Catskill is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than city, cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares ...

in the southeastern section of Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 11,298 at the 2020 census, the largest town in the county. The western part of the town is in the Catskill Park. The town contains a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to ...

, also called Catskill. The village of Catskill has a well-defined Main Street. There is a public boat launch on the

Hudson River The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between Ne ...

called Dutchman's Landing.

History

The area of the town was purchased from the indigenous peoples in 1678, and the first settler was Derrick Teunis van Vechten, who built a house here in 1680. The town was established on March 7, 1788, as part of Albany County. When Greene County was formed on March 25, 1800, Catskill became part of the new county. The town was increased by an addition from the town of

Woodstock Woodstock Music and Art Fair, commonly referred to as Woodstock, was a music festival held during August 15–18, 1969, on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, United States, southwest of the town of Woodstock, New York, Woodstock. ...

in 1800, but was later decreased upon the formation of the towns of

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo met ...

(1803) and

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh List ...

(1815). Catskill is the location of the story "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving. On July 23, 2003, an F2 tornado ripped across the town. The worst of the damage occurred at the Kiskatom flats. The tornado crossed over New York Route 32 and went past the Friar Tuck Inn, causing two mobile homes to flip over. Image:Cole Thomas View on the Catskill Early Autumn 1837.jpg, Thomas Cole, ''View on the Catskill, Early Autumn'', 1837 File:Morning, Looking East over the Hudson Valley from Catskill Mountains.jpg, Frederic Edwin Church, ''Morning, Looking East over the Hudson Valley from Catskill Mountains'', 1848 File:Catskill, N.Y. LOC 75694756.jpg, Perspective map of Catskill from 1889 by L. R. Burleigh with list of landmarks

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy An economy is an area of th ...

, the town has a total area of 64.2 square miles (166.2 km²), of which 60.5 square miles (156.8 km²) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.5 km², or 5.69%) is water. The eastern town line is defined by the

, forming the border with Columbia County. The southern town line is the border of Ulster County. The Town is bordered by the town of Athens on the north, Cairo to the northwest, Hunter to the west, and Saugerties to the south.

Communities and locations in the town

* Alsen – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town on Route 9W. * Cairo Junction – A hamlet in the northwest part of the town. * Catskill – A village that is the primary settlement in the town, located in the northeast on both sides of Catskill Creek. * Cauterskill – A hamlet west of Catskill village. CatskillNYtown

* Hamburg – A hamlet north of Catskill village on the Hudson River. * High Falls – A hamlet by the south town line. * Jefferson Heights – A hamlet and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places, su ...

northwest of Catskill village. * Kiskatom – A hamlet southwest of Catskill village. * Lawrenceville – A hamlet in the western part of the town. *

Leeds Leeds () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the thi ...

– A hamlet and census-designated place by the north town line. * Palenville – A hamlet and

in the southwest corner of the town. * Smith's Landing – A hamlet south of Alsen on Route 9W.

Transportation

The New York State Thruway ( Interstate 87) and U.S. Route 9W pass north–south through the town. New York State Route 23 passes east–west through the town and heads east across the Hudson River to Columbia County. Until 1958 the New York Central Railroad operated twice daily, in each direction, passenger trains between

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York Ci ...

and Weehawken, New Jersey on the NYC's West Shore Railroad. The rail line continues today as the CSX's River Subdivision, serving freight operations.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 11,849 people, 4,780 households, and 3,035 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 195.8 people per square mile (75.6/km²). There were 5,700 housing units at an average density of 94.2 per square mile (36.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.84%

White White is the lightness, lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully diffuse reflection, reflect and scattering, scatter all the ...

, 6.03%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

, 0.32% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 2.32% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 4.03% of the population. There were 4,780 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. Of all households, 29.7% 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 2.94. In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $33,531, and the median income for a family was $42,807. Males had a median income of $33,832 versus $25,058 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $18,563. About 11.2% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 21.4% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

* Charles W. Berry (1871–1941) was a physician, soldier, and New York City Comptroller. * Jedediah Berry, (b 1977) is an American writer. * James Bogardus, (1800–1874) was a inventor and architect, the pioneer of American * Mickey Brantley, (b 1961) is a former professional baseball player and hitting coach. *

Robert Charels Robert Charels (born Robert Charels Smith, October 26, 1958 in Catskill, New York, United States) is an American blues singer in the vein of B.B. King, Duke Robillard, and other artists of the genre. He has recorded three albums under his name: ...

, (b 1958) is a blues singer. * Frederic Edwin Church, (1826–1900) was a landscape painter. * Thomas Cole, (1801–1848) was an English-American landscape painter and founder of the Hudson River School of painting. * Cus D'Amato, (1908–1985) was an Italian-American boxing manager and trainer *

Edward W. Dwight Edward Woolsey Dwight (April 8, 1827 – March 6, 1904) was an American farmer and politician. Background Dwight was born in Catskill, New York on April 8, 1827. His father was Benjamin W. Dwight, a doctor (son of Timothy Dwight IV, President ...

, (1827–1904) was a farmer and politician. *

Matthew Florio Matthew may refer to: * Matthew (given name) * Matthew (surname) * ''Matthew'' (ship), the replica of the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497 * ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith * Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the Chi ...

, guitarist of indie rock bands Candy Hearts and Foxy Dads * John Hill, (1821–1884) was a clerk, bookkeeper, merchant and Republican Party politician * Tom Judson, (b 1960) is a musical theatre actor and composer, particularly for off-Broadway plays, and a retired pornographic film actor. *

Sheba Karim Sheba Karim is an American author who writes literature and young adult fiction. Early life Sheba Karim was born and raised in Catskill, New York. She graduated from the New York University School of Law and received a M.F.A. from the Iowa Wri ...

, author who writes

literature Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to inclu ...

and young adult fiction. * George W. Lay (1798–1860), U.S. congressman * Sybil Ludington, (1761–1839) Revolutionary War hero * Hugh Malone, (1944–2001) was an American surveyor and politician.Alaska state legislator, born in Catskill * Charles Palmetier, (1834 - ?) was a businessman and politician. *

Jaap Penraat Jaap Penraat (April 11, 1918 – June 25, 2006) was a Dutch resistance fighter during the Second World War. Life Penraat was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. As a child, he helped Jewish neighbors by switching lights for them on ''Shabbat'' ...

, (1918–2006) was a Dutch resistance fighter during the Second World War. *

Robert Seaman Robert Livingston Seaman (1822 – March 11, 1904) was an American industrialist who was the husband of investigative journalist Elizabeth Jane Cochran (better known as Nellie Bly). Born in Catskill, Greene County, New York to William and Ellen ...

, (1822–1904) was an American industrialist * Zachary Cole Smith, (b 1984) is a musician, model and music video director and frontman of indie rock band DIIV * Bill Stafford, (1938–2001) was a professional baseball player known for his time with

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one o ...

Jeremy Transue Jeremy Transue is an American alpine skier. Born June 1, 1983, Jeremy was introduced to skiing at 18 months. He began racing at age 6 at Hunter Mountain, New York, where his father Bruce was Operations Manager. For high school, he attended ...

, (b 1983) Alpine skier * Mike Tyson, (b 1966) is a former world professional boxing champion Nicknamed "Iron Mike" * Abraham Van Vechten, (1762–1837) was a New York State Attorney General.

References

External links

Town of Catskill official website

Cedar Grove – Thomas Cole Historic site
* {{Authority control 1788 establishments in New York (state) Catskills New York (state) populated places on the Hudson River Populated places established in 1788 Towns in Greene County, New York