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Bethel, New York
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- See also Bethel, Pine Plains, New York
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population was 4,362 at the 2000 census but Bethel experienced tremendous growth between 2001 and 2007. It is the fastest-growing town in Sullivan County and has been identified as one of the fastest-growing towns in New York State in 2006.
The town received worldwide fame after it was the unintended host of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival.
first settlers arrived around 1795 near the present communities of Bethel and White Lake.
The Town of Bethel was established in 1809 from the Town of Lumberland.
By the middle of the 19th century, a tourist industry began to grow.
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Encyclopedia
- See also Bethel, Pine Plains, New York
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population was 4,362 at the 2000 census but Bethel experienced tremendous growth between 2001 and 2007. It is the fastest-growing town in Sullivan County and has been identified as one of the fastest-growing towns in New York State in 2006.
The town received worldwide fame after it was the unintended host of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival.
History
The first settlers arrived around 1795 near the present communities of Bethel and White Lake.
The Town of Bethel was established in 1809 from the Town of Lumberland.
By the middle of the 19th century, a tourist industry began to grow. Bethel was home to numerous hotels that were part of the "Borscht Belt" and numerous sleepaway camps for most of the 20th century, including Camp Ma-Ho-Ge, Camp Chipinaw, and Camp Ranger -- all on Silver Lake.
The Town of Bethel was brought to the world's attention in 1969 when nearly 500,000 people gathered at Yasgur's Farm for 3 Days of Peace and Music. The documentary made about Woodstock released in 1970 showed interviews with numerous Bethel residents, including Art Vassmer, co-owner of Vassmers General Store in Kauneonga Lake.
In 2006, Bethel Woods opened on the original Woodstock site as a state-of-the-art performing arts venue. In early 2008, a multi-media Woodstock "interpretive" museum opened near the old Yasgur's Farm to complement the concert space, which hosted The New York Philharmonic, Wynton Marsalis, Diane Reeves, Chris Botti, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Boston Pops, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in its inaugural season. Highlights of the Center's 2007 season were performances by Lynrd Skynyrd/Marshall Tucker Band, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens/Arlo Guthrie, Earth, Wind & Fire, and repeat performances of The New York Philharmonic and The Boston Pops. 2008's season featured The New York Philharmonic, The Boston Pops, Steely Dan, The Allman Brothers, and sold-out performances by The Jonas Brothers and the last concert of the season, featuring Heart, Journey, and Cheap Trick.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 90.0 square miles (233.2 kmē), of which, 85.4 square miles (221.2 kmē) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (12.0 kmē) of it (5.13%) is water. One of the most attractive features of Bethel is its access to numerous lakes, all within a five minute drive of each other. They include White Lake, Kauneonga Lake, Silver Lake, and Lake Superior, which is part of the state park with the same name.
The Town of Bethel, which is primarily rural in character, is in the heart of the old Borscht Belt Catskills resort area. Although some bungalow colonies continue to exist, catering to a largely Orthodox Jewish clientele during the summer, most of the old resorts which had their heyday from the 1930s to the early 1970s have long since closed.
Demographics
Per the census of 2000, there were 4,362 people, 1,649 households, and 1,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 51.1 people per square mile (19.7/kmē). There were 3,641 housing units at an average density of 42.6/sq mi (16.5/kmē). The racial makeup of the town was 90.35% Caucasian, 11.28% Latin American or Latino of any race, 4.61% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 2.80% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races.
There were 1,649 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% 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 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 108.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,017, and the median income for a family was $37,321. Males had a median income of $35,025 versus $24,438 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,335. About 9.4% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Bethel
- Bethel -- The hamlet of Bethel, located on Route 17B.
- Black Lake -- A community on Route 55, south of the lake, Black Lake.
- Briscoe -- A hamlet near the north town line on Route 144.
- Bushville -- A hamlet in the northeast corner of the town on Route 75.
- Hurd Settlement -- A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town.
- Kauneoga Lake -- A hamlet north at the junction of Routes 141 and 55. This community was formerly called North White Lake.
- Lake Superior State Park -- located on a small lake, named Lake Superior.
- Mongaup Valley -- A community northeast of Smallwood.
- Smallwood -- A hamlet, originally founded as the vacation community "Mountain Lakes," but later renamed after its founder A.N. Smallwood. This is the largest community in the town.
- Stephensville -- A former community in the town.
- Sullivan County International (MSV) -- The airport is northeast of Smallwood.
- White Lake -- A hamlet on Route 17B east of Bethel, established by "Kauneonga Lake."
- Ferndale -- Just south of Swan Lake next to Old Route 17 and Route 17
Woodstock Festival
Bethel was the actual location of the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Because it was originally scheduled to take place in the Town of Woodstock in Ulster County, New York, that name persisted in spite of the change in venue.
Many impromptu gatherings celebrating the "Woodstock" anniversary have been held over the years on the site located at the intersection of Hurd Road and West Shore Road. These gatherings were a celebration of the "Woodstock" spirit and attended by thousands of people. At the 25th anniversary, the crowd (in excess of 10,000) were entertained by Melanie, Richie Haven, Arlo Guthrie, Mountain (with Noel Redding) and many others.
In 1998 a concert was given at the original site and this helped ignite the vision of philanthropist Alan Gerry and daughter, Robyn, to acquire the land and build what was to become Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. In 2008, almost 40 years since Woodstock, an interactive museum commemorating Woodstock and the Baby Boomer generation is scheduled to open in a beautifully designed building at the entrance to Bethel Woods.
On July 1st, 2006 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts opened on the site of the original Woodstock Festival and hosted the New York Philharmonic. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young closed out the inaugural season in August 2006, bringing the harmonious foursome back to Bethel for the first time since August 1969. The summer of 2007 concert lineup at Bethel Woods began on June 2007 with Chicago/America. Other performers from June 2007 to September 2007 included the New York Philharmonic, Bob Dylan, Brad Paisley, Lynyrd Skynyrd with The Marshall Tucker Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, Arlo Guthrie/Richie Havens, and others.
The February 2007 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue contained a photo of a woman photographed with the 1969 Woodstock Festival emblem across her chest. During the summer of 2007, New York's Whitney Museum held a highly-publicized exhibit, "Summer of Love" that included numerous photographs of the Woodstock festival that were marked with "Bethel, NY".
Bethel's Kauneonga Lake, home of the famous Vassmers General Store as seen in the movie, Woodstock, roared back to life in 2007 with three new lakeside restaurants, including one in what was the Vassmers' store. Some of the Sullivan County's best restaurants in Bethel: The Front Porch, Benji & Jakes (brick oven pizza and live music), The Fat Lady Cafe (live jazz on Friday nights) and The R&B Grille, which coordinates its live music schedule so that it has the same genre as Bethel Woods lineup.
Daniel Sturm, a Democrat, took over as Town Supervisor in January 2008 after defeating incumbent Harold Russell. The town faces tough decisions over numerous proposals for large-scale housing and commercial developments spurred on by demand for affordable real estate not found in neighboring counties.
On October 19, 2008, tragedy struck Bethel when three young men from Brooklyn drowned in Smallwood Lake after their fishing boat capsized.
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