Montgomery County, New York

Not to be confused with Montgomery (town), New York or Montgomery (village), New York.

Montgomery County
County
Greene Mansion in Amsterdam
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°55′N 74°26′W
Country	United States
State	New York
Founded	March 12, 1772
Named for	Richard Montgomery
Seat	Fonda
Largest city	Amsterdam
Area
• Total	410 sq mi (1,100 km2)
• Land	403 sq mi (1,040 km2)
• Water	7.3 sq mi (19 km2)  1.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	49,532
• Density	122.9/sq mi (47.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	21st
Website	www.co.montgomery.ny.us

Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 49,532. The county seat is Fonda. The county was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 at the Battle of Quebec. The county is part of the Mohawk Valley region of the state.

The county is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy combined statistical area.

Historically occupied by the Mohawk people, one of the original Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, the county was created in 1772 during the period of British colonial rule as Tryon County. In 1784, after the Americans gained independence in the War, it was renamed Montgomery County for one of the heroes.

Montgomery County comprises the Amsterdam, NY micropolitan statistical area. The county borders the north and south banks of the Mohawk River.

History

See also: Tryon County, New York

Major general Richard Montgomery, namesake of Montgomery County

This area was occupied by the Mohawk for hundreds of years prior to European colonization. Many warriors allied with the British during the war. When the British lost, they ceded all the Iroquois territory of the Six Nations (the Tuscarora had joined the confederacy in the 18th century) to the United States, without consulting the tribes or bringing them into negotiation.

In 1784, following end of the American Revolutionary War, the European-American settlers renamed Tryon County as Montgomery County. This change was to honor the general, Richard Montgomery, who had captured several places in Canada and died in 1775 attempting to capture the city of Quebec during the Revolutionary War. It replaced the name that formerly honored the last provincial governor of New York.

In 1789, Ontario County was split off from Montgomery. The area of the new county was much larger than the present Ontario County, as it included the present Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Steuben, Wyoming, Yates, and part of Schuyler and Wayne counties.

In 1791, Herkimer, Otsego, and Tioga counties were split off from Montgomery. In 1802, portions of Clinton, Herkimer, and Montgomery counties were combined to form St. Lawrence County. In 1816, Hamilton County was split off from Montgomery, but it did not have enough taxable inhabitants to be separately organized until 1847. In May 1836, the county seat was moved from Johnstown to Fonda, and in April 1838, Fulton County was split off, with Johnstown regaining that rank for the new Fulton County.

In 2012, Montgomery County voters approved a charter for government, making it the 21st county in New York state to do so. In 2013, Matthew L. Ossenfort was elected at-large as the first County Executive in the county's history. Ossenfort took office in 2014, the same year the charter went into effect. Under the terms of the charter, the Board of Supervisors was replaced by a nine-member County Legislature, with members elected from single-member districts. Thomas L. Quackenbush, one of the members, was elected as the first chairman of the new legislative body, which will be a circulating position.

Congressional districts

• 1789–1797 - None
• 1797–1803 - NY9
• 1803–1809 - NY13
• 1809–1813 - NY9
• 1813–1823 - NY14
• 1823–1833 - NY16
• 1833–1843 - NY15
• 1843–1853 - NY17
• 1853–1873 - NY18
• 1873–1875 - NY19
• 1875–1893 - NY20
• 1893–1913 - ?
• 1913–1945 - NY30
• 1945–1953 - NY31
• 1953–1963 - NY32
• 1963–1971 - NY35
• 1971–1973 - NY28 & NY29
• 1973–1983 - NY28 & NY31
• 1983–1993 - NY23 & ?
• 1993–2003 - NY21 & NY23
• 2003–2013- NY21
• 2013–2023 - NY19 & NY20
• 2023–present - NY21

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 410 square miles (1,100 km²), of which 403 square miles (1,040 km²) is land and 7.3 square miles (19 km²) (1.8%) is water.

Montgomery County is located in the central part of the state, west of the city of Schenectady and northwest of Albany.

Adjacent counties

• Fulton County - north
• Saratoga County - east
• Schenectady County - east
• Schoharie County - south
• Otsego County - southwest
• Herkimer County - west

The Erie Canal runs through Montgomery County parallel to the Mohawk River, connecting to the Wood River to the west, which leads to Lake Ontario. Overall, the canal connected Great Lakes shipping with the Hudson River and the port of New York on the Atlantic Ocean. Several towns and villages developed along the canal, as it carried much trade and passenger traffic during its peak years. After the railroad was built through the state, along the same river plain, it superseded the canal, which was filled in some areas.

