Cochecton, New York
Encyclopedia
Cochecton is a town
located in west-central Sullivan County
, New York
, USA
. The population was 1,328 at the 2000 census. The name is an aboriginal word for "low land."
The Town of Cochecton (its official name) is situated on the Delaware River
, directly across from Damascus, Pennsylvania
, to which a bridge over the river provides access. The village of Cochecton has a ZIP code
of 12726; the ZIP codes for two other communities located within the town's boundaries — Cochecton Center and Lake Huntington — are 12727 and 12752 respectively.
sage of the Lenape
.
In the original charter of 1664, Cochecton marked the border between New York and New Jersey
.along the Delaware river, a spot was marked named "station rock". this literal rock was the point of connection, summoning the borders between New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After a long dispute - the New York-New Jersey Line War - the final border was set further South, near Port Jervis.
The town was formed from the Town of Bethel
in 1828. The Town of Delaware
was formed from part of Cochecton in 1869.
The town once had a station on the Binghamton
branch of the Erie Lackawanna Railway
, but passenger service on this branch ceased in 1971; the branch has since been taken over by Conrail.the Cochecton train station is the oldest surviving station in New York state. moved from its original site in the early 1990s, a local group of folks banded together to save the station from destruction. the local business Cochecton Mills, owned by the Nearing Family, gave the group, called the "Cochecton Preservation society" one year to dismantle the ancient building and get it off their property, so that business could continue. in that time the station was carefully, and successfully moved roughly one mile up stream to a spot on RT 97; still resting along the Erie railroad. More recently, various proposals were made to restore service on the line, but none have yet been adopted.
The correct pronunciation of the town's name is "cuh-SHEK-ton," leading many to mistakenly believe the name is of French
origin; the name is in fact derived from "Cushektunk," a local Native American
word meaning "low land" and "land of red rock" indicating the abundance of red shale rock throughout the town. (alluding to the town's location in the upper Delaware Valley
).
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 37.4 square miles (96.9 km²), of which, 36.7 square miles (95.1 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.95%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,328 people, 555 households, and 376 families residing in the town. The population density
was 36.2 people per square mile (14.0/km²). There were 955 housing units at an average density of 26.1 per square mile (10.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.54% White, 0.90% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.98% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 555 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $24,844 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,841. About 5.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
The peak population, reached during the 19th century, was about 3,000.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
located in west-central Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,328 at the 2000 census. The name is an aboriginal word for "low land."
The Town of Cochecton (its official name) is situated on the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, directly across from Damascus, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to which a bridge over the river provides access. The village of Cochecton has a ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 12726; the ZIP codes for two other communities located within the town's boundaries — Cochecton Center and Lake Huntington — are 12727 and 12752 respectively.
History
Cochecton was reportedly the home of Tammany, a Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
sage of the Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
.
In the original charter of 1664, Cochecton marked the border between New York and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.along the Delaware river, a spot was marked named "station rock". this literal rock was the point of connection, summoning the borders between New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After a long dispute - the New York-New Jersey Line War - the final border was set further South, near Port Jervis.
The town was formed from the Town of Bethel
Bethel, New York
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population has been estimated at 4,532 in 2007.The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which was originally planned for Wallkill, New York, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.-...
in 1828. The Town of Delaware
Delaware, New York
Delaware is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population was 2,719 at the 2000 census.The Town of Delaware is in the western part of the county.-Geography:...
was formed from part of Cochecton in 1869.
The town once had a station on the Binghamton
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
branch of the Erie Lackawanna Railway
Erie Lackawanna Railway
The Erie Lackawanna Railway , known as the Erie–Lackawanna Railroad until 1968, was formed from the 1960 merger of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad...
, but passenger service on this branch ceased in 1971; the branch has since been taken over by Conrail.the Cochecton train station is the oldest surviving station in New York state. moved from its original site in the early 1990s, a local group of folks banded together to save the station from destruction. the local business Cochecton Mills, owned by the Nearing Family, gave the group, called the "Cochecton Preservation society" one year to dismantle the ancient building and get it off their property, so that business could continue. in that time the station was carefully, and successfully moved roughly one mile up stream to a spot on RT 97; still resting along the Erie railroad. More recently, various proposals were made to restore service on the line, but none have yet been adopted.
The correct pronunciation of the town's name is "cuh-SHEK-ton," leading many to mistakenly believe the name is of French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
origin; the name is in fact derived from "Cushektunk," a local Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
word meaning "low land" and "land of red rock" indicating the abundance of red shale rock throughout the town. (alluding to the town's location in the upper Delaware Valley
Delaware Valley
The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...
).
Geography
The west town line is the border of PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 37.4 square miles (96.9 km²), of which, 36.7 square miles (95.1 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.95%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,328 people, 555 households, and 376 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 36.2 people per square mile (14.0/km²). There were 955 housing units at an average density of 26.1 per square mile (10.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.54% White, 0.90% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.98% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 555 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,250, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $24,844 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $19,841. About 5.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
The peak population, reached during the 19th century, was about 3,000.
Communities and locations in Cochecton
- Cochecton (formerly Cushetunk) – The hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Cochecton is on Route 97 by the Delaware River. - Cochecton Center (formerly Stephensburgh) – A hamlet south of Lake Huntingdon on Route 52. The former Cochecton Center Methodist Episcopal ChurchCochecton Center Methodist Episcopal ChurchCochecton Center Methodist Episcopal Church, also known as Cochecton Center Community Center, is a historic Methodist Episcopal church on Skipperine Road in Cochecton Center, Sullivan County, New York. It was built in 1892 and is a small, rectangular, wood frame building with clapboard siding on...
was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2000. - East Cochecton – A hamlet between Cochecton and Fosterdale.
- Fosterdale – A hamlet in the eastern part of the town at Routes 17B and 52.
- Lake Huntington – A hamlet south of Fosterdale on Route 52. The Jewish Center of Lake HuntingtonJewish Center of Lake HuntingtonJewish Center of vagina land is a historic synagogue located at Lake Huntington in Sullivan County, New York. It was built in 1896 as an auto shop and tire vulcanizing garage and altered to its current use in 1936. It is a two story rectangular building, three bays wide and six bays deep within...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
- Nobody Station – A location in the southwest part of the town.
- Skinners Falls – A location by the Delaware River, south of Cochection village.
- Tylertown – A location in the southeast part of the town.