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Byron, New York

Byron is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The town is named after a famous poet, Lord Byron. It on the northern border of the county, and lies northeast of the city of Batavia. The population was 2,369 at the 2010 census. The local school district, Byron-Bergen Central School District, is shared with the town of Bergen.

History
Byron was first settled circa 1807. The town was incorporated in 1820 from part of the town of Bergen.

On January 12, 1919, there was a New York Central train wreck in South Byron, killing 22.

Byron was traditionally a rural area of dairy and vegetable farms.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.2 sqmi, of which 32.2 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi, or 0.19%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,493 people, 878 households, and 663 families residing in the town. The population density was 77.4 PD/sqmi. There were 922 housing units at an average density of 28.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.75% White, 0.28% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.89% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.

There were 878 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.24. There are slightly more livestock, mostly cattle in the township than there are humans

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,722, and the median income for a family was $56,927. Males had a median income of $38,828 versus $24,877 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,825. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Lina Beecher, roller coaster engineer
 * D. M. Martin, former football coach
 * Sy Studley, former MLB player

Communities and locations in the Town of Byron

 * Byron (previously "Byron Center") – A hamlet located at the junction of Routes 237 and 262.
 * Lidke's Hill – A location in the northern part of the town.
 * Mosquito Point – A location in the northwest part of the town.
 * Pumpkin Hill – A hamlet north of Byron hamlet on Route 237. It is also called "North Byron". The name Pumpkin Hill comes from a sign with a pumpkin shape at a former hotel.
 * South Byron (originally "Brusselville") – A community south of Byron hamlet on Route 237. It lies along CSX Railroad's "Chicago Line"(formerly the main branch of the New York Central)

title: Byron, New York


text:
Corfu, New York

Corfu is a village in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 709 at the 2010 census. It is named after the Greek island of Corfu.

The village of Corfu lies along the southern edge of the town of Pembroke; about 1.5 acre within the village limits are within the town of Darien to the south.

History
The early community was known as "Longs Corners". The name "Corfu" was adopted when a post office was established. The village of Corfu was incorporated in 1868.

Geography
Corfu is located in western Genesee County at 42.95861°N, -78.40389°W (42.958662, -78.403938). New York State Route 33 passes through the village as Main Street, leading east 11 mi to Batavia, the county seat, and west 26 mi to Buffalo. New York State Route 77 (Alleghany Road) intersects NY 33 in the center of Corfu, leading north, then west 27 mi to Lockport and south 22 mi to Java Center. Corfu is halfway along NY 77 between Six Flags Darien Lake to the south and the New York State Thruway to the north, both 3 mi away.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village of Corfu has a total area of 2.6 km2, all land.

Murder Creek, a tributary of Tonawanda Creek, flows to the west through the village.

Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 795 people, 309 households, and 211 families residing in the village. The population density was 804.2 PD/sqmi. There were 336 housing units at an average density of 339.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 96.98% White, 0.88% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.38% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

There were 309 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,386, and the median income for a family was $46,667. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $23,571 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,909. 1.4% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Corfu, New York


text:
Darien, New York

Darien is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 3,010 at the 2020 census. Darien lies in the southwestern part of Genesee County, southwest of Batavia.

History
During the early historic period, the area was occupied by the Seneca people, and was referred to by them as O-so-on-to-geh, or "Place where turkeys are found".

The area was first settled circa 1803 and was known at first as South Pembroke. The town of Darien was founded in 1832 from the south part of the town of Pembroke. The early town was agricultural, supplying food products to nearby urban areas, such as Buffalo.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.6 sqmi, of which 47.5 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi, or 0.13%, is water.

The western town line is the town of Alden in Erie County, and the southern town boundary is the town of Bennington in Wyoming County.

US Route 20 (Broadway) passes across the town and intersects NY-77 at Darien Center. The northern terminus of NY-238 (Attica Road) is in Darien. NY-33 crosses the northwest corner of Darien.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,061 people, 1,064 households, and 854 families residing in the town. The population density was 64.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of 23.7 per square mile (9.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.12% White, 0.10% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.03% Asian, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.

There were 1,064 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,844, and the median income for a family was $50,844. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $23,278 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,372. About 1.8% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 100 and older

Notable people

 * Robert Laben, University of California, Davis professor and namesake of Laben Hall
 * Marshal H. Pengra, Wisconsin State Assemblyman
 * Al Tharnish, a nineteenth-century foot-racing champion

Communities and locations

 * Corfu – A small part of the village of Corfu is in the north part of the town on NY-77.
 * Corfu Station – A location south of Corfu village on NY-77.
 * Darien, also known as Darien City – A hamlet east of Darien Center at the intersection of Routes NY-20 and NY-238.
 * Darien Center – A hamlet east of the state park and south of the theme park, located at Route 20 and Route 77. It was once known as "Kings Corners".
 * Darien Lakes State Park – The state park is west of Darien Center on US-20.
 * Six Flags Darien Lake – North of Darien Center on NY-77.
 * Fargo – A hamlet near the town lines and the state park, located in the northwest corner of the town.
 * Griswold – A hamlet south of Darien.
 * Lehigh – A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town.
 * Longwood – A hamlet on the north town border southeast of Corfu.
 * Murder Creek – A tributary of Tonawanda Creek.
 * Sawyens – A hamlet east of the theme park.

title: Darien, New York


text:
Pavilion, New York

Pavilion is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 2,495 at the 2010 census. The town was named after a hotel in Saratoga Springs, New York, by an early resident. The town of Pavilion is in the southeastern corner of Genesee County and is southeast of the city of Batavia.

History
The area was first settled circa 1805. The town of Pavilion was founded in 1841 from the town of Covington (in Wyoming County). More territory was gained in 1842 from the towns of Le Roy and Stafford.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.7 sqmi, of which 35.6 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi, or 0.28%, is water.

The east town line is the border of Livingston County, and the south and part of the west town line is the border of Wyoming County.

Oatka Creek, a tributary of the Genesee River, flows northward through the town into the town of Stafford.

US Route 20, and east-west highway, crosses the center of the town and intersects north-south highway, NY-19 at Pavilion Center. US-20 crosses NY-63 (historic Big Tree Road) at Pavilion village.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,467 people, 886 households, and 691 families residing in the town. The population density was 69.2 PD/sqmi. There were 930 housing units at an average density of 26.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.45% white, .65% African American, .49% Native American, .2% Asian, .04% Pacific Islander, .32% from other races, and .85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were .53% of the population.

There were 886 households, out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.5% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.1.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,837, and the median income for a family was $51,750. Males had a median income of $31,074 versus $25,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,254. About 3.9% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

 * Gregory Reinhart, opera singer
 * Frances Metcalfe Wolcott, socialite and author who owned Hillcrest, a country estate in Pavilion.

Communities and locations in Pavilion

 * Bailey's Mills – A former location in the town, located in the northwest part of Pavilion.
 * Bennetts Corners – A location in the southeastern part of the town, southeast of Phelps Corners.
 * Junction – A hamlet north of Pavilion Center on NY-19.
 * Le Roy Reservoir – A lake east of Union Corners.
 * Pavilion – The principal hamlet (and census-designated place), located at the junction of Routes NY-19 and NY-63 in the south part of the town.
 * Pavilion Center – A small hamlet at the junction of Routes 19 and 20, north of Pavilion village.
 * Phelps Corners – A location in the southeastern part of the town at the intersection of South Street and York Road.
 * Union Corners – A hamlet near the eastern border of the town at the intersection of South Street and Walker Road.

title: Pavilion, New York


text:
Pembroke, New York

Pembroke is a town in Genesee County, Western New York, United States. The population was 4,292 at the 2010 census. The town is named after a town in west Wales. Pembroke lies on the west border of Genesee County, west of Batavia.

