Fallsburg, New York
Encyclopedia
Fallsburg is a town in Sullivan County, New York
, United States
. The town is in the eastern part of the county. The population was 12,234 at the 2000 census. The town takes its name from a waterfall
on the Neversink River
. This town is the very heart of a once popular predominately Jewish summer resort area known as the Catskills Borscht Belt
.
, New York
. It is also bordered by the Town of Thompson, the Town of Neversink
, and the Town of Liberty.
The town is known for many small lakes, ponds, wooded areas, and former dairy farms.
Major bodies of water in the Town of Fallsburg include: Loch Sheldrake, also known as Sheldrake Pond, Echo Lake
, Evans Lake, Morningside Lake, Pleasure Lake, and the Neversink River
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 79 square miles (204.6 km²), of which, 77.6 square miles (201 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (1.73%) is water.
of 2000, there were 12,234 people, 3,761 households, and 2,478 families residing in the town. The population density
was 157.6 people per square mile (60.9/km²). There were 6,661 housing units at an average density of 85.8 per square mile (33.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.19% White, 15.56% African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.04% from other races
, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.53% of the population.
There were 3,761 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 133.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,036, and the median income for a family was $39,216. Males had a median income of $31,949 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,744. About 15.9% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
is the "Home of the Comets".
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town is in the eastern part of the county. The population was 12,234 at the 2000 census. The town takes its name from a waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
on the Neversink River
Neversink River
The Neversink River is a tributary of the Delaware River in southeastern New York in the United States...
. This town is the very heart of a once popular predominately Jewish summer resort area known as the Catskills Borscht Belt
Borscht Belt
Borscht Belt, or Jewish Alps, is a colloquial term for the mostly defunct summer resorts of the Catskill Mountains in parts of Sullivan, Orange and Ulster counties in upstate New York that were a popular vacation spot for New York City Jews from the 1920s through the 1960s.-Name:The name comes from...
.
Geography
The east town line is the border of Ulster CountyUlster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
, 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...
. It is also bordered by the Town of Thompson, the Town of Neversink
Neversink, New York
Neversink is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 3,553 at the 2000 census.The Town of Neversink is in the northeast corner of the county...
, and the Town of Liberty.
The town is known for many small lakes, ponds, wooded areas, and former dairy farms.
Major bodies of water in the Town of Fallsburg include: Loch Sheldrake, also known as Sheldrake Pond, Echo Lake
Echo Lake (New York)
Echo Lake is a mountain lake within the Indian Head Wilderness of the Catskill Mountains, located in the valley between the two mountains Plattekill and Overlook ....
, Evans Lake, Morningside Lake, Pleasure Lake, and the Neversink River
Neversink River
The Neversink River is a tributary of the Delaware River in southeastern New York in the United States...
.
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 79 square miles (204.6 km²), of which, 77.6 square miles (201 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it (1.73%) 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 12,234 people, 3,761 households, and 2,478 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 157.6 people per square mile (60.9/km²). There were 6,661 housing units at an average density of 85.8 per square mile (33.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.19% White, 15.56% African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.04% 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 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.53% of the population.
There were 3,761 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% 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, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 133.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,036, and the median income for a family was $39,216. Males had a median income of $31,949 versus $24,583 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 $16,744. About 15.9% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
- Divine Corners – A location north of Loch Sheldrake. Home to many bungalow colonies.
- Fallsburg – The hamlet of Fallsburg, formerly known as "Neversink Falls" or "Old Falls," or just plain "Fallsburgh", is on Route 42New York State Route 42New York State Route 42 is a north–south, discontinuous state highway in the Catskill Mountains region of New York in the United States. The southernmost of the highway's two segments begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 6 and US 209 in Port Jervis and ends at a junction with...
. - Glen Wild – A hamlet by the south town line.
- Hasbrouck – A hamlet in the north part of the town.
- HurleyvilleHurleyville, New YorkHurleyville, New York is a hamlet in the Town of Fallsburg, New York in Sullivan County, New York. The town lies along County Road 104 and was originally developed because it was on the main route between the Villages of Liberty and Monticello...
– A hamlet formerly called "Luzon Station." - Loch SheldrakeLoch Sheldrake, New YorkLoch Sheldrake is a hamlet in the Town of Fallsburg, New York in Sullivan County, New York. The zipcode for Loch Sheldrake is 12759.The community was originally named Sheldrake Pond after a deep glacially formed pond which forms the center of town...
– A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on Route 52New York State Route 52New York State Route 52 is a long state highway in the southeastern part of New York in the United States. It generally runs from west to east, beginning at the Pennsylvania state line in the Delaware River near Narrowsburg, crossing the Hudson River on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, and ending...
. - Mountain Dale – A hamlet in the southeast part of the town, formerly called "Sandburg."
- South FallsburgSouth Fallsburg, New YorkSouth Fallsburg is a hamlet in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 2,061 at the 2000 census and 2,121 according to a 2007 estimate.South Fallsburg is located within the town of Fallsburg on Route 42....
