Editing North Elba, New York

{{Distinguish|Elba, New York}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = North Elba, New York
|settlement_type          = [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|Town]]
|image_skyline            = Lake Placid.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = [[Lake Placid (New York)|Lake Placid]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =
|image_map                = Essex County New York incorporated and unincorporated areas North Elba highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Essex County, New York|Essex County]] and the state of [[New York (state)|New York]]
|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        = [[Essex County, New York|Essex]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Town Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Town Supervisor]]
|leader_name              = Derek T. Doty ([[United States Democratic Party|D]])
| leader_title1           = [[Town Council]]
| leader_name1            = {{Collapsible list
 |title       = Members' List
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = <!-- (optional) -->
 |list_style  = text-align:left;display:none;
 |1           = • Richard Cummings
 |2           = • Emily Kilburn Polity
 |3           = • Jason Leon
 |4           = • Rick Preston
}}
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =
|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 4, 2017|archive-date=August 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802141925/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_36.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 405.15
|area_land_km2            = 392.89
|area_water_km2           = 12.27
|area_total_sq_mi         = 156.43
|area_land_sq_mi          = 151.69
|area_water_sq_mi         = 4.74
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 7480
|population_density_km2   =  
|population_density_sq_mi =  
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 594
|elevation_ft             = 1949
|coordinates              = {{coord|44|17|18|N|74|1|11|W|region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = 
|postal_code              = 
|area_code                = 
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 36-031-51935
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0979286
|website                  = {{URL|www.northelba.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of =  
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2016"/>
|population_est =  
}}

'''North Elba''' is a [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|town]] in [[Essex County, New York|Essex County]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States. The population was 7,480 at the 2020 census.<ref name="census.gov">US Census 2020 Results, QuickFacts, North Elba town, Essex County, New York https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/northelbatownessexcountynewyork</ref>

North Elba is on the western edge of the county. It is {{convert|57|mi}} by road southwest of [[Plattsburgh (city), New York|Plattsburgh]], {{convert|112|mi}} south-southwest of [[Montreal]], and {{convert|138|mi}} north of [[Albany, New York|Albany]]. While it is only {{convert|59|mi}} west-southwest of [[Burlington, Vermont]], one would have to either take a ferry across [[Lake Champlain]], or drive around it. The entirety of the [[Administrative divisions of New York#Village|village]] of [[Lake Placid, New York|Lake Placid]] is located within the boundaries of North Elba, as is part of the village of [[Saranac Lake, New York|Saranac Lake]].

== History ==
{{see also|Timbuctoo, New York}}
[[File:Essex County NY 1858 map.jpg|thumb|Essex County, New York, 1858 map]]
The town was first settled around 1814. In 1840 there were six families in the future North Elba,<ref name=Visit>{{cite journal
|title=A Visit to the Adirondack Mountains, in the summer of 1861
|journal=Friends' Intelligencer
|volume=18 <!--|number=41-->
|date=1861–1862
|pages=650–652, 665–667, 699–701, 715–717, 726–728, 742–743
|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.ah6nb6&view=1up&seq=662
|access-date=July 31, 2021
|archive-date=July 28, 2021
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728184842/https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.ah6nb6&view=1up&seq=662
|url-status=live
}}</ref> which was formed from part of the town of [[Keene, New York|Keene]] in 1849.

The [[abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]], attracted by the views of local abolitionist [[Gerrit Smith]], came to the town in 1849 to found a community for former black slaves. Smith was trying to resettle free blacks on land in the area, but it was not suitable for family farming. Brown left from his farm for the [[raid on Harpers Ferry]] in 1859.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}

A visitor in 1861 noted that in North Elba there was "a school house, which serves for this purpose, for a church, and a town hall."<ref name=Visit/>{{rp|716}} At that time, when the village of Lake Placid did not exist, a map of 1858 reveals that North Elba was at that time also a hamlet, centered at the intersection of what are today (2021) [[New York State Route 73]] and [[Adirondack Loj]] roads. The town and its village, Lake Placid, were the site of the [[1932 Winter Olympics|1932]] and [[1980 Winter Olympics]].

[[Barngalow]] and the [[Larom-Welles Cottage]] were listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1992.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]], the famous abolitionist, who was executed after his conviction of treason, sedition, and murder by the state of Virginia, is buried on his family's farm in North Elba, as is his son [[Watson Brown (abolitionist)|Watson Brown]]. Twelve other participants in Brown's [[John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry|raid on Harpers Ferry]], including his son Oliver, were moved in 1899 to a common grave near Brown's.
*[[Melvil Dewey]], inventor of the Dewey Decimal System, founded a resort in the town.

==Geography==
[[File:North Elba town hall Lake Placid NY 2024-07-09 19-36-55.jpg|thumb|North Elba Town Hall]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|405.0|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|392.8|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|12.3|km2|order=flip}}, or 3.03%, is water.