History
Pembroke was first settled in 1804 by David Goss.

Pembroke was established from part of the town of Batavia in 1812.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.7 sqmi, of which 41.7 sqmi is land and 0.02% is water.

The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) passes through Pembroke, and New York State Route 5 intersects New York State Route 77 in the town.

Tonawanda Creek and its tributary Murder Creek flow through the town.

The west town line is the border of Erie County.

Adjacent cities and towns

 * Erie County, Town of Alden - west
 * Erie County, Town of Newstead - west
 * Town of Alabama - north
 * Town of Oakfield - northeast
 * Town of Batavia - east
 * Town of Alexander - southeast
 * Town of Darien - south
 * Village of Corfu- lies at south part of town bordering Town of Darien

Major highways in the town of Pembroke

 * [[Image:I-90.svg|20px]] [[Image:NYS Thruway Sign.svg|20px]] Interstate 90 (New York State Thruway), runs east–west through the town from Newstead to Batavia. There is a service area on the Thruway (eastbound) named for Pembroke.
 * [[Image:NY-5.svg|20px]] New York State Route 5 (Main St.), east–west highway that passes through the center of town from Newstead to Batavia.
 * [[Image:NY-33.svg|20px]] New York State Route 33 (Genesee St.), east–west highway through the town from the Darien town line to the Batavia town line.
 * [[Image:NY-77.svg|20px]] New York State Route 77 (Alleghany Rd.), north–south highway that runs through the center of town from Corfu to Alabama.

Notable places
The Western New York National Cemetery is located in Pembroke. As of 2016, the first burial is expected to take place by the end of the decade.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,530 people, 1,660 households, and 1,228 families residing in the town. The population density was 108.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,776 housing units at an average density of 42.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.12% White, 0.38% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.

There were 1,660 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,266, and the median income for a family was $46,495. Males had a median income of $32,487 versus $25,046 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,148. About 2.6% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Pembroke

 * Brick House Corners – A hamlet at the intersection of NY-5 and NY-77. Toll plaza 48A of the New York Thruway is located north of the intersection.
 * Cookville – A location now marked by the Pembroke service area on the New York State Thruway in the east part of the town.
 * Corfu – The village of Corfu lies on the south border of the town. Initially called "Long's Corners", the village is at the intersection of NY-33 and NY-77.
 * East Pembroke – A hamlet on NY-5, is located between Pembroke Center and Batavia.
 * Indian Falls – This hamlet, located by a waterfall on Tonawanda Creek, is the birthplace of Ely S. Parker. NY-77 passes through the community.
 * North Pembroke – A hamlet on Tonawanda Creek in the northeast corner of the town.
 * Pembroke – A hamlet on NY-5 near the border with Erie County. In its early days it was called "Richville", and is now composed of houses and commercial buildings (some closed) scattered along Main Street. The only intersection is where Lake Road crosses. Two small factories on the east end of the village are dairy-related. One is Kutters Cheese Factory.
 * Pembroke Center – A location on NY-5 between Pembroke and East Pembroke. It is also called "Frog Hollow", where the first settler David Goss built the Old White Tavern, the first public house in the township.

title: Pembroke, New York


text:
Stafford, New York

Stafford is a town in Genesee County, New York, United States. The population was 2,459 at the 2010 census. The town was named after a town of the same name in England.

Stafford is one of only two interior towns in Genesee County, lying in the east central part of the county, east of Batavia.

History
The town was first settled in 1798, one of the first of the towns in the Holland Purchase to be occupied. Stafford was formed in 1820 from parts of the towns of Batavia and Le Roy. Part of Stafford was taken to form the town of Pavilion in 1842. The historic core at the hamlet of Stafford was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Stafford Village Four Corners Historic District in 1985.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.2 sqmi, of which 31.1 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi, or 0.35%, is water.

The New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) runs through the northern part of the town. The southern terminus of New York State Route 237 is at New York State Route 5 in Stafford. New York State Route 33 crosses the northern part of the town, intersecting NY-237 north of the Thruway.

Oatka Creek, Black Creek, and Bigelow Creek cross the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,409 people, 909 households, and 695 families residing in the town. The population density was 77.4 PD/sqmi. There were 997 housing units at an average density of 32.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.72% White, 1.08% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.

There were 909 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,516, and the median income for a family was $54,667. Males had a median income of $35,548 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,775. About 3.0% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Lafayette C. Baker, notable investigator, spy
 * Jason DiSalvo, motorcycle/sport bike racer
 * Harmon J. Fisk, former Wisconsin State Assemblyman
 * Archie D. Sanders, former US congressman

Communities and locations in Stafford

 * Black Creek – A stream in the northeast part of the town.
 * Godfrey Pond – A pond in the northwest corner of Stafford.
 * Horseshoe Lake – A small lake near the western town line.
 * Morganville – A hamlet in the center of the town on Route 237, north of Stafford village. It was named after William Morgan.
 * Oatka Creek – A stream flowing through the southeast part of the town.
 * Roanoke (formerly "Orangeburgh") – A location in the southeast corner of the town, near Oatka Creek on the Betheny-Le Roy Road.
 * Stafford (once known as "Transit Store House") – A hamlet near the junction of Routes 5 and 237.

title: Stafford, New York


text:
Ashland, Greene County, New York

Ashland is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 682 in the 2020 US census, down from 784 in the 2010 census. Ashland is in the northwestern part of the county.

History
Early settlements were abandoned during the American Revolution, but the town was re-settled in 1788. The town was created from parts of the towns of Windham and Prattsville in 1848.

When the town was still part of Windham, it was called Scienceville due to there being "some families of more than ordinary education" in the area. When Scienceville became a separate community in 1848, it was renamed Ashland after the estate of Henry Clay.

The presence of hemlock forests led to a  tanning industry. Hemlock bark was an important raw material used for leather tanning, due to it being a good source of tannic acid.

However, Ashland suffered a recession in the early 1850s when its tanning industry collapsed after the community exhausted its supply of hemlock bark. Around the same time, the cotton and wool mills lost business due to being located inland, resulting in expensive transportation rates.

In 1890, the population was 560.

A local YMCA was opened on March 29, 1895, but closed due to a lack of support in 1901.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.0 sqmi, all land.

The town is at the northern border of the Catskill Park. The northern town line is the border of Schoharie County.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 752 people, 304 households, and 214 families residing in the town. The population density was 29.0 PD/sqmi. There were 603 housing units at an average density of 23.2 per square mile (9.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.21% White, 0.53% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.53% Asian, and 1.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 304 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,357, and the median income for a family was $42,031. Males had a median income of $34,750 versus $28,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,029. About 9.8% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Ashland

 * Ashland – The hamlet of Ashland is in the southern part of the town on Route 23. It is located at the edge of the Catskill Park and at the southern town line. An early name for the community was "Scienceville".
 * Batavia Kill – A westward-flowing stream that passes Ashland village.
 * Four Corners – A hamlet on the western town line.
 * North Settlement – A hamlet northeast of Ashland village, located on Route 10 by the eastern town line.
 * West Settlement – A hamlet northwest of Ashland village, located on Route 10.

title: Ashland, Greene County, New York


text:
Durham, New York

Durham is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 2,627 at the 2020 census.

