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Gloversville, New York

Gloversville, New York
City
City of Gloversville
Gloversville is located in New York
Gloversville
Gloversville
Location in the state of New York
Coordinates: 43°3′N 74°21′W / 43.050°N 74.350°W / 43.050; -74.350Coordinates: 43°3′N 74°21′W / 43.050°N 74.350°W / 43.050; -74.350
Country United States
State New York
County Fulton
Incorporated (village) 1853
Incorporated (city) March 19, 1890
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
 • Mayor Dayton J. King (I)
 • Common Council
Area
 • Total 5.15 sq mi (13.33 km2)
 • Land 5.14 sq mi (13.31 km2)
 • Water 0.008 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation 820 ft (250 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 15,665
 • Density 3,048/sq mi (1,176.9/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 12078
Area code(s) 518 Exchanges: 725,773,775
FIPS code 36-29443
GNIS feature ID 0951265
Website www.cityofgloversville.com

Gloversville, a city in Fulton County, New York, was once the hub of the United States' glovemaking industry, with over two hundred manufacturers in Gloversville and the adjacent city of Johnstown. In 2010, Gloversville had a population of 15,665.

The region, historically known as "Kingsborough", was acquired by Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet. In 1752, Arent Stevens bought land. Puritans from New England settled there at the end of the 18th century. The proximity of hemlock forests to supply bark for tanning made the community a center of leather production early in its history. It earned its name for being the center of the American glovemaking industry for many years. Upon the establishment of a United States post office in 1828, "Gloversville" became the official name of the community. Prior to that Gloversville had been known as "Stump City" because of the large number of trees that had been cut down. In 1890–1950, 90 percent of all gloves sold in the United States were made in Gloversville.

Large tanneries and glove shops employed nearly 80% of the residents of Gloversville and environs. Home workers sewed the gloves from leather that had been cut in factories. Related businesses, such as box makers, sewing machine repairmen, and thread dealers opened to serve the industry.

In 1853, Gloversville incorporated as a village. In 1890, it incorporated as a city.

Until 1936, Gloversville had a very active electric interurban line, the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville Railroad. It ran from Gloversville, through Johnstown, along the Mohawk River to Amsterdam, then to Scotia, then across the Mohawk River, and into downtown Schenectady to the New York Central station. In 1932 in a bold move during the Great Depression it acquired unique Bullet cars in an attempt to revive business. Passenger service ended in 1936, but freight operation continued.


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