Saratoga Springs

Town and spa in Saratoga County, east New York State, USA; population (1990) 25,000. It is situated in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, 5 km/3 mi west of Saratoga Lake, and 48 km/30 mi north of Albany. Industries manufacture textiles, wallpaper, electronic equipment, and mobile homes. Saratoga Springs began attracting European visitors in 1771, and became the most fashionable US resort of the 19th century. The town is home to Skidmore College (1911) and Empire State College (1971).

The town's site, rich in mineral springs and an ancient American Indian campground, was ceded to the Dutch in 1684. In 1777 the British general John Burgoyne was defeated in two engagements nearby during the American Revolution.

In 1863 the Saratoga Association for the Improvement of the Breed of Horses began sponsoring races, now conducted by the New York Racing Association. Horse racing draws many visitors to the area during the summer months. The state placed 83 springs under government regulation in 1909, to counteract their depletion by commercial exploitation. Yaddo, a large private estate in the city, has served as a retreat for writers and painters since 1926. The Saratoga Spa State Park, which includes the Performing Arts Center, is the summer home of the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra.