Pleasant Valley (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Pleasant Valley is a town in Dutchess County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 9,066 at the 2000 census. The town is centrally located in the county, northeast of the City of Poughkeepsie
. US Route 44 passes through the town.
of 1697, a land grant whose legality was considered highly questionable. Many believed that the "Nine Partners" were holding unfair rule over the region through the use of extortion
and threats of violence.
The town was formed in 1821 from part of the Town of Clinton
. Its name was chosen to deflect suspicion due to the infamous Henry Dodson Murder Case, in which the town councilman was found brutally slain, with rumors that he had opposed the Patent on grounds of its dubious legality.
The Pleasant Valley Grange Hall
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1999.
, delegate to the ratification of the U.S Constitution.
Irene McGee
, cast member of The Real World: Seattle
Blythe Auffarth
, actress
Johnny Dell, Singer, Actor
James Morabito (Jimmy Mack)
Jonathan Palmer (The Showstopper)
William "Billy" Telfer, the "mayor" of Pleasant Valley.
Jason DeGarmo, Golden Gloves Champion
, the town has a total area of 33.2 square miles (86.1 km²), of which, 32.9 square miles (85.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (0.96%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,066 people, 3,467 households, and 2,485 families residing in the town. The population density
was 275.4 people per square mile (106.3/km²). There were 3,614 housing units at an average density of 109.8 per square mile (42.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.46% White, 1.93% Black or African American
, 0.12% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races
, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% of the population.
There were 3,467 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% 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 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median
income for a household in the town was $54,578, and the median
income for a family was $62,264. Males had a median
income of $47,647 versus $31,496 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,942. About 3.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 9,066 at the 2000 census. The town is centrally located in the county, northeast of the City of Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
. US Route 44 passes through the town.
History
Settlers began arriving after 1735. The town was part of the Great Nine Partners PatentGreat Nine Partners Patent
The Great Nine Partners Patent, also known as the "Lower Nine Partners Patent," was a land grant in Dutchess County, New York, USA made in 1697.-The partners:* John Aarston * William Creed* James Emott * Hendrick ten Eyck...
of 1697, a land grant whose legality was considered highly questionable. Many believed that the "Nine Partners" were holding unfair rule over the region through the use of extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and threats of violence.
The town was formed in 1821 from part of the Town of Clinton
Clinton, Dutchess County, New York
Clinton is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 4,010 at the 2000 census. The town is named after George Clinton, an early governor of New York....
. Its name was chosen to deflect suspicion due to the infamous Henry Dodson Murder Case, in which the town councilman was found brutally slain, with rumors that he had opposed the Patent on grounds of its dubious legality.
The Pleasant Valley Grange Hall
Pleasant Valley Grange Hall
Pleasant Valley Grange Hall is a historic Grange Hall located at Pleasant Valley in Oneida County, New York. It was built about 1830 as a farmhouse. It consists of a rectangular, -story, gable-roofed limestone main block with a 1-story service wing. There is also a 1-story gable-roofed frame wing...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The 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 1999.
Residents of note
Melancton SmithMelancton Smith
Melancton Smith was a New York Delegate to the Continental Congress. His first name is sometimes spelled "Melanchthon"; it derives from Philipp Melanchthon, the leader in the Reformation....
, delegate to the ratification of the U.S Constitution.
Irene McGee
Irene McGee
Irene McGee is the host of No One's Listening, a podcast about the mass media, currently on The Progressive Radio Network She came to public attention in 1998 as a cast member of the MTV reality television series, The Real World: Seattle...
, cast member of The Real World: Seattle
The Real World: Seattle
The Real World: Seattle is the seventh season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras follow their lives and interpersonal relationships. First airing in 1998, the...
Blythe Auffarth
Blythe Auffarth
Blythe Auffarth is an American actress, perhaps best known for starring in The Girl Next Door.-Filmography:-TV Filmography:-Video Game Filmography:-External links:...
, actress
Johnny Dell, Singer, Actor
James Morabito (Jimmy Mack)
Jonathan Palmer (The Showstopper)
William "Billy" Telfer, the "mayor" of Pleasant Valley.
Jason DeGarmo, Golden Gloves Champion
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 33.2 square miles (86.1 km²), of which, 32.9 square miles (85.3 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (0.96%) 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 9,066 people, 3,467 households, and 2,485 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 275.4 people per square mile (106.3/km²). There were 3,614 housing units at an average density of 109.8 per square mile (42.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.46% White, 1.93% Black or African American
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...
, 0.12% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.83% 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 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% of the population.
There were 3,467 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% 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 3.09.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
income for a household in the town was $54,578, and the median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
income for a family was $62,264. Males had a median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
income of $47,647 versus $31,496 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 $25,942. About 3.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Pleasant Valley
- BloomvaleBloomvale Historic DistrictThe Bloomvale Historic District is located east of the hamlet of Salt Point, New York, United States. It is a collection of buildings and structures around the intersection of Clinton Corners Road , state highway NY 82 and the East Branch of Wappingers Creek...
– A former mill hamlet north of Washington Hollow at Route 82 and Clinton Corners Road. - Clark Heights – A location southwest of Pleasant Valley village on Route 44.
- Gretna – A location in the western part of the town.
- Netherwood – A location southwest of Salt Point.
- Pleasant ValleyPleasant Valley (CDP), New YorkPleasant Valley is a census-designated place in the southwest part of the town of Pleasant Valley in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 1,839 at the 2000 census. The community lies along U.S. Route 44 and Wappinger Creek...
– The hamlet and census-designated placeCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of Pleasant Valley is in the southwest part of the town on Route 44. It was formerly called "Charlotte." - Salt PointSalt Point, New YorkSalt Point is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It lies northeast of Poughkeepsie following New York Route 115, the Salt Point Turnpike. East of Salt Point, the Taconic State Parkway allows for easy access from many of the surrounding towns and communities with easy travel to...
– A hamlet near the northeast town line. - Timothy Heights – A location south of Pleasant Valley village on Route 44.
- Valleydale – A development Northeast of Pleasant Valley off Traver Road.
- Washington Hollow – A hamlet near the east town line. It was the former location of the Dutchess County Fair.