History
The land that would become the town was first settled circa 1755 within Albany County. The town was established from part of the town of Coxsackie in 1790 as the "Town of Freehold". In the spring of 1800, Freehold became part of the newly formed Greene County. The town's name was changed to "Durham" in 1805, the town having been called informally "New Durham" by the many settlers from Connecticut.

Part of the town was lost in 1803 to form the new towns of Cairo, Greenville, and Windham. In 1836, the western part of Durham became the town of Conesville in Schoharie County.

The first documented visit to the Durham area was by Eliab Youmans, who had been commissioned to survey the Maitland patents in 1767. Undoubtedly, explorers, hunters, and trappers preceded Youmans, but their travels were unrecorded. The patents were the first official parceling out of the largely unclaimed land and were the precursors to settlement. Eight patents have been identified for lands that were in, or partly in, the town of Durham.

Historically, the Maitland Patent is the one most often cited, despite the fact that it was not one of the first grants. The grant, which was the first to lie exclusively in the future town of Durham, is historically significant as being the location for land described in the first known recorded lease in Durham and thus contains the first documentation for the initial settlement of the town. This patent of 5000 acre was made to Colonel Richard Maitland, a British army officer of Scottish birth. The patent encompassed land that now includes the Oak Hill area, as well as surrounding farmland leased by the earliest settlers. The first known lease was to Lucas DeWitt, dated May 3, 1774, for property in "DeWittsburg". The language of that lease suggests an occupation of the land by the earlier settlers, perhaps by 1771. In the early nineteenth century, Oak Hill matured into a vigorous industrial hamlet with highly productive mills and many fashionable homes.

The establishment of the first settlement in Durham is credited to three men: Lucas DeWitt, John Plank, and Hendrick Plank. These pioneers established homes at what was then called DeWittsburg, now Oak Hill. The American Revolution forced the pioneers to temporarily abandon their homes until the end of the war. Hendrick Plank was abducted by the Native Americans and removed to Canada, where he died in captivity. The two remaining pioneers and Hendrick's widow, who remarried to Leonard Patrie, all returned by approximately 1782 to reestablish their homes. DeWitt brought with him a small hand mill for grinding grain and was, in one respect, the first miller in the town, as well as being a farmer.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 49.3 sqmi, of which 49.2 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi, or 0.04%, is water.

The north town line is the border of Albany County, and part of the west town line is the border of Schoharie County.

2010
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,725 people, 1,152 households, and 770 families residing in the town. The population density was 55.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,807 housing units at an average density of 36.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.5% White, 0.6% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 1,152 households, out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 34.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.6% of people the age of 19 or younger, 4.5% from 20 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 33.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older (555 people age 65 and older). The median age was 46 years. For every 100 males there were 98.2 females. For every 100 males age 18 and over, there were 99.3 females.

The 2014 American Community Survey reports that median income for a household in the town was $41,944, and the median income for a family was $59,655. About 10.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Durham

 * Cornwallville — A hamlet south of Durham village on Route 20. It is the location of the Moore Road Stone Arch Bridge and Shady Glen Road Stone Arch Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
 * Durso Corner — A hamlet east of East Windham on Route 23.
 * Durham — the hamlet of Durham in the northern part of the town on Route 145.
 * East Durham — A hamlet southeast of Durham village on Route 145.
 * East Windham — A hamlet at the southern town line on Route 23.
 * Hervey Street — A hamlet near the southern town line. It is the location of the Hervey Street Road Stone Arch Bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
 * Mount Pisgah — An elevation at the western town line.
 * Oak Hill — A hamlet northeast of Durham village, located on Route 81.
 * Sunside — A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town.
 * South Durham — A hamlet in the southeastern section of the town on Route 23.
 * West Durham — A hamlet near the western town line on Route 20.

Notable people

 * John Adams (1778–1854), U.S. congressman from New York, taught school and practiced law here
 * Brooks Atkinson (1894-1984), journalist, for 31 years drama critic of The New York Times
 * Dwight Baldwin (1798–1886), missionary in Hawaii, born in Durham, Connecticut, raised in Durham, New York
 * Blossom Dearie (1924–2009), jazz singer, grew up in East Durham
 * Alfred W. Newman (1834–1898), Wisconsin Supreme Court

title: Durham, New York


text:
Halcott, New York

Halcott is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 249 in 2020, down from 258 at the 2010 census. The town is in the southwestern corner of the county.

History
The first recorded settlers, the Valkenburg family, arrived around 1813, although some non-permanent settlers had attempted to live in the area about 1790. The town was established in 1851 from the town of Lexington. It was named for sheriff George W. Halcott.

In 1900, the town population was 272.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.0 sqmi, all land. Halcott is in the Catskill Mountains. The western and southern town lines are the border of Delaware County. The northern and eastern borders are the range of mountains from Bearpen Mountain to Halcott Mountain, beyond which lies the neighboring town of Lexington. The town of Halcott is basically the valley of Vly Creek, and ringed by mountains on three sides. Most access to the town is from the south, via the Delaware County village of Fleischmanns.

The pass between Bearpen and neighboring Vly Mountain is traversed by Halcott Mountain Road, an unimproved county highway which reaches 2800 ft at the col, making it the highest elevation free public through road in New York State. It is also the only route between Halcott and the rest of Greene County. Like Hardenburgh in nearby Ulster County, to reach the rest of the county via a paved road one must leave and go through a portion of either Ulster or Delaware counties.

Due to this geographic isolation, Halcott is the only place in Greene County whose telephones are in the 845 area code.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 193 people, 84 households and 54 families residing in the town. The population density was 8.4 per square mile (3.2/km2). There were 288 housing units at an average density of 12.5 per square mile (4.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.45% White, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.

There were 84 households, of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.70.

Age distribution was 18.7% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.3 males.

The median household income was $31,094, and the median family income was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,417 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,627. About 14.5% of families and 20.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.4% of those 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Halcott

 * Halcott Center – A hamlet near the southern town line, in Greene County. This is the only named community in the town, and the locale to which most mail is addressed. The town's post office was located in this area until 1985, when its 12437 ZIP code was retired and mail service was merged with the 12430 post office in neighboring Fleischmanns located in Delaware County. The hamlet of Halcottsville is to the west, also in Delaware County.
 * Halcott Mountain – A mountain east of the town in the Catskill Park. It is one of the Catskill High Peaks. The summit and much of the mountain are actually in Lexington.
 * Vly Creek – A stream that flows southward past Halcott Center. The town is its basin.
 * Vly Mountain – A mountain along the northeastern town line, also one of the Catskill High Peaks.
 * Bearpen Mountain – Another of the Catskill High Peaks, with a summit of 3600 ft.

title: Halcott, New York


text:
Jefferson Heights, New York

Jefferson Heights is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 1,122 at the 2020 census.

The community of Jefferson Heights is in the town of Catskill, northwest of the village of Catskill. The building that once housed the community hospital is now a medical arts facility.

Geography
Jefferson Heights is located in southeastern Greene County at 42.23528°N, -73.87611°W (42.235394, -73.876021), in the northeastern part of the town of Catskill. It is bordered to the southeast by the village of Catskill and to the northwest by the hamlet of Leeds.

