Editing Berlin, New York

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Berlin, New York
|settlement_type          = [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = 2019-09-21 12 41 10 View east along Rensselaer County Route 40 (Plank Road) just west of Rensselaer County Route 36 (Main Street) in Berlin, Rensselaer County, New York.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = The center of Berlin viewed from eastbound Plank Road
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Rensselaer County New York incorporated and unincorporated areas Berlin highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 300px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer County]] and the state of [[New York (state)|New York]].

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[New York (state)|New York]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Town Supervisor
|leader_name              = Robert C. Jaeger
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2016">{{cite web|title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_36.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 155.18
|area_land_km2            = 154.35
|area_water_km2           = 0.83
|area_total_sq_mi         = 59.91
|area_land_sq_mi          = 59.60
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.32

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1808
|population_density_km2   =  
|population_density_sq_mi =

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 293
|elevation_ft             = 961
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|41|N|73|22|W|region:US-NY|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 12022
|area_code                = [[Area code 518|518]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 36-06189
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0978727
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of =  
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2016"/>
|population_est =  
}}
'''Berlin''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɜr|l|ᵻ|n}} is a [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|town]] in [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer County]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States. The population was 1,808 at the 2020 census.<ref name="census.gov">U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 census results. https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Berlin%20town,%20Rensselaer%20County,%20New%20York</ref> The town is named after [[Berlin]] in [[Germany]], although natives pronounce the name differently, with the accent on the first syllable.

The town of Berlin is located on the eastern border of the county and is often pronounced with an emphasis on the first half of the name.

==History==

{{unreferenced section|date=November 2021}}

The town was first settled ''circa'' 1765. It was named a town in 1806 and formed from the town of Petersburgh, one of the many [[New York (state)|New York]] towns with a German name. 
On July 25, 1962, Berlin was a site to the 1962 Berlin Explosion, Where a Semi-Truck full of 7000 gallons of propane crashed and blew up in the town killing 10 including the truck driver.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/60th-anniversary-of-1962-berlin-ny-tragedy-explosion|title=60th Anniversary of 1962 Berlin NY Tragedy Explosion|access-date=July 25, 2022}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Berlin Mt..JPG|thumb|left|365x365px|Berlin Mountain, also known to locals as Macomber Mountain, seen from Cowdry Hollow Road in Berlin @ 1,200 feet.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|59.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|59.7|sqmi|km2}}  is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}}  (0.45%) is water.

The highest point is '''[[Berlin Mountain]]''', 2,818 feet (859 m) above sea level, near the [[Massachusetts]] border in the [[Taconic Mountains]]. The Taconic Mountains form a barrier in the eastern part of the town so that no existing road connects the town to Massachusetts. The western portion of the town is part of the [[Rensselaer Plateau]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rensselaerplateau.org/RensselaerPlateau/Maps.aspx|title=Rensselaer Plateau Association - Maps|access-date=August 26, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111423/http://rensselaerplateau.org/RensselaerPlateau/Maps.aspx|archive-date=December 24, 2013}}</ref>

The eastern town line is the border of Massachusetts.

Berlin is home to the source of the [[Poesten Kill]], which begins at [[Dyken Pond]], in the northwestern corner of the town.

== Adjacent towns and areas ==
[[File:2021-09-28 16 41 46 "Welcome to Berlin, Established 1806" sign along southbound New York State Route 22 in Berlin, Rensselaer County, New York.jpg|thumb|right|Welcome sign on NY 22 southbound]]
The Town of [[Stephentown, New York|Stephentown]] is to the south, and the Town of [[Petersburgh, New York|Petersburgh]] lies to the north. The Town of [[Sand Lake, New York|Sand Lake]], and the Town of [[Poestenkill (town), New York|Poestenkill]] are at the western town line, and the Towns of Williamstown and Hancock in [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire County]], Massachusetts are on the eastern border.

