During the late 17th century, the area was a staging ground for raids between English and French colonies. Whitehall was first called "Skenesborough" in 1759 when it was settled by a land grant to a British officer, Philip Skene (1725 - after 1785), who later returned to Britain, and who was subsequently declared an enemy of the State of New York for his land dealings. During the French and Indian War, the town was one of two major routes connecting the British and French Colonies.
During the War of 1812 the area was used to build ships to battle British forces on Lake Champlain, culminating at the Battle of Plattsburgh. In 1823, the Champlain Canal was completed to Whitehall. The Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad was extended to Whitehall in 1848. During the second half of the 19th Century, the silk industry grew important in the town.
Due to the actions in 1775 and 1776, the legislature of the State of New York in 1960 declared Whitehall to be the birthplace of the United States Navy.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 58.8 sq mi (152 km2), of which 57.6 sq mi (149 km2) is land and 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2) (1.94%) is water.
The northern town line is the border of Vermont. The Champlain Canal passes through the western section of the town. The South Bay of Lake Champlain forms part of the western town line.
Conjoined U. S. Route 4 and NY Route 22 form a north–south highway through Whitehall. US-4 turns east at Whitehall village, where NY-22 turns west to the Town of Dresden.
Climate
Climate data for Whitehall, New York (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present)
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,035 people, 1,611 households, and 1,098 families residing in the town. The population density was 70.0 inhabitants per square mile (27.0/km2). There were 1,877 housing units at an average density of 32.6 per square mile (12.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.99% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 1,611 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% 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 3.03.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,734, and the median income for a family was $43,590. Males had a median income of $35,365 versus $20,861 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,831. About 10.9% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the town
Communities
East Bay Wildlife Management Area – A conservation area northeast of Whitehall village
East Whitehall – A hamlet by the eastern town line at County Roads 18 and 21.
Grays Corner – A hamlet southeast of Whitehall village on County Road 12
Whitehall – The Village of Whitehall, located at the junction of NY-22 and US-4 in the northern part of the town
Geographical locations
Brown Pond – A lake in the southeastern part of Whitehall
Castle Creek – A tributary of the Mettawee River
Death Rock – An elevation north of West Mountain
Dolph Pond – A lake in the southwestern section of Whitehall
Mettawee River – A stream flowing into the Champlain Canal
Mud Brook – A stream flowing into the Champlain Canal, south of Whitehall village
Ore Bed Hill – An elevation northeast of Grays Corner
Ravine (rjw): A series of three rising intervales running on a line along the east side of Skene Mountain and running between current Rte. 4 and the eastern end of North Williams Street
Tub Mountain – An elevation southwest of Grays Corner
Warner Hill – An elevation north of Whitehall village
West Mountain – An elevation near South Bay
Wood Creek – A creek used to define the course of the Champlain Canal
Joseph H. Potter, New York State Supreme Court judge and owner/builder of the original "castle" built on the north end of Skene Mountain overlooking the village of Whitehall. It was built and called Mountain Terrace originally but it is now known as Skene Manor even though it was built in 1874 long after the influence of Philip Skene. He was the father of Admiral William P. Potter.
Solomon L. Spink, non-voting United States representative from the Dakota Territory, 1869-1871
Command Sergeant Major Scott M. McLaughlin, United States Army, 1995-2023. Command Sergeant Major 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 3rd BDE 1st Cav (2018-2021) Squadron Command Sergeant Major 3rd Squadron, 3rd SFAB (2021-2023) Combat Deployments to Iraq (2004, 2009-2010, 2022) and Afghanistan (2011-2012). Operational Deployments to Kuwait (2017), Republic of the Congo (2015) and Korea (2020). Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Knight of the Order of St. George (Bronze Medallion)
^"Station: Whitehall, NY". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