New York State Route 23 is a four-lane highway through the northern part of Jefferson Heights, leading east to the Rip Van Winkle Bridge over the Hudson River and northwest 8 mi to Cairo. Interstate 87, the New York State Thruway, runs along the northwest border of Jefferson Heights, and Thruway Exit 21 (Cairo – Catskill - NY Route 23) is in the northern part of the CDP. Albany, the state capital, is 32 mi to the north by the Thruway, and New York City is 121 mi to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Jefferson Heights CDP has a total area of 3.9 km2, of which 0.05 sqkm, or 1.40%, is water. Catskill Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River, forms the southern and western edge of the CDP, and Hans Vosen Kill, a tributary of Catskill Creek, forms the eastern edge.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,104 people, 382 households, and 241 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 752.3 PD/sqmi. There were 415 housing units at an average density of 282.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.74% White, 2.26% African American, 1.27% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.

There were 382 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 16.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 39.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 55 years. For every 100 females, there were 69.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 66.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,750, and the median income for a family was $45,365. Males had a median income of $47,109 versus $22,031 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,321. About 2.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 16.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Jefferson Heights, New York


text:
Jewett, New York

Jewett is a town centrally located in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 879 at the 2020 census. The town is named for Freeborn G. Jewett, justice of the New York Supreme Court.

History
The area was first settled  circa 1784. The town of Jewett was formed in 1849 from the towns of Hunter and Lexington.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 50.5 sqmi, of which 50.3 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi, or 0.34%, is water.

The town is in the Catskill Mountains and in the Catskill Park.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 970 people, 405 households, and 279 families residing in the town. The population density was 19.3 people per square mile (7.4/km2). There were 1,026 housing units at an average density of 20.4 per square mile (7.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.73% White, 0.10% African American, 0.93% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% of the population.

There were 405 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,172, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $35,909 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,440. About 8.1% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Jewett

 * Beaches Corners – A location north of South Jewett.
 * East Jewett – A hamlet in the eastern part of the town.
 * Jewett – The hamlet of Jewett is in the northwestern part of the town.
 * Jewett Center – A hamlet south of Jewett village on Route 17.
 * South Jewett A hamlet on Route 23A west of the village of Hunter.
 * West Jewett – A hamlet southwest of Jewett village.

title: Jewett, New York


text:
Leeds, New York

Leeds is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 429 at the 2020 census.

Leeds is located in the town of Catskill, near the northern town line. The community is located north of Route 23 and west of the New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) and is northwest of the village of Catskill.

Geography
Leeds is located in eastern Greene County at 42.25333°N, -73.89667°W (42.253466, -73.896634), on the north side of Catskill Creek. The center of the hamlet overlooks Mill Pond, a widening of the creek.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.4 km2, of which 0.02 km2, or 1.74%, is water.

History
Leeds was also known as "Madison" and "Mill Village", and in the local Native American language the area was known as Pasqoecq. It is named after Leeds, United Kingdom.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 369 people, 174 households, and 92 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 709.1 PD/sqmi. There were 222 housing units at an average density of 426.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.14% White, 4.61% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.36% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.59% of the population.

There were 174 households, out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.4% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.1% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $41,719, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $48,167 versus $25,208 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $31,187. About 8.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 16.9% of those age 65 or over.

title: Leeds, New York


text:
Lexington, New York

Lexington is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 770 at the 2020 census. The town is in the southwestern part of Greene County.

History
The area was first settled circa 1788. The town of Lexington was established in 1813, as the "Town of New Goshen", from the town of Windham. Within a few months, the name was altered to "Lexington".

In 1976, playwright Oakley Hall III co-founded Lexington Conservatory Theatre at historic Lexington House. The company performed there for five years before moving to Albany, NY to become Capital Repertory Theatre. Lexington House was later used as a summer retreat by Ensemble Studio Theatre. The location was also featured in the 2004 documentary The Loss of Nameless Things.

In 2024, the town of Lexington applied for funding from the New York State Restore NY program, on behalf of a group of projects designed to revitalize the Lexington hamlet and restore and re-use several nearby historic structures. The proposal includes the restoration of Lexington House and the adjacent Barn Theatre, which previously housed Lexington Conservatory and Ensemble Studio Theatre.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 79.7 sqmi, of which 79.7 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi, or 0.04%, is water.

Lexington is within the Catskill Mountains; most of the town is also inside the Catskill Park Blue Line. The southern town line is the border of Ulster County.

Schoharie Creek flows through the town. The West Kill, an 11 mi tributary of the Schoharie, drains much of the town.

The summit of West Kill Mountain, sixth-highest peak in the Catskills at approximately 3880 ft, is the highest point in the town. Three other Catskill High Peaks—Rusk, North Dome and Sherrill—are also within Lexington.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 830 people, 375 households, and 219 families residing in the town. The population density was 10.4 people per square mile (4.0/km2). There were 854 housing units at an average density of 10.7 per square mile (4.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.35% White, 0.96% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.

There were 375 households, out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 35.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% 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 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,375, and the median income for a family was $39,583. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $31,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,471. About 9.0% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Lexington

 * Bushnellsville – A hamlet at the southern town line (in Ulster County) on Route 42.
 * Lexington – The hamlet of Lexington is located on Route 42.
 * Mosquito Point – A hamlet west of Lexington village.
 * North Lexington – A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town.
 * Spruceton – An isolated hamlet in the eastern part of the town, on County Route 6.
 * West Kill – A hamlet south of Lexington village on Route 42.

Hurricane Irene 2011
On August 27, 2011, Hurricane Irene (at that point, a tropical storm) inflicted damage to the town. Very heavy rainfall caused the Schoharie Creek to surge higher and cause immense widespread flooding. High wind speeds were also present. A small bridge was destroyed, and numerous houses were also washed away by the creek. Farms near the creek were flooded as well. Flash flooding also was an issue. Certain roads that run through the town were flooded and some were damaged. Many homes in Lexington lost power.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived in Lexington following the storm. People volunteered for cleanup work and many donated food and clothing. Power was eventually restored to all affected areas.

title: Lexington, New York


text:
New Baltimore, New York

New Baltimore is a town in the northeastern part of Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 3,226 at the 2020 United States census,   down from 3,370 in the 2010 census.

History
The region was part of the Mahican homeland. The area was settled circa 1700 and was included in early Dutch and English patents. New Baltimore was formed as a town in 1811 from the town of Coxsackie.

In 1900, the town population was 1,536.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.1 sqmi, of which 41.6 sqmi is land and 1.5 sqmi, or 3.55%, is water.

The eastern town line is defined by the Hudson River and is the border of Columbia County. The northern town line is the border of Albany County.

The New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) and U.S. Route 9W pass through the town.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,417 people, 1,269 households, and 949 families residing in the town. The population density was 82.2 PD/sqmi. There were 1,406 housing units at an average density of 33.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.40% White, 0.70% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.

There were 1,269 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution of the town was 24.2% under 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,136, and the median income for a family was $50,175. Males had a median income of $36,681 versus $29,327 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,636. About 5.3% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in New Baltimore

 * Deans Mill – A hamlet in the northern part of the town
 * Grapeville – A hamlet near the western town line on Route 26
 * Hannacroix – A hamlet southwest of New Baltimore hamlet
 * Houghtaling Island – An island in the Hudson River, which is mostly within the town.
 * Medway – A hamlet in the southwestern part of the town
 * New Baltimore – The hamlet of New Baltimore in the northeastern part of the town, next to the Hudson River
 * Otter Hook – A hamlet in the eastern part of the town
 * Paradise Hill – A hamlet near the southern town line, south of Medway
 * Roberts Hill – A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town

title: New Baltimore, New York


text:
Palenville, New York

Palenville is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 1,002 at the 2020 census.

