The town is derived from the Northampton Patent of 1741. and was formed from part of the northern part of the town of Broadalbin in 1799. In 1930, the Sacandaga Reservoir was created, submerging some of what was once dry land and swamp area beneath the surface of the lake.
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,760 people, 1,163 households, and 782 families residing in the town. The population density was 131.1 people per square mile. There were 1,962 housing units at an average density of 93.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% White, 0.33% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population. There were 1,163 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couplesliving together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85. In the town, the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males. The median income for a household in the town was $37,420, and the median income for a family was $44,896. Males had a median income of $32,900 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,997. About 6.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Northampton
Carpenters Corners - A hamlet on the southeast border with Northville located on County Road 113.
Fairchilds Corners - A location southeast of Carpenters Corners.
Hampton Point - A projection into the lake southwest of Northville.
Hunters Creek - A stream north of Northville.
Kenyon Islands - Two islands in the Great Sacandaga Lake.
Mead Island - An island in Great Sacandaga Lake near the shoreline.
Northville - A village located where the Sacandaga River enters Great Sacandaga Lake and is just east of NY-30. It is the primary settlement in the town.
Northville Pond - A lake located in the village of Northville.
Sacandaga Park - A hamlet on the west shore of Great Sacandaga Lake and on NY-30 near the junction of County Road 143. The Sacandaga Railroad Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Sweets Crossing - A hamlet in the west part of the town on NY-30.
Tamarack Swamp - A swamp on the town line west of Sweets Crossing.
Woodward Lake - A small lake west of Northville.
Notable people
Julia Colman, American temperance educator, activist, editor, writer
