Geography of Troy, New York

The United States Census Bureau reports that the city has a total area of 11.0 square miles, of which 0.6 square miles is water.

Troy is located several miles north of Albany, close to the confluence of the Erie and Champlain canals via the Hudson River, and is the endpoint of the New York Barge Canal.

The city is situated in the western center of Rensselaer County. The Hudson River forms the western boundary of the city and the boundary between the county and Albany County. Within Rensselaer County, the city is bordered by Schaghticoke to the north, Brunswick to the east, and North Greenbush to the south; to the west, the city is bordered by the town of Colonie in Albany County, the villages of Menands and Green Island, and the cities of Watervliet and Cohoes. To the northwest, Troy borders the village of Waterford within the town of Waterford in Saratoga County.

The western edge of the city is flat along the river, while the eastern edge abruptly rises to a higher elevation. The average elevation is 50 feet, with the highest point located in the eastern portion of the city at 500 feet. The city is longer than it is wide, with the southern portion of the city being wider than the northern portion (the formerly separate city of Lansingburgh). Several waterways drain into the Hudson after passing through Troy. The Poesten Kill and Wynants Kill are the two largest rivers in the city, and both contain numerous small lakes and waterfalls along their courses. Several lakes and reservoirs, including Ida Lake, Burden Pond, Lansingburgh Reservoir, Bradley Lake, Smarts Pond, and Wright Lake, are located within the city limits.

Population

At the time of the 2010 census, the city was home to 50,129 people, 20,121 households, and 10,947 families. The population density was 4,840.1/sq mi, and there were 23,474 dwellings. The city was 69.7% White, 16.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.4% Asian, and 4.1% comprised of more than one race. 7.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2013, the median household income was $37,805 (compared to the state average of $57,369), and the median family income was $47,827 (compared to the state average of $70,485). The city's median per capita income was $20,872 (compared to the state's average of $33,514) In 2013, about 27.3% of the population was living in poverty.

According to the 2020 census, Troy's population has increased to 51,401, with 19,899 households. The percentage of African Americans in the city increased to 17.5%, while the percentage of White residents decreased to 63.5%. The remainder of the population was composed of 0.1% Native Americans, 4.8% Asians, 9.6% Latinos or Hispanics, and 7.3% individuals of multiple races.