Palenville is in the southwestern part of the town of Catskill, located at the junction of Routes 23A and 32A. It lies at the foot of Kaaterskill Clove, at the base of the Catskill Mountains. Kaaterskill Creek, exiting the Clove, runs through the town, and was spanned by a swinging footbridge, destroyed during Tropical Storm Irene. The creek provides a number of swimming holes in the summer months, and the Long Path runs through the town.

History
Palenville takes its name from the Palen family, who built and operated tanneries throughout the Catskills starting the 1820s. The tannery era was short. When the local supply of hemlock bark was exhausted, the tannery closed, leaving Palenville to reinvent itself.

With many waterfalls and natural vistas nearby, Palenville was an important center of the Hudson River School of painting during the 19th century. Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, and other notable painters stayed and worked in Palenville during the height of the movement. The famous painting Kindred Spirits depicts Cole and William Cullen Bryant near Kaaterskill Falls, just uphill from the town. The famous Catskill Mountain House was also located just outside Palenville. Palenville was the fictional home of Rip Van Winkle (the subject of a short story by Washington Irving).

Palenville historically was described as the "First Art Colony in America" Dr. Roland Van Zandt, in The Catskill Mountain House.

With the coming of the twentieth century, the large boarding houses of the mountain top started to close, but Palenville and the surroundings were often visited by city dwellers. Palenville was one of the Catskills' vacation resorts, hosting nearly two dozen small and medium-sized boarding houses and many hotels at the turn of the century. Palenville, Kaaterskill Creek, and Kaaterskill Clove have been subjects for several painters, including those listed above.

Late in the 20th century an art gallery opened on Palenville's Main Street, and the Pine Orchard Summer Festival was founded. Opening in 1980 and hosting its first national juried show in 1981, the privately owned and funded Terrance Gallery exhibited more than 1,200 American artists, in a call to revisit the historic gathering place of the 19th-century painters. The Pine Orchard, located on 60 acre along the Manorville Road, through fundraising and grants refurbished a chapel into a theater and hosted opera, plays, musicians, writers and artists. Shakespeare and the Circus arts were presented there by the Bond Street Theater group.

Mary Pickford made several movies in Palenville. Robert Goss of the group "Dripping Goss" (American Gothic Records) had a single that sold well in Europe in the 1990s, some of which were recorded at the Turning Mill Studio in Palenville.

The Terrance Gallery and the Pine Orchard festivals have closed, but the Palenville Library and the Woodbine Inn are still open.

Palenville was featured on the Endless Thread podcast.

Other noted artists who frequented Palenville and the Clove included Winslow Homer, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Addison Richards, John Frederick Kensett and Sanford R. Gifford. Landscape painters of the 20th century included Albert Handel, Barry Hopkins, Athena Billias, Michelle Moran and Patti Ferrara. George H. Hall, who was a genre painter, took up residence in Palenville towards the end of the 19th century; and Terrance J. DePietro, an abstract painter, who was early on influenced by the Hudson River School, maintained residence and a studio from the latter part of the 20th century into the 21st. He brought artists from Quebec, Canada, including Nicole Lemelin and Remi LaRoche.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,120 people, 433 households, and 287 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 337.2 PD/sqmi. There were 551 housing units at an average density of 165.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.16% White, 0.45% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.23% of the population.

There were 433 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,833, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $32,353 versus $23,542 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,848. 7.4% of the population were living below the poverty line, none of which were under eighteens, over 64, or families.

Notable people

 * Hannah Arendt, political theorist (summer residence)
 * A. A. Bondy, musician and singer/songwriter
 * Carrot Top, comedian
 * The Felice Brothers, folk rock/country rock band
 * Rufus Palen, congressman
 * Rip Van Winkle, fictional resident

title: Palenville, New York


text:
Prattsville (town), New York

Prattsville is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The town is in the northwestern part of the county. As of the 2020 census, the population was 774.

History
The area of the town was first settled around 1763, and the region was then called "Schoharie Kill". An attempt during the American Revolution by the British and their Loyalist allies to drive the settlers out was thwarted when they were defeated by the settlers.

Prattsville was established in 1824 from the town of Windham. Some of the town was lost to form the town of Ashland in 1848.

Prattsville was later named after Zadock Pratt, a congressman and prominent citizen. Pratt built a tannery larger than any other in the world at the time, helping it become a major town in upstate New York. His life is depicted through a series of stone carvings called Pratt Rock which he commissioned during his lifetime.

The 1830 population of the town was 830. When Pratt built his tannery, it created a vast number of jobs, and the population grew to 1,989 by 1850. However, by 1845 all of the hemlock bark had been non-sustainably extracted from the forests for 10 mi around, and Pratt was forced to close the tannery. No Hemlock re-plantings had been undertaken by Pratt. The jobs that were lost could not be replaced, and the town's population dwindled to 1,314 by 1875. The Old Episcopal Manse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, and the John and Martinus Laraway Inn was added in 2012.

On August 28, 2011, Hurricane Irene caused record flooding in the town by Schoharie Creek, causing major damage and destroying large areas of the town. Every structure on the strip that comprises Main Street was partly or fully destroyed, including all 22 of the town's businesses. Eleven houses collapsed in the flood, fifteen were condemned and torn down, and more than 100 homes were so damaged that the residents couldn't return to them, but there were no fatalities. It received widespread national news coverage because the town had nearly been washed away. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo labeled Prattsville as the place in New York State hardest hit by the storm.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.7 sqmi, of which 19.6 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi, or 0.51%, is water.

The town is in the Catskill Mountains. The northern town line is the border of Schoharie County, and the western town line is the border of Delaware County.

Schoharie Creek, a tributary of the Mohawk River, flows northward through the town past the hamlet of Prattsville.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 665 people, 253 households, and 182 families residing in the town. The population density was 33.9 PD/sqmi. There were 406 housing units at an average density of 20.7 per square mile (8.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.95% White, 0.30% Native American, 0.15% Asian, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 253 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,655, and the median income for a family was $33,571. Males had a median income of $35,313 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,962. About 4.9% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Prattsville

 * Four Corners – A hamlet on the eastern town line, northeast of Prattsville village.
 * Pratt Rocks – A collection of rock carvings east of Prattsville village.
 * Prattsville – The hamlet of Prattsville is in the southern part of the town on Route 23. It was incorporated as a village in 1883, but later abandoned that status.
 * Red Falls – A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town on Route 23.

title: Prattsville (town), New York


text:
Tannersville, New York

Tannersville is a village in Greene County, New York, United States. The village is in the north-central part of the town of Hunter on Route 23A. The population was 568 at the 2020 census.

History
The village was founded around lumber mills and tanneries. It was incorporated in 1895.

Tannersville's tanning business collapsed in the mid-19th century. It was gradually replaced by the summer resort trade, which reached its peak in 1882 when the railroad came to Tannersville. However, the rise of the automobile in the early 20th century led to a steady economic decline, as travelers were no longer rooted to one spot for an entire summer.

Due to its close proximity to Hunter Mountain ski area, it serves as the local commercial district, with inns, restaurants, and shopping.

Tannersville has experienced a revival in the 21st century. The Hunter Foundation has implemented the town-wide "Paint Program" — the vision of Elena Patterson, a local artist — with the help and support of Glenn Weyant who was the mayor at the time, corporate sponsors, and local residents. The Paint Project involves painting downtown buildings in multicolored pastels, often with cartoon-like pictures on the shutters. It has attracted waves of tourists who come to see the dramatic paint schemes. The project prompted much attention when it was publicized in The New York Times in 2003. The project was also featured on NBC's Today show, on CNBC, and on all three of the local Albany-based television networks. The village also received some attention for serving as the center of activities for the Catskill Jazz Factory artist development program.