At the time of the canal's construction, Montgomery County was the only place where there was a break in the Appalachian Mountains. Called 'The Noses' because of canal construction, it became known as "the gateway to the West". In the mid-twentieth century, the NYS Thruway was constructed parallel to the former east–west routes of the canal and railroad. Today the Erie Canal and its lock system is used primarily for recreational boat use among locals and tourists.

Montgomery County is located in the heart of the state's Mohawk Valley region. Foothills of the Catskill Mountains dot the southern part of the county, while foothills of the Adirondack Mountains dot the north.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	28,848		—
1800	22,051		−23.6%
1810	41,214		86.9%
1820	37,569		−8.8%
1830	43,715		16.4%
1840	35,818		−18.1%
1850	31,992		−10.7%
1860	30,866		−3.5%
1870	34,457		11.6%
1880	38,315		11.2%
1890	45,699		19.3%
1900	47,488		3.9%
1910	57,567		21.2%
1920	57,928		0.6%
1930	60,076		3.7%
1940	59,142		−1.6%
1950	59,594		0.8%
1960	57,240		−4.0%
1970	55,883		−2.4%
1980	53,439		−4.4%
1990	51,981		−2.7%
2000	49,708		−4.4%
2010	50,219		1.0%
2020	49,532		−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

Montgomery County population distribution by age and sex (2000 census)

As of the census of 2010, there were 50,208 people, 20,073 households, and 13,131 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile (47 people/km²). There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.87% (83.8% Non-Hispanic; 9.07 White Hispanic) White, 1.15% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.92% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.91% of the population. 19.0% identified as being of Italian, 15.9% German, 13.5% Polish, 9.8% Puerto Rican 9.1% Irish, 7.9% American and 6.4% English ancestry, according to Census 2010. 86.8% spoke English, 9.3% Spanish,1.8% Italian, and 1.1% Polish as their first language.

There were 20,038 households, out of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.00% were married couples living together, 11.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.60% were non-families. 29.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.50% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 19.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,128, and the median income for a family was $40,688. Males had a median income of $31,818 versus $23,359 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,005. About 9.00% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 9.89% of those age 65 or over.

2020 Census

Montgomery County Racial Composition

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	38,237	77.2%
Black or African American (NH)	987	2.0%
Native American (NH)	83	0.2%
Asian (NH)	479	1.0%
Pacific Islander (NH)	9	0.01%
Other/Mixed (NH)	2,425	5.0%
Hispanic or Latino	7,312	15.0%

Politics and government

In 2012, voters approved a county charter under New York's municipal home rule law which established an independent county executive to head its executive branch and replace the board of supervisors with a nine-seat county legislature. Elections were held the next year and the county began operating under this charter on January 1, 2014. As of 2024, the legislature has 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat.

County executives

Name	Party	Term
Matthew L. Ossenfort	Republican	January 1, 2014 – present

State Senate

District	Name	Party	Territory
46	Neil Breslin	Democratic	Entire county

State Assembly

District	Name	Party	Territory
111	Angelo Santabarbara	Democratic	Amsterdam (both city and town), Florida
118	Robert Smullen	Republican	Mohawk, Glen, Charleston, Root, Palatine, Canajoharie, Minden, St. Johnsville

