John Brown, the famous abolitionist, who was hanged after his conviction of treason, sedition, and murder by the state of Virginia, is buried on his family's farm in North Elba. 12 other participants in Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry were moved to a common grave near Brown's.
Melvil Dewey, inventor of the Dewey Decimal System, founded a resort in the town.
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,661 people, 2,944 households, and 1,675 families residing in the town. The population density was 57.0 people per square mile. There were 3,991 housing units at an average density of 26.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 85.71% White, 10.10% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.51% of the population. There were 2,944 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90. In the town, the population was spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 39.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 146.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 158.2 males. The median income for a household in the town was $35,329, and the median income for a family was $44,828. Males had a median income of $27,787 versus $23,356 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,259. About 7.3% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in North Elba
Buck Island - An island in Lake Placid.
Lake Placid - A lake in the north-central part of the town.
Lake Placid - A village near the center of the town at the junction of NY-73 and NY-86.
Lake Placid Airport - A general aviation airport south of Lake Placid village.
Mirror Lake - A small lake adjacent to Lake Placid village.
Moose Island - An island in Lake Placid north of Buck Island.
North Elba - The hamlet of North Elba is southeast of Lake Placid village on NY-73.
Ray Brook - A hamlet between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid villages on NY-86.
*Federal Correctional Institution, Ray Brook - A federal prison near Ray Brook hamlet. It is a medium security facility for male prisoners. During its construction, it was used as an Olympic village for competitors.
Round Lake - A small lake, east of North Elba village.
Saranac Lake - A village, a part of which is at the western border of the town on NY-86.
Undercliff - A hamlet on the northwestern shore of Lake Placid.
Whiteface - A hamlet on the southwestern shore of Lake Placid.