Tannersville is experiencing an influx of tourists from both the New York and other areas, who are attracted to its abundant hiking trails, waterfalls, and old-time charm.

The Tannersville Main Street Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2008. Other NRHP listed buildings are All Souls Church and Hathaway.

In November 2021, Tannersville was named the second Capital Region winner of the 5th round of the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The $10 million grant would enable the town to focus on economic development and improvements to enrichment. "With the impact COVID-19 has had on small businesses and communities, it is crucial that the state invest in their revitalization so we can come back better than before," Governor Kathy Hochul said. "This funding will help take Tannersville, a village rich with history, to the next level so that it may grow and flourish as an example of the best of what Upstate New York has to offer."

Notable people

 * Maude Adams, actress, first American to play Peter Pan
 * Josephine Daskam Bacon, Author, poet and playwright
 * Edward Coleman Delafield, president of Bank of America
 * Slow Joe Doyle, Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Gil Hanse, golf course architect
 * Candace Thurber Wheeler, considered the Mother of American Interior Design

Geography
Tannersville is located in southern Greene County at 42.19361°N, -74.13889°W (42.193619, -74.139011), in the northern part of the town of Hunter. It is situated at an elevation of 1900 ft in the Catskill Mountains just west of the height of land on New York State Route 23A: Sawmill Creek flows southwest through the center of the village into Gooseberry Creek and thence into Schoharie Creek, a north-flowing tributary of the Mohawk River, while just 2 mi to the east, at Haines Falls, Kaaterskill Creek drops east into Kaaterskill Clove and thence into the Hudson River valley.

NY 23A is Tannersville's Main Street, leading east 16 mi to Catskill and west 4 mi to Hunter village.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Tannersville has a total area of 3.1 km2, of which 3.0 km2 is land and 0.1 km2, or 2.73%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 448 people, 216 households, and 114 families residing in the village. The population density was 402.4 PD/sqmi. There were 505 housing units at an average density of 453.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 95.09% White, 0.89% African American, 0.22% Asian, 0.67% from other races, and 3.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.90% of the population.

There were 216 households, out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.8% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 19.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $28,500, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $27,708 versus $27,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $15,318. About 10.7% of families and 18.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

 * Mountain Top Arboretum
 * Huckleberry Rail Trail
 * Mountain Top Library

title: Tannersville, New York


text:
Arietta, New York

Arietta is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 292 at the 2020 census. The town was named after the mother of one of the first settlers, Rensselaer Van Rennslaer.

History
The town was first settled around 1827 at Piseco Lake.

The town of Arietta was formed in 1836, from the town of Lake Pleasant. In 1837, part of Arietta was used to form part of the town of Long Lake. Another part of Arietta was added to Long Lake in 1861.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Arietta has a total area of 329.4 sqmi, of which 317.6 sqmi are land and 11.8 sqmi, or 3.59%, are water.

The town of Arietta is inside the Adirondack Park.

The southern town line is the border of Fulton County.

The East Canada Creek flows southward from the area around Powley to the Mohawk River. The West Branch of the Sacandaga River flows from Piseco Lake, via the Piseco Outlet, to the east.

New York State Route 8, an east-west highway, intersects New York State Route 10, a north-south highway, south of Piseco Lake.

Adjacent towns and areas
The western border of Arietta is the town of Morehouse. To the east are the towns of Lake Pleasant, Wells, and Benson. The town of Long Lake is at the northern boundary. The southern border is formed by the towns of Stratford and Caroga in Fulton County.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 293 people, 126 households, and 86 families residing in the town. The population density was 0.9 people per square mile (0.4/km2). There were 788 housing units at an average density of 2.5 per square mile (1.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.

There were 126 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,375, and the median income for a family was $42,917. Males had a median income of $29,286 versus $22,417 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,378. None of the families and 2.8% of the population were living below the poverty line.

Inhabited locations

 * Arietta – The hamlet of Arietta is located on NY-10 in the southern part of the town.
 * Avery's Place (or Avery Place) – A hamlet on NY-10 north of Arietta and south of Higgins Bay.
 * Clockmill Corners – A location by the western town line, on Powley Road.
 * Higgins Bay – This hamlet is on the southern shore of Piseco Lake on NY-8. The community is located on a small bay in the lake, also called Higgins Bay. It is north of the junction of Routes NY-8 and NY-10.
 * Kenwells – A location on the western town line in the northern part of the town.
 * Piseco – A hamlet located by Piseco Lake, which was originally proposed as the county seat.
 * Piseco Airport (K09) – A small general aviation airport north of Piseco.
 * Powley Place – A deserted hamlet by the western town line, on Powley Road.
 * Rudestone – A hamlet on Old Piseco Road between Piseco Lake and Oxbow Lake.
 * Shaker Place – A location west of NY-10 and south of Higgins Bay.

Geographical features

 * Big Bay – A wide section of the Piseco Outlet south of NY-8.
 * Big Goldmine Hill – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Big Marsh Mountain – An elevation located west of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * Bluff Point Hill – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Bradley Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Brown Lake – A small lake located east of Arietta.
 * Buck Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Cedar Lake – A lake located northwest of Sled Harbor.
 * Cellar Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Christian Lake Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Chub Lake Mountain – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Dead Horse Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Eagle Bluff – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * East Notch Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Ely Mountain – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Estelle Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Fall Lake – A lake located north of Piseco.
 * Ferris Lake – A lake east of Powleys Place.
 * G Lake – A lake located west of Higgins Bay.
 * G Lake Mountain – An elevation located west of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * Good Luck Mountain – An elevation located west of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Good Luck Mountain – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Green Top – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Higgins Bay – A bay on the east side of Piseco Lake, west of NY-8.
 * Irondequoit Bay – The southern end of Piseco Lake.
 * Irondequoit Mountain – An elevation located west of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * Iron Lake – A lake located east of Powley Place.
 * Jockeybush Lake – A lake located east of Powley Place.
 * Kitty Cobble – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Lamphere Ridge – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Little Goldmine Hill – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Little Moose Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Little Moose Pond – A lake located north of Piseco.
 * Lower Sargent Pond – A lake located east of Raquette Lake.
 * Manbury Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Matts Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Mud Lake – A lake located east of West Lake.
 * Mud Lake Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Noisy Ridge – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * North Branch Mountain – An elevation located southeast of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * Otter Lake – A small lake located northwest of Piseco.
 * Oxbow Lake – A small lake northeast of Piseco Lake, partly in the Town of Lake Pleasant.
 * Oxbow Mountain – An elevation located southeast of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Panther Mountain – An elevation located west-northwest of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * Pillsbury Lake – A lake located northwest of Sled Harbor.
 * Pillsbury Mountain – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Pine Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Piseco Lake – A large lake west of NY-8.
 * Piseco Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * Piseco Outlet – The stream which flows from the southern end of Piseco Lake to the West Branch of the Sacandaga River.
 * Rock Lake – A lake located southeast of Clockmill Corners.
 * Rooster Hill – An elevation located south of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Sampson Lake – A lake located south of Cedar Lake.
 * Sherman Mountain – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * South Lake – A lake located southwest of Cedar Lake.
 * Spruce Lake – A lake located northwest of Piseco.
 * Spy Lake – A lake east of Piseco Lake and east of NY-8.
 * Squirrel Top – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Stacy Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * State Brook Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Sugarbush Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * T Lake Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * Three Sisters Mountain – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Tomany Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Trout Lake – A lake located south of Avery Place.
 * Trout Lake Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Twin Lakes Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Higgins Bay.
 * Upper Sargent Pond – A lake located east of Raquette Lake.
 * Wakely Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * West Creek Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * West Lake – a lake located north of South Lake and west of Mud Lake.
 * West Notch Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Arietta.
 * Whitney Lake – A lake located south of Cedar Lake.
 * Willis Mountain – An elevation located north-northeast of the hamlet of Piseco.
 * Wilson Ridge – An elevation located north-northwest of the hamlet of Piseco.

title: Arietta, New York


text:
Benson, New York

Benson is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 221 at the 2020 census. The town is on the southern border of Hamilton County and is northwest of Schenectady. The current Town Supervisor is John M. Stortecky.

