mrs. Cook (retired) math and Mr. Flynn (current) English.

Since 1990, Potsdam High School has had an exchange with the Lycée Rémi Belleau in Nogent-le-Rotrou, France. Students from France typically visit Potsdam in February, and the Potsdam students go to France in April. This exchange began when former French teacher Janice Brown received a Fullbright Exchange grant and went to Nogent. Mme Véronique (Brémont) Hellwig came to Potsdam and together with (retired) French teacher, Thomas Ham, and English teacher at the Lycée, Patricia Ruhlmann, the exchange was established. The French department at the High School and the English department at the Lycée have continued this exchange since its inception. For the past several years, students from Canton High School have also participated in this cultural exchange.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 103.4 square miles (267.9 km²), of which, 101.5 square miles (262.8 km²) of it is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km²) of it (1.92%) is water.

The Raquette River flows northward through the center of the town. The Grasse River flows through the northwest part of Potsdam.

US Route 11 and New York State Route 11B are east-west highways. New York State Route 56 is a north-south highway. New York State Route 345 is a northwest-southeast highway that intersects New York State Route 310 near the northwest town line.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 15,957 people, 5,073 households, and 2,810 families residing in the town. The population density was 157.3 people per square mile (60.7/km²). There were 5,431 housing units at an average density of 53.5/sq mi (20.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.21% White, 1.59% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 2.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.

There were 5,073 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.6% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town the population was spread out with 17.2% under the age of 18, 36.8% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,782, and the median income for a family was $42,450. Males had a median income of $32,464 versus $24,776 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,753. About 13.0% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Local Schools

The town of Potsdam has an elementary school (Lawrence Avenue), a middle school (A.A. Kingston), and a high school. The high school is the home of the Potsdam Sandstoners, or better known as the "Stoners." There are also many colleges in the area, including SUNY Potsdam, which is known for its Crane School of Music, Clarkson University, and St. Lawrence University and SUNY Canton in nearby Canton.

All three of the local schools in Potsdam are under major renovation due to a large and complex New York State Capital Project. The project includes the reconstruction of the gym at the high school and major improvements to the parking situation at all three schools along with many more renovations/constructions. As of March 2008, the high school gym is nearing completion, the middle/elementary school parking lots are complete, new classrooms in the elementary school are nearing completion, and work has begun on renovations to the high school lobby/offices. The project also has an emphasis on safety with new security card access entries planned. The entire Capital Project is expected to cost 21.8 million dollars. Of this fee, 84% of the project will be paid for by New York State with only 16% of the fee coming from local tax payers (3.5 million).

Potsdam Central School Capital Project Timeline:Public Vote: Wednesday December 14, 2005 (Approved) Begin Design: January 2006Design to NYS Dept. of Ed.: September 2006Construction Start: April 2007Construction Completion: September 2008

Official Link: [http://www.potsdam.k12.ny.us/capitalproject/]

Communities and locations in Potsdam

*Bucks Bridge -- A hamlet in the northwest corner of the town at the Grass River.
*Burnhams Corners -- A location on NY-245 at County Road 35, northwest of Potsdam village.
*Casey Corners -- A location on County Road 34 in the west part of the town.
*Clarkson University -- A private university, located southwest of Potsdam village.
*Hewittville --- A hamlet on the west bank of the Raquette River, north of Potsdam village.
*Norwood -- The south part of the Village of Norwood is located by the north town line on NY-56. It was formerly called "Raquetteville" and "Potsdam Junction."
*Potsdam -- The Village of Potsdam on the Raquette River.
*Potsdam Municipal Airport - Damon Field (PTD) -- A small airport east of Potsdam village.
*Sisson -- A small hamlet on NY-56 north of Potsdam village.
*Slab City -- A location on County Road 35 is in the west part of the town and south of West Potsdam.
*Stafford Corners -- A location south of Potsdam village at the southeast town line.
*SUNY Potsdam -- A state college, located southeast of Potsdam village.
*Sugar Island -- A location in the Raquette River south of Potsdam village.
*Unionville -- A hamlet north of Potsdam village on NY-56. This is the site of one of the first cooperative settlements in New York.
*West Potsdam -- A hamlet on County Road 34 in the west part of the town, formerly known as "Smiths Corners."

Bibliography

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References

External links

* [http://www.discoverpotsdam.com Discover Potsdam]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/potsdam-1-ny.htm Early Potsdam history]
* [http://www.potsdam.ny.us/ Potsdam Town Site]
* [http://www.vi.potsdam.ny.us/ Potsdam Village Site]