Latham

History

The area was known at different times in its history as Yearsley's (c. 1829), Van Vranken's (c. 1851), Town House Corners (c. 1860) and Latham's Corners, named after hotel owner William G. Latham. The "corner" referred to is now the intersection of Troy-Schenectady Road (NY Route 2) and Old Loudon Road. Before European expansion to North America, Latham was occupied by Mohicans. The Old Loudon Road was built in 1755 during the French and Indian War to bring troops and provisions from Albany to the areas of Lake George and Ticonderoga. The Troy and Schenectady Turnpike was built in 1802 and intersected Old Loudon. An early first resident of this hamlet was Jonas Yearsley, 1785, who later built the first hotel close to this intersection. The hamlet was known first under the name of Yearsley's Corners and years afterward as Van Vrankens Corners in the 1850s. The name changed into Latham when William Latham became owner of the hotel. James, his son, continued to run the hotel until he died on August 14, 1933.

Geography

The hamlet itself is very narrow east–west and relatively long north–south, centered on the intersection of the Troy-Schenectady Road and Old Loudon Road. As a hamlet, its boundaries are not clearly defined, though they are marked by the New York State Department of Transportation on the western and eastern ends on New York Route 2 and on the southern end on U.S. Route 9 (US 9). On the western end, the hamlet begins near the entrance to the former Latham Circle Mall; on the southern end it starts near the Y-intersection of US 9 and Old Loudon Road; and on the eastern end, the border is near the Kiwanis Park. The northern border is the Crescent Bridge crossing the Mohawk River into Halfmoon in Saratoga County. Blue Creek circles the area known as Pirate's Island. The area normally referred to as "Latham" extends well beyond the hamlet itself, as the name is also used for the post office of the 12110 ZIP Code. Many locations often considered in the northern and northeastern parts of Latham are in the Cohoes ZIP Code, while many in the eastern sections use a Watervliet ZIP Code. Latham's terrain is mostly a hilly mix of deciduous and evergreen trees, with some ponds, creeks and swamps, including several protected water courses and New York State Wetlands. Streams east of Old Loudon Road and US 9 generally drain into the Hudson River; west of Old Loudon and US 9, the hamlet's watercourses drain into the Mohawk River.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  32,315
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  32,075
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  30,653
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  29,983
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  26,466
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  25,673
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  25,253
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  24,729

Largest nearby schools

• ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL
  High · ALBANY · 2,676 students · 13.4:1 ratio
• SHAKER HIGH SCHOOL
  High · LATHAM · 2,018 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• COLONIE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
  High · ALBANY · 1,538 students · 13.1:1 ratio
• SHAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · LATHAM · 1,423 students · 12.4:1 ratio
• FARNSWORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · GUILDERLAND · 1,151 students · 10.9:1 ratio
• BETHLEHEM CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · DELMAR · 923 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• KIPP TECH VALLEY CHARTER SCHOOL
  Elementary · ALBANY · 913 students · 32.6:1 ratio
• SAND CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · ALBANY · 868 students · 12.4:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.1 — 2020-03-11
  0 km SSW of South Glens Falls, New York
• M 2.79 — 2015-09-27
  New York
• M 2.76 — 2011-08-27
  5 km WSW of Altamont, New York
• M 2.69 — 2011-08-25
  5 km WSW of Altamont, New York
• M 3.15 — 2009-12-13
  15 km N of Medusa, New York
• M 2.56 — 2009-12-13
  14 km N of Medusa, New York