Some of the [[Adirondack High Peaks|High Peaks]] of the [[Adirondack Park]] are in the southern part of town. The West Branch of the [[Ausable River (New York)|Au Sable River]] flows out the northeastern corner of the town.

The western town line is the border of [[Franklin County, New York|Franklin County]].

[[New York State Route 73]] and [[New York State Route 86]] are east–west highways in the town that intersect at Lake Placid village.

==Sites==
* [[North Country Community College]] 
* The [[Adirondack Scenic Railroad]] traverses the town
* [[John Brown Farm State Historic Site]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 210
|1860= 366
|1870= 349
|1880= 480
|1890= 1117
|1900= 1986
|1910= 3896
|1920= 4343
|1930= 6472
|1940= 6092
|1950= 6069
|1960= 6005
|1970= 5776
|1980= 6597
|1990= 7870
|2000= 8661
|2010= 8957
|2020= 7480
|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|archive-date=June 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613152514/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2016.html|url-status=live}}</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|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321050514/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="census.gov">US Census 2020 Results, QuickFacts, North Elba town, Essex County, New York https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/northelbatownessexcountynewyork</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|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194655/https://www.census.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref> of 2000, there were 8,661 people, 2,944 households, and 1,675 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|57.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 3,991 housing units at an average density of {{convert|26.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 85.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.10% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.40% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.87% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.20% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.82% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.51% of the population.

There were 2,944 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 39.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 146.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 158.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,329, and the median income for a family was $44,828. Males had a median income of $27,787 versus $23,356 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $19,259.  About 7.3% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

== Communities and locations in North Elba ==
[[Image:North Elba Showgrounds.jpg|thumb|The North Elba Showgrounds, showing the Horse Rings, Olympic Cauldron, and [[Whiteface Mountain]]]]
[[Image:House at John Brown's Farm.jpg|thumb|right|John Brown's Farm, North Elba, New York]]

*Buck Island &ndash; An island in Lake Placid.
*[[Lake Placid (New York)|Lake Placid]] &ndash; A lake in the north-central part of the town.
*[[Lake Placid, New York|Lake Placid]] &ndash; A [[village (New York)|village]] near the center of the town at the junction of [[NY-73]] and [[NY-86]].
*Lake Placid Airport (LKP) &ndash; A general aviation airport south of Lake Placid village.
*Mirror Lake &ndash; A small lake adjacent to Lake Placid village.
*Moose Island &ndash; An island in Lake Placid north of Buck Island.
*North Elba &ndash; The [[hamlet (New York)|hamlet]] of North Elba is southeast of Lake Placid village on NY-73.
*[[Ray Brook, New York|Ray Brook]] &ndash; A hamlet between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid villages on NY-86.
**[[Federal Correctional Institution, Ray Brook]] &ndash; A federal prison near Ray Brook hamlet. It is a medium security facility for male prisoners. During its construction, it was used as an Olympic village for competitors.
*Round Lake &ndash; A small lake, east of North Elba village.
*[[Saranac Lake, New York|Saranac Lake]] &ndash; A village, a part of which is at the western border of the town on NY-86.
*[[Timbuctoo, New York|Timbuctoo]] (1850–1870) &ndash; a failed community of Black farmers, brought there by John Brown
*Undercliff &ndash; A hamlet on the northwestern shore of Lake Placid.
*Whiteface &ndash; A hamlet on the southwestern shore of Lake Placid.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book
|chapter=John Brown at North Elba
|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofadiron02dona
|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofadiron02dona/page/3 3]–22
|title=A history of the Adirondacks
|last=Donaldson
|first=Alfred Lee
|authorlink=Alfred L. Donaldson
|date=1921
|volume=2
|location=New York
|publisher=[[The Century Company]]}}

==External links==
* [http://www.northelba.org/ Town of North Elba official website]
* [http://www.nyhistory.com/gerritsmith/nelba.htm John Brown's farm]
* [https://archive.today/20130201030449/http://history.rays-place.com/ny/n-elba.htm A History of North Elba, written in 1895]
* [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cjohnson/NorthElba.html North Elba history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725214401/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cjohnson/NorthElba.html |date=July 25, 2008 }}
* [http://www.adkhistorycenter.org/esco/tow/northelba.html Summary history of North Elba] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404105537/http://www.adkhistorycenter.org/esco/tow/northelba.html |date=April 4, 2007 }}
* [http://www.inandaroundtheadirondackpark.com/History_of_North_Elba_IAATAP.htm History of North Elba] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513001312/http://www.inandaroundtheadirondackpark.com/History_of_North_Elba_IAATAP.htm |date=May 13, 2008 }}

{{Essex County, New York}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Essex County, New York]]
[[Category:Towns in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:African Americans in New York (state)]]