Community
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The resort city of Saratoga Springs, with a population of about 29,000, is located 35 miles north of the state Capitol of Albany, New York. Perhaps best known for the thoroughbreds that race at Saratoga Race Course each August, Saratoga Springs is also a center of culture and the arts.
The Saratoga Performing Arts Center is the summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and also hosts dozens of internationally known rock stars and other popular artists each summer. The National Museum of Dance, the National Museum of Racing, the New York State Military Museum, and historic Congress Park and the Canfield Casino are also located in the city.
The city's sparkling mineral waters and elegant Victorian setting have attracted visitors for centuries. The city boasts outstanding restaurants and specialty shops, and its historic homes and public buildings reflect local pride in Saratoga's architecture and rich heritage. Those are just a few of the reasons Saratoga was named as one of America’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Saratoga Springs and its environs offer opportunities for a wide variety of outdoor sports, including swimming, tennis, golf, skiing, boating and fishing. The Saratoga Spa State Park features natural mineral springs, health baths, golf courses, swimming pools, picnic areas and other recreational opportunities. Among the more popular spectator sports are harness racing at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, and, during the summer, thoroughbred racing and polo. Lake George, known nationwide as the “Queen of American Lakes,” is a half-hour drive from Saratoga.
Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County host a thriving business community. The newest entry to that scene, and unquestionably the biggest, is the $4.6 billion Global Foundries computer chip plant, which is under construction on a site near the south end of Saratoga Lake. Among other major companies doing business in the county are Quad Graphics, State Farm Insurance, General Electric, Target, International Paper, Stewart’s Ice Cream, Ace Hardware, Sysco Food Services, and the Ball Corporation.
The school district, one of the largest businesses in the community, has strong support from local residents, as evidenced by the overwhelming voter approval each year of the district budget. In May 2010, despite the challenging economy, voters passed the district budget by better than a two-to-one ratio, once again affirming the robust partnership between the schools and the community.
Saratoga Springs is the home of Skidmore College, with an enrollment of more than 2,000 students, and the State University of New York’s Empire State College, which offers a variety of independent study alternatives.
Saratoga Springs is located within a four-hour drive of New York City, Boston and Montreal.
For comprehensive information about our area and the many opportunities it offers, please visit the Web site of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
