South Glens Falls is a village in northern Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 3,744 at the 2020 census. The village is surrounded by Town of Moreau and separated from the City of Glens Falls by the Hudson River.

Cooper's Cave, shown on the village seal, is named after the author James Fenimore Cooper. Cooper was inspired to use the area as a location in his novel, The Last of the Mohicans, after visiting the area. The cave is within the bedrock of the Hudson River, but a viewing platform under the bridge between the village and Glens Falls allow visitors to see it from a unique vantage point.

History

In the late woodland period, the area was considered to be the winter hunting grounds for the Mohawk and Algonquian tribes. Slowly, the area became attractive to settlement as good were transported through the "Great Carry" (now Route 9), between Glens Falls and Fort Edward.

In 1766, the Daniel Parks family was the first family to settle into the area after receiving of land, on which they built a house and a saw mill. By the mid-1830s, the settlement boasted saw mills, a grist mill, a cotton mill and a quarry as well as a dock to facilitate commerce.

The Village was formally incorporated in 1895 as a result of an effort to form a public water system.

Education

South Glens Falls Central School District is registered by the New York State Department of Education and was chartered by the New York State Board of Regents in 1945. The district covers approximately , serving the towns of Moreau, Northumberland, and Wilton. It consists of four elementary schools (grades K-5), one middle school (grades 6-8) and one high school (grades 9-12). Total enrollment in the district is 3,350 students. Student-to-teacher ratio currently stands at 15:1, with more than half of the teaching staff having 20 years of classroom experience. Total per pupil costs are among the lowest in Saratoga County and is governed by a nine-member board of education.

Elementary schools

  • Ballard Elementary School
  • Harrison Avenue Elementary School
  • Moreau Elementary School
  • Tanglewood Elementary School

Middle school

  • Oliver W. Winch Middle School·

High school

  • South Glens Falls Senior High School

South Glens Falls Senior High School, locally known as South High, is the host of the annual South High Marathon Dance, where high school students raise money for families, individuals, or causes identified as in need.The dance spans 28 hours over the first Friday and Saturday in March. It features events such as raffles, themed hours, visits from elementary and middle schoolers, games, costume parties, and more. The whole community is interested, with visiting hours open both days. The inaugural event, in 1978, raised about $1500 for the local Emergency Squad. As of 2026, the Marathon Dance has raised a cumulative total of over $13 million for various organizations, individuals, and families. 2027's dance will mark the 50th anniversary of SHMD.

Government and Public Services

The Village is governed by a Mayor and a four-person Village Board.

The Village is served by the South Glens Falls Police Department, the Moreau Emergency Squad, and the South Glens Falls Fire Company.

Geography

The main intersection in South Glens Falls is located at (43.299155, -73.635361).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , of which is land and (9.40%) is water.

The village is located on the south bank of the Hudson River and is off exit 17 of Interstate 87.

U.S. Route 9, New York State Route 32 and County Road 28, all north-south highways, converge in the village.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, South Glens Falls had a population of 3,744. The median age was 43.1 years; 18.4% of residents were under age 18, and 20.3% were age 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.8 males age 18 and over.

There were 1,744 households in South Glens Falls, including 856 families.

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census