==Economy==
Going back in time, Berlin had its economic roots as a center for dairy farming, however many of the farms have been subdivided in the last decades of the 20th century. The town now serves primarily as a bedroom community for the Albany, NY capital district, but retains some notable industries.
[[File:WJ Cowee, Berlin, New York.jpg|thumb|WJ Cowee in Berlin, New York]]
Like many small communities, Berlin has relied on one or two key employers for economic growth. These have primarily included W.J. Cowee, LLC, a manufacturer of wood products, and the Henry J. Seagroatt Co., a producer and distributor of flowers and supplies. In neighboring Petersburgh, NY, the high tech industry is represented by Taconic, a worldwide manufacturer of PTFE and dielectric materials.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 1986
|1830= 2019
|1840= 1794
|1850= 2005
|1860= 2223
|1870= 2088
|1880= 2202
|1890= 1704
|1900= 1677
|1910= 1615
|1920= 1305
|1930= 1359
|1940= 1402
|1950= 1409
|1960= 1329
|1970= 1562
|1980= 1696
|1990= 1929
|2000= 1901
|2010= 1880
|2020= 1808
|estyear= 
|estimate= 
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2016">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=June 9, 2017}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="census.gov">U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 census results. https://www.census.gov/search-results.html?searchType=web&cssp=SERP&q=Berlin%20town,%20Rensselaer%20County,%20New%20York</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,901 people, 729 households, and 500 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|31.9|PD/sqmi}}.  There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of {{convert|17.3|/sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.42% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.05% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.32% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.10% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.00% of the population.

There were 729 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,875, and the median income for a family was $42,464. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $26,088 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,733. About 9.7% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

== Communities and locations in Berlin ==
*'''Berlin''' &ndash; The [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]] of Berlin on NY State Route 22.  It was formerly called "North Berlin" after it was settled ''circa'' 1800.
*'''Bucks Corner''' &ndash; A hamlet at the junction of County Routes 40 and 41 in the western part of the town.
*'''Center Berlin''' &ndash; A hamlet south of Berlin village, on NY State Route 22.
*[[Cherry Plain, New York|Cherry Plain]] &ndash; A hamlet in the southern part of the town on NY State Route 22.
*[[Cherry Plain State Park]] &ndash; A [[state park]] in the southwestern part of the town.
*[[Dyken Pond]] &ndash; A small lake located in the northwestern part of the town.
*[[Round Pond (Berlin, New York)|Round Pond]] &ndash; A private [[pond]] in the western part of the town.
*[[Spring Lake (Rensselaer County, New York)|Spring Lake]] &ndash; A private [[lake]] in the western part of the town.

==Climate==
This [[climate|climatic]] region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Berlin has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=146003&cityname=Berlin%2C+New+York%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Berlin, New York]</ref>

==References==
{{portal|New York (state)}}
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=George Baker |title=Landmarks of Rensselaer County New York |publisher=D. Mason and Company |location=Syracuse, New York |year=1897 |url=https://archive.org/stream/landmarksofrenss00ande#page/n5/mode/2up |oclc= 1728151}}
*{{cite book |last=Hayner |first=Rutherford |title=Troy and Rensselaer County New York: A History |url=https://archive.org/details/troyrensselaerco01hayn |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc |year=1925 |oclc=22524006}}
*{{cite book |last=Sylvester |first=Nathaniel Bartlett |title=History of Rensselaer Co., New York with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers |publisher=Everts & Peck |location=Philadelphia |year=1880 |oclc= 3496287}}
*{{cite book |last=Weise |first=Arthur James |title=History of the Seventeen Towns of Rensselaer County from the Colonization of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck to the Present Time |year=1880 |publisher=J. M. Francis & Tucker |location=Troy, New York |url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924064123015#page/n5/mode/2up |oclc= 6637788}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Berlin, New York}}
*  http://www.berlin-ny.us/
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/ren-berlin-ny.htm History of Berlin, New York]
* [http://town-court.com/getTownCourt.php?courtID=167 Berlin Town Court]

{{Coord|42|41|N|73|22|W|type:city_region:US-NY|display=title}}

{{Rensselaer County, New York}}
{{Capital District}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Rensselaer County, New York]]
[[Category:Towns in New York (state)]]