CAMBRIDGE, NY

Cambridge is a town in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town population was 2,152 at the 2000 census.

The town of Cambridge contains part of a village, also called Cambridge.

History

The Town of Cambridge, formerly in Albany County, New York, was transferred to Washington County in 1791, shortly after the United States gained independence in the American Revolutionary War.

Cambridge Village, incorporated within the township in 1866, was home to the Cambridge Hotel. According to local lore, the hotel originated the dessert known as pie a la Mode.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.5 square miles (94.5 km²), of which 36.4 square miles (94.2 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.3 km²) (0.33%) is water.

Part of the southern town line is the border of Rensselaer County.

NY Route 372 passes along the northeastern town line.

Places in the Town of Cambridge

Geographical features

Communities

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,152 people, 795 households, and 581 families residing in the town. The population density was 59.2 people per square mile (22.8/km²). There were 868 housing units at an average density of 23.9 per square mile (9.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.44% White, 0.84% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 795 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,579, and the median income for a family was $50,714. Males had a median income of $32,165 versus $27,667 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,529. About 3.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The education at Cambridge is Cambridge Central School, rebuilt in 1950 after a devastating fire. It was the site of the Norman Rockwell painting "Triumph in Defeat" which appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on May 23, 1953.

The Cambridge Central School District is an above average, public school district located in Cambridge, NY. It has approximately 900 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1. The average teacher salary is $63,933. 56% of the student body is male, 44% is female. According to state test scores, 50% of students are at least proficient in math and 49% in reading. Seven AP courses are currently offered. Cambridge also offers a BOCES program.

The Cambridge's varsity football team held the Class D State Champion title two years in a row, winning in 2016 and 2017. They previously won this title in 1992 and in 1999.

The school also runs an archaeological project excavating the settlement of Daniel Shays that has been ongoing since 2013.

Notable people