The area was home to various cultures of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Archeological studies have found that by 1300 CE, the St. Lawrence Iroquoians, a distinct group who spoke the Laurentian language, built fortified villages similar to those visited and described by explorer Jacques Cartier in the mid-16th century. They are believed to have been pushed out and defeated later in that century by the Mohawk, one of the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. The first European-American settler arrived around 1800, after the American Revolutionary War, when New York attracted migrants from New England. In 1857, the town was formed from part of the Town of Chazy. The early economy was based on natural resources: mining, logging, and tanning.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.35%, is water. Most of the town is drained by the Great Chazy River, while the southeast part is drained by the Little Chazy River and Corbeau Creek. All of the water bodies flow eventually to Lake Champlain. New York State Route 190 is a northwest-southeast highway in the town. U.S. Route 11 crosses the northwest corner of Altona.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,160 people, 888 households, and 653 families residing in the town. The population density was 31.3 people per square mile. There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 10.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 82.50% White, 11.96% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 4.75% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.10% of the population. There were 888 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.12. The age distribution was 21.9% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 41.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 161.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 184.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $41,442. Males had a median income of $31,217 versus $25,491 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,312. About 8.6% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 25.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Altona
Alder Bend - A hamlet in the western part of the town, within the Adirondack Park.
Altona - The hamlet of Altona is in the northern part of the town.