History
Benson was formed in 1860 from the towns of Hope and Mayfield (now in Fulton County). Benson once possessed an iron mine.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Benson has a total area of 215.5 km2, of which 214.0 km2 are land and 1.5 km2, or 0.70%, are water.

The Sacandaga River runs along part of the southeastern border of the town. The southern town line is the border of Fulton County.

New York State Route 30 passes through the southeastern corner of Benson.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 201 people, 80 households, and 58 families residing in the town. The population density was 2.4 people per square mile (0.9/km2). There were 160 housing units at an average density of 1.9 per square mile (0.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.00% White, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 80 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,250, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $39,375 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,992. None of the families and 2.4% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 6.8% of those over 64.

Communities and locations in Benson

 * Benson – The hamlet of Benson, located on Benson Road at the junction of North Road near the southern town line.
 * Big Popple – An elevation located north-northeast of Upper Benson.
 * Blue Ridge Mountain – An elevation located northwest of Upper Benson.
 * Cathead Mountain – An elevation located north of Benson.
 * Devorse Creek – A tributary of the Sacandaga River, flowing northward out of Benson.
 * Four Staves – An elevation located north-northwest of Upper Benson.
 * Jacksons Seat – An elevation located northeast of Upper Benson.
 * King Vly Mountain – An elevation located north-northeast of Upper Benson.
 * Little Cathead Mountain – An elevation located west of Benson.
 * Little Popple – An elevation located north-northeast of Upper Benson.
 * Little Roundtop Mountain – An elevation located north of Upper Benson.
 * Moose Mountain – An elevation located northwest of Upper Benson.
 * Rock Lake Mountain – An elevation located west-northwest of the hamlet of Benson.
 * Silver Lake – A lake near the western town line.
 * Silver Lake Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of Upper Benson.
 * Sugarloaf Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of Upper Benson.
 * Third Popple – An elevation located north-northeast of Upper Benson.
 * Three Ponds Mountain – An elevation located northwest of Upper Benson.
 * Upper Benson – A small hamlet at the western end of Benson Road at Washburn Road, and near the southern town line.
 * Vly Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of Upper Benson.
 * Wallace Mountain – An elevation located north of Upper Benson.
 * White Lake Mountain – An elevation located west-northwest of the hamlet of Wells.
 * Woods Lake – A small lake northeast of Upper Benson.

title: Benson, New York


text:
Hope, New York

Hope is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 403 at the 2010 census.

First settled in 1790 and established as a town in 1818, Hope is located in the southeastern corner of the county and is 49 mi northwest of Schenectady.

History
Prior to European settlement, the land occupied by present-day Hope was within the territory of the Mohawk tribe, the easternmost tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy and one of the original "Five Nations" which founded the confederacy sometime around 1450. Despite its longtime control by the Mohawks, Hope was largely uninhabited when, on July 31, 1772, proprietor John Bergen and 23 of his associates purchased 19,589 acres of land from the Mohawk Turtle Clan. The purchase documents were signed by Mohawk Chief Hendricks, who drew a turtle in lieu of a signature. The land that Bergen and his associates bought became known as "Bergen's Purchase."

Hope was first permanently settled in 1790 near the current south town line by Gideon and Jeremiah Homestead, who arrived from Massachusetts. The first stone house was built in 1801 by David Isdell, on land he had purchased earlier that same year. Wary of Indian attack, Isdell incorporated an escape tunnel in his home for "protection against marauders," but unfortunately, his youngest daughter was notoriously kidnapped by  Native Americans while picking berries, and was never heard from again; according to one account she perished in an Indian village. Isdell's home, also known as the "Old Eglin House," collapsed in 1930.

Hope was originally the southern district of the Town of Wells, but after its electors voted to separate and form a new town, the southern district was reorganized as the "Town of Hope" on April 15, 1818, with a population of 608 as of the 1820 census. In the 1830s, Montgomery County ceded Hope to Hamilton County, of which Hope currently occupies the most southeastern part. In 1850, with booming agriculture, mining, sawmills, and tanneries, Hope's total population peaked at 1,125, with the subsequent decrease mainly due to residents moving away as a result of industrial decline. The town's area was considerably reduced on April 5, 1860, when a large portion of western Hope, with a population of 380, broke off to form part of the Town of Benson.

While numerous hotels were built during the late 1800s, the population began to decline with the start of the twentieth century, as the town's formerly dynamic industrial businesses began to cease operations. By 1905 the population had fallen to 317 residents, and by 1925 it had plunged to only 163. Much of the developed land fell into disuse, essentially all industrial activity halted, and a number of the town's one room schools closed. Tourism, however, remained an important industry, and New York Route 30 began to provide travelers with lodging, gas stations, and other amenities. Today, Hope is a largely undeveloped residential community, with an estimated population of 387 as of 2014.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.6 sqmi, of which 40.7 sqmi is land and 0.9 sqmi  (2.09%) is water.

The southern border of the town is Fulton County and the eastern boundary is Saratoga County.

The Sacandaga River flows southward through the western part of Hope.

New York State Route 30 is a north-south highway near the Sacandaga River.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 392 people, 155 households, and 113 families residing in the town. The population density was 9.6 people per square mile (3.7/km2). There were 296 housing units at an average density of 7.3 per square mile (2.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.49% White, 0.26% African American and 0.26% Pacific Islander. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.

There were 155 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 33.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,000, and the median income for a family was $32,000. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,225. About 7.8% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Hope

 * Bennett Lake – A small lake north of Hope Falls.
 * Groff Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Hope.
 * Hope – The hamlet of Hope, previously called Hope Center, is on NY-30 and the east bank of the Sacandaga River.
 * Hope Falls – A hamlet east of Hope village on Hope Falls Road.
 * Huckleberry Mountain – An elevation located north-northwest of Hope Falls.
 * Maple Grove – A location in the southeastern corner of Hope.
 * Mason Hill – An elevation located south of Hope Falls.
 * Middle Lake – A small lake between Bennet Lake and Murphy Lake.
 * Murphy Lake – A small lake in the northern part of Hope.
 * Rand Mountain – An elevation located north of Hope Falls.
 * Round Top – An elevation located northwest of Hope Falls.
 * Sacandaga River – A river flowing through the town. Groff Creek is a tributary and hiking trail beside the river.
 * Scribner Mountain – An elevation located northwest of Hope Falls.
 * Southerland Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Hope.
 * Sturgis Mountain – An elevation located northwest of Hope Falls.
 * Thomas Hill – An elevation located southeast of Hope Falls.

Adjacent towns and areas
Benson is to the west, and the Town of Wells is to the north. The Towns of Day and Edinburg in Saratoga County are on the eastern boundary. Northampton is the southern border.

title: Hope, New York


text:
Indian Lake, New York

Indian Lake is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 1,352 at the 2010 census. The name is from a lake of the same name that is largely inside the town. There are no permanent stop lights in the town. Law enforcement is provided by New York State Troopers and Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

The town is on the eastern border of the county and is northeast of Utica.

