Wurtsboro, New York
Encyclopedia
Wurtsboro is a village
located on U.S. Route 209 in the town of Mamakating
in Sullivan County
, New York
, United States
, near its junction with New York State Route 17
(which is being upgraded to Interstate standards and will be renumbered as Interstate 86
). The population was 1,234 at the 2000 census.
, the first United States company capitalized at $1,000,000, and predecessor to the Delaware and Hudson Railway
. Wurtsboro was formerly known as Mamakating Hollow.
At the turn of the 20th century, Wurtsboro became popular with many first-generation German
and Russian
immigrants from New York City
, attracted to the area by its rusticity, and its resemblance to the high mountain villages in the countries from which they originated. They came up from the city by train. Remnants of the old tracks and a restored railroad station can still be seen in the village.
Wurtsboro Hills, just north of Wurtsboro, is the site of more than one hundred 1920s-1940s era cottages. The hills are steep and one will find wild blueberries, locally known as huckleberries. The area is still rather wild, populated with coyotes, deer, opossum, rabbits. The Hills still had party line
telephones as recently as 2002; only in 2006 did cell phone signals reach the Hills.
Since 1927 the area has been served by Wurtsboro-Sullivan County Airport
.
Wurtsboro is notable for a store in the business district called the Canal Towne Emporium. The store is well-known, and has a long history in the village. Wurtsboro Hills was the home for 50 years of La Mingotiere, a family owned French restaurant. Author E. K. Gordon lived in Wurtsboro and then Wurtsboro Hills from the ages if two to ten. She didn't write about it much.
From Spring through the Fall, the area provides a scenic back drop and destination for many motorcyclists in conjunction with several events sponsored by the Wurtsboro NY Chapter of the Harley Owners Group and O'Toole's Harley-Davidson which is located at the foothills of the Village's Main Street.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land.
Wurtsboro is in the Eastern Time Zone
. Its elevation is 577 feet.
The Long Path
, a hiking trail, goes through Wurtsboro.
of 2000, there were 1,234 people, four hundred seventy nine households, and 330 families residing in the village. The population density
was 975.5 people per square mile (378.1/km²). There were 542 housing units at an average density of 428.5 per square mile (166.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.68% White, 1.86% African American, 0.81% Asian, 1.62% from other races
, and 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic of any race were 4.62% of the population.
There were 479 households out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples
living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $38,500, and the median income for a family was $46,359. Males had a median income of $40,385 versus $25,060 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,698. About 9.7% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located on U.S. Route 209 in the town of Mamakating
Mamakating, New York
Mamakating is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 11,002 at the 2000 census.The Town of Mamakating is in the southeast part of the county.- History :...
in 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, near its junction with New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
(which is being upgraded to Interstate standards and will be renumbered as Interstate 86
Interstate 86 (east)
Interstate 86 is an Interstate Highway that extends for through northwestern Pennsylvania and southern New York in the United States...
). The population was 1,234 at the 2000 census.
History
The community was named after Maurice and William Wurts, brothers who built the Delaware and Hudson CanalDelaware and Hudson Canal
The Delaware and Hudson Canal was the first venture of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which later developed the Delaware and Hudson Railway...
, the first United States company capitalized at $1,000,000, and predecessor to the Delaware and Hudson Railway
Delaware and Hudson Railway
The Delaware and Hudson Railway is a railroad that operates in the northeastern United States. Since 1991 it has been a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, although CPR has assumed all operations and the D&H does not maintain any locomotives or rolling stock.It was formerly an important...
. Wurtsboro was formerly known as Mamakating Hollow.
At the turn of the 20th century, Wurtsboro became popular with many first-generation German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
immigrants from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, attracted to the area by its rusticity, and its resemblance to the high mountain villages in the countries from which they originated. They came up from the city by train. Remnants of the old tracks and a restored railroad station can still be seen in the village.
Wurtsboro Hills, just north of Wurtsboro, is the site of more than one hundred 1920s-1940s era cottages. The hills are steep and one will find wild blueberries, locally known as huckleberries. The area is still rather wild, populated with coyotes, deer, opossum, rabbits. The Hills still had party line
Party line (telephony)
In twentieth-century telephone systems, a party line is an arrangement in which two or more customers are connected directly to the same local loop. Prior to World War II in the United States, party lines were the primary way residential subscribers acquired local telephone service...
telephones as recently as 2002; only in 2006 did cell phone signals reach the Hills.
Since 1927 the area has been served by Wurtsboro-Sullivan County Airport
Wurtsboro-Sullivan County Airport
Wurtsboro-Sullivan County Airport is a privately-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Wurtsboro, in Sullivan County, New York, United States. It is privately owned by Shalom Lamm. It is commonly called Wurtsboro Airport.It is believed...
.
Wurtsboro is notable for a store in the business district called the Canal Towne Emporium. The store is well-known, and has a long history in the village. Wurtsboro Hills was the home for 50 years of La Mingotiere, a family owned French restaurant. Author E. K. Gordon lived in Wurtsboro and then Wurtsboro Hills from the ages if two to ten. She didn't write about it much.
From Spring through the Fall, the area provides a scenic back drop and destination for many motorcyclists in conjunction with several events sponsored by the Wurtsboro NY Chapter of the Harley Owners Group and O'Toole's Harley-Davidson which is located at the foothills of the Village's Main Street.
Geography
Wurtsboro is located at 41°34′38"N 74°29′4"W (41.577158, -74.484393).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 village has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), all of it land.
Wurtsboro is in the Eastern Time Zone
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
. Its elevation is 577 feet.
The Long Path
Long Path
The Long Path is a long-distance hiking trail beginning at the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey and currently ending at Altamont, New York, in the Albany area...
, a hiking trail, goes through Wurtsboro.
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 1,234 people, four hundred seventy nine households, and 330 families residing in the village. 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 975.5 people per square mile (378.1/km²). There were 542 housing units at an average density of 428.5 per square mile (166.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 93.68% White, 1.86% African American, 0.81% Asian, 1.62% 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 2.03% from two or more races. Hispanic of any race were 4.62% of the population.
There were 479 households out of which 39.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% 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, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $38,500, and the median income for a family was $46,359. Males had a median income of $40,385 versus $25,060 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 village was $16,698. About 9.7% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Wurtsboro Board of Trade
- Wurtsboro Community Profile
- "A Main Artery of the 1800s", New York Times, August 25, 2002
- Wurtsboro Airport