U.S. House

District	Name	Party	Territory
NY-21	Elise Stefanik	Republican	Entire county

United States presidential election results for Montgomery County, New York

Year	Republican / Whig		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	13,286	63.50%	7,356	35.16%	280	1.34%
2020	12,745	60.22%	7,977	37.69%	442	2.09%
2016	11,301	59.31%	6,595	34.61%	1,158	6.08%
2012	9,334	51.33%	8,493	46.70%	359	1.97%
2008	10,711	53.09%	9,080	45.01%	384	1.90%
2004	11,338	53.43%	9,449	44.53%	434	2.05%
2000	9,765	46.93%	10,249	49.25%	795	3.82%
1996	7,172	33.88%	10,485	49.54%	3,509	16.58%
1992	8,802	37.55%	9,509	40.56%	5,132	21.89%
1988	11,128	49.05%	11,371	50.13%	186	0.82%
1984	14,398	61.22%	9,044	38.45%	78	0.33%
1980	11,917	49.48%	9,645	40.04%	2,524	10.48%
1976	13,281	53.70%	11,271	45.57%	182	0.74%
1972	16,640	63.58%	9,460	36.15%	71	0.27%
1968	12,566	49.75%	11,449	45.33%	1,242	4.92%
1964	8,471	30.40%	19,370	69.52%	20	0.07%
1960	14,837	48.13%	15,976	51.82%	14	0.05%
1956	20,678	67.41%	9,996	32.59%	0	0.00%
1952	19,554	60.13%	12,934	39.77%	31	0.10%
1948	14,212	48.90%	14,085	48.46%	767	2.64%
1944	14,726	50.45%	14,400	49.33%	63	0.22%
1940	15,546	50.71%	15,079	49.18%	34	0.11%
1936	14,127	48.48%	14,698	50.44%	314	1.08%
1932	14,104	54.09%	11,700	44.87%	272	1.04%
1928	15,257	60.28%	9,845	38.90%	207	0.82%
1924	12,869	63.20%	5,939	29.17%	1,554	7.63%
1920	12,835	66.07%	5,911	30.43%	679	3.50%
1916	6,704	54.57%	5,347	43.52%	234	1.90%
1912	5,040	42.00%	4,508	37.57%	2,451	20.43%
1908	7,571	57.02%	5,254	39.57%	453	3.41%
1904	7,444	57.29%	5,209	40.09%	340	2.62%
1900	7,302	57.35%	5,138	40.36%	292	2.29%
1896	7,082	58.39%	4,759	39.24%	288	2.37%
1892	5,727	48.38%	5,445	46.00%	665	5.62%
1888	6,365	52.18%	5,677	46.54%	156	1.28%
1884	5,505	49.59%	5,413	48.77%	182	1.64%
1880	5,230	51.21%	4,947	48.44%	35	0.34%
1876	4,457	48.19%	4,766	51.53%	26	0.28%
1872	4,113	52.28%	3,742	47.56%	13	0.17%
1868	3,981	51.10%	3,810	48.90%	0	0.00%
1864	3,519	47.38%	3,908	52.62%	0	0.00%
1860	3,528	52.03%	3,253	47.97%	0	0.00%
1856	3,076	49.03%	1,485	23.67%	1,713	27.30%
1852	2,995	46.73%	3,373	52.63%	41	0.64%
1848	2,924	50.15%	1,285	22.04%	1,621	27.80%
1844	2,849	45.86%	3,278	52.77%	85	1.37%
1840	2,828	46.13%	3,293	53.72%	9	0.15%

Communities

City

• Amsterdam

Towns

• Amsterdam
• Canajoharie
• Charleston
• Florida
• Glen
• Minden
• Mohawk
• Palatine
• Root
• St. Johnsville

Villages

• Ames
• Canajoharie
• Fonda (county seat)
• Fort Plain
• Fultonville
• Hagaman
• Nelliston
• Palatine Bridge
• St. Johnsville

Census-designated place

• Tribes Hill

Hamlets

• Auriesville
• Fort Hunter
• Freysbush
• Minaville
• Sprakers
• Sprout Brook
• Valley Brook

Notable people

• Joseph Brant, Mohawk Indian, was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He and his family were from Canajoharie, New York.
• Charles Couch, Wisconsin state legislator, was born in Mohawk in Montgomery County in 1833.
• Bud Fowler, African American baseball player. He was the first African American professional baseball player. He was born in Fort Plain, New York.
• Sheldon Jackson, Presbyterian missionary, was born in Minaville in Montgomery County in 1834.
• Cady Staley, 1st President of Case School of Applied Science (now Case Western Reserve University), was born in Minaville in Montgomery County in 1840.
• Kirk Douglas, actor.
• George A. Mitchell, founder of Cadillac, Michigan
• David Pietrusza, author.

See also

• List of counties in New York
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Montgomery County, New York
• Fort Johnson Volunteer Fire Company

Further reading

• Sullivan, James; Williams, Melvin E.; Conklin, Edwin P.; Fitzpatrick, Benedict, eds. (1927), "Chapter X. Montgomery County.", History of New York State, 1523–1927 (PDF), vol. 2, New York City, Chicago: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., p. 765-72, hdl:2027/mdp.39015019994048, Wikidata Q114149636

External links

• Montgomery County, NY
• "Fulton-Montgomery Photo Archives"
• "Glovers and Tanners"