Indian Lake terms itself the "Moose capital of the Northeast". Their welcoming sign on Route 28 even features this critter, and several other examples of this claim can be found throughout the town itself.

History
The town of Indian Lake was established in 1858 from the towns of Gilman (now defunct), Long Lake, and Wells. In 1861, Indian Lake was expanded using territory from the towns of Gilman and Lake Pleasant.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 689.6 km2, of which 652.2 sqkm of the town are land, and 37.4 km2, or 5.42%, are water.

The town lies within the Adirondack Park. Essex and Warren counties border the town to its east. In the village center, the east–west State Route 28 meets the north–south Route 30. The Hudson River forms part of the eastern town line.

Land within the town is a mixture of state and private ownership. There are dozens of seasonal hunting camps.

Rainbow Lake Dam
Rainbow Lake dam was built in 1929. Safety inspectors had described the dam as dangerous as early as 1970, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers categorized the dam as "unsafe, emergency" in 1979. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation called for the dam's removal in 2004 due to the potential to cause loss of life should the dam fail. The dam owners, connected to a New York City real estate developer and a religious non-profit organization in Brooklyn, ignored an order from the DEC commissioner that required submitting an emergency action plan, and skipped a judicial hearing, in 2013. The DEC lawyers subsequently referred the case to the state attorney general. The dam owners missed three other deadlines between 2015 and 2016; the state sued in December 2018 on grounds that the owners' unresponsiveness "amounts to a callous and wanton disregard for their legal duty to mitigate risk to life and property".

The Rainbow Lake Dam, near the hamlet of Indian Lake, New York, was removed in May 2023.

Climate
Indian Lake has a humid continental climate (Dfb), although it is much colder than most of New York due to its high elevation and northern location. Winters are cold and snowy, while summers are warm and humid. Precipitation is abundant year round, but peaks in summer. The coldest month is January, with a mean temperature of 15.4, while the warmest month is July with a mean of 63.8. Just 0.1 day per year exceeds 90, with the last such instance coming in 1988. Days in the 80s are also relatively uncommon, with an average of just 18 per year. The record high is 105 in June 1919, but the temperature has not exceeded 95 since 1935. The record low is -42 in January 1908. The coldest temperature in a typical year is -22, putting Indian Lake in hardiness zone 4B. The record low high is -12 in 1968, while the record high low in a day is 74 in 2006.

The wettest year on record was 2011 with 60.80", while the driest year ever was 1963 with 27.42". The wettest month ever was June 1922 with 10.31" while the driest month was November 1989, with no recorded precipitation.

Demographics
According to the census of 2000, there were 1,471 people, 651 households, and 425 families residing in the town. The population density was 5.8 people per square mile (2.2/km2). There were 1,722 housing units, with an average density of 6.8 per square mile (2.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.96% White, 0.34% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 0.75% multi-racial. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

Within the town's 651 households, 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female head of household, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone and 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, the population under the age of 18 was 20.0%, with 4.7% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $32,328, and the median income for a family was $39,438. The median income for males was $29,375 as compared to $23,661 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,940. A lot of people in the town commute south for work, as the Town of Indian Lake itself has very little industry. About 4.4% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Other information

The Indian Lake Museum in the hamlet of Indian Lake contains displays relating to the historic Indian population. The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake has displays of outdoor living in the region. The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts in Blue Mountain Lake provides cultural events during the summer season. The Indian Lake Library provides books, DVDs, audios and access to the Internet.

The lake itself was the inspiration for the 1960s hit single "Indian Lake" by the Cowsills. (The writer Tony Romeo spent vacations there at what used to be Beeches Cottages on Indian Lake.)

Once called the "Whitewater Capital of New York State", Indian Lake remains a haven. State record game has been taken from the forests surrounding Indian Lake.

Communities and locations in Indian Lake

 * Adirondack Lake – A lake located north of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Bad Luck Mountain – An elevation located east-northeast of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Baldface Mountain – An elevation located south of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Beaver Mountain – An elevation located south-southwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Bell Mountain – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Big Bad Luck Pond – A lake located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Black Mountain – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Blue Mountain – A mountain located east of the hamlet of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Blue Mountain Lake – A hamlet near a NY-28 and NY-30 intersection. This hamlet is in the northern part of the town, north of Indian Lake hamlet. The Adirondack Museum is located north of the hamlet.
 * Blue Mountain Lake – A lake west of the community of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Buck Mountain – An elevation located north of Blue Mountain.
 * Burgess Mountain – An elevation located southwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Blue Ridge – A mountain range south of Blue Mountain Lake. Partially in the Town of Lake Pleasant.
 * Cascade Pond – A pond located south of the hamlet of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Casey Mountain – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Castle Rock – An elevation located north of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Crotched Pond – A lake located south of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Crotched Pond Mountain – An elevation located south of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Crow Hill – An elevation located south of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Davis Mountain – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Dun Brook Mountain – A mountain located east of Blue Mountain.
 * Eagle Lake – A lake by the west town line and west of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Eagles Nest – A location west of the hamlet of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Fox Hill – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Gates Hill – An elevation located south-southwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Harris Rift Mountain – An elevation located north of Starbuck Mountain.
 * Hemlock Cobble – An elevation located south-southwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Indian Lake – A large lake with a southwest to northeast orientation in the town of Indian Lake and the Town of Lake Pleasant.
 * Indian Lake – A hamlet of the same name in the Town of Indian Lake at the intersection of NY-28 and NY-30 and near the north end of the lake called Indian Lake.
 * Kings Flow – A lake located east of Indian Lake.
 * Kunjamuk Mountain – An elevation located south of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Lake Abanakee – A lake east of the Indian Lake hamlet.
 * Lake Durant – A lake south of Blue Mountain Lake hamlet.
 * Ledger Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Little Blue Mountain – An elevation located north of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Little Hardwood Hill – An elevation located south-southwest of Indian Lake.
 * Little Mill Mountain – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Long Pond – A lake located south of Crotched Pond. Partially in the town of Wells.
 * Long Pond Ridge – An elevation located south of Indian Lake.
 * McGinn Hill – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Middle Mountain – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Mill Mountain – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Moose Mountain – An elevation located southwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * P Gay Mountain – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Peaked Mountain – An elevation located north of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Pine Lake – A lake located north of the hamlet of Indian Lake. Part of the lake is in the town of Minerva.
 * Pine Mountain – An elevation located east-northeast of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Porter Hill – An elevation located south-southwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Rock Lake – A lake halfway between Indian Lake hamlet and Blue Mountain Lake hamlet.
 * Round Pond – A lake located east of Crotched Pond.
 * Ruby Mountain – An elevation located east-southeast of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Sabael – A hamlet on the southwest side of Indian Lake, located on NY-30.
 * Sawyer Mountain – An elevation located west-northwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Sprague Pond – A lake located southeast of Blue Mountain Lake.
 * Starbuck Mountain – An elevation located east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Stark Hills – An elevation located northwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Tirrell Mountain – An elevation located east-northeast of Blue Mountain.
 * Tirrel Pond – A lake located east-northeast of Blue Mountain.
 * Tongue Mountain – An elevation located northeast of Blue Mountain.
 * White Birch Ridge – An elevation located north of the hamlet of Indian Lake.
 * Wilderness Lodge – A location east of Indian Lake near the border with Warren County.
 * Windfall Hill – An elevation located south-southwest of the hamlet of Indian Lake.

title: Indian Lake, New York