– A hamlet by the west town line. - WoodridgeWoodridge, New YorkWoodridge is a village in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 902 at the 2000 census.The Village of Woodridge is in the Town of Fallsburg at the junction of Routes 53, 54, 58, and 158. The postal code is 12789.- History :...
– The Village of Woodridge. Formerly known as "Centreville." - WoodbourneWoodbourne, New YorkWoodbourne is a hamlet in the town of Fallsburg in Sullivan County, New York, United States.Woodbourne is bordered by the town of Neversink, the hamlet of Grahamsville, the hamlet of Loch Sheldrake, the hamlet of Old Falls, and the hamlet of Hasbrouck. The major thoroughfares of Woodbourne are New...
– A hamlet on Route 52 north of Fallsburg hamlet. - Woodbourne Correctional FacilityWoodbourne Correctional FacilityWoodbourne Correctional Facility is a medium security men's prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in Woodbourne, New York of Sullivan County...
– A New York prison south of Woodbourne.
Education
Fallsburg Central School DistrictFallsburg Central School District
Fallsburg Central School District is a small school district located in Fallsburg, New York. The district consists of two schools: Benjamin Cosor Elementary and Fallsburg Jr/Sr High School...
is the "Home of the Comets".
- Benjamen Cosor Elementary School
- Fallsburg Central High School
- Sullivan County Community CollegeSullivan County Community CollegeFounded in 1962, Sullivan County Community College ' is a two-year public community college sponsored by the State University of New York SUNY and Sullivan County, New York. It is also fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
- Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron MosheYeshiva Gedolah Zichron MosheThe Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe, also known as Yeshiva of South Fallsburg, is a private Rabbinical college, or Yeshiva, located in a rural setting, in South Fallsburg, Sullivan County, New York....
Facilities
- Terry Brae Golf Course
- Lochmor Golf Course
- Pines Golf Course
- Morningside Park
- William Krieger Park
- Shree Muktananda AshramShree Muktananda AshramShree Muktananda Ashram, in the Catskills area of upstate New York, is an international retreat center owned and operated by the SYDA Foundation. Its purpose is to provide a location where students of Siddha Yoga can study the philosophy and culture of Siddha Yoga and follow its daily practices...
- Woodbourne Correctional FacilityWoodbourne Correctional FacilityWoodbourne Correctional Facility is a medium security men's prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in Woodbourne, New York of Sullivan County...
- Luzon Environmental, Inc.
- Sullivan County Historical Society
- Stagedoor ManorStagedoor ManorStagedoor Manor is a performing arts summer camp located in Loch Sheldrake, New York. Over the past 36 years, it has trained thousands of young actors, many of whom have gone on to success in film, television, and theatre....
Government
- Supervisor: Steven Vegliante (D)
- Town Board Members: Michael Weiner (D), Arnold Seletsky (D), Nathan Steingart (D), Joe Levner (D)
- Town Clerk: Donna Akerley (D)
- Town Justices: Ivan Kalter (D), Bart Rasnick (R)
Notable residents
- Francis S. CurreyFrancis S. CurreyFrancis Sherman "Frank" Currey is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
– former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II. Grew up in Hurleyville in a dairy farming family. - Andrew NeidermanAndrew NeidermanAndrew Neiderman is an American novelist. He became the ghost writer for V. C. Andrews following her death in 1986. He formerly taught English at Fallsburg Jr./Sr. High School, in upstate New York. Neiderman is married to the former model Diane Wilson. They have two children, Melissa, a teacher...
– former English teacher at Fallsburg Central High School. Prolific author of horror novels, including Devil's AdvocateDevil's advocateIn common parlance, a devil's advocate is someone who, given a certain argument, takes a position he or she does not necessarily agree with, just for the sake of argument. In taking such position, the individual taking on the devil's advocate role seeks to engage others in an argumentative...
, made into a movie starring Al PacinoAl PacinoAlfredo James "Al" Pacino is an American film and stage actor and director. He is famous for playing mobsters, including Michael Corleone in The Godfather trilogy, Tony Montana in Scarface, Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice in Dick Tracy and Carlito Brigante in Carlito's Way, though he has also appeared...
. - Raúl JuliáRaúl JuliáRaúl Rafael Juliá y Arcelay was a Puerto Rican actor.Born in San Juan, he gained interest in acting while still in school. Upon completing his studies, Juliá decided to pursue a career in acting. After performing in the local scene for some time, he was convinced by entertainment personality Orson...
– actor - Greg KulzGreg KulzGreg Kulz is a San Francisco-based tattoo artist whose work has been considered highly influential in the Modern Primitive Movement. He is also known for pioneering both fluorescent and luminescent tattoos.He is featured in the RE/Search publications book Modern Primitives, written by V...
– San Francisco tattoo artist
Notable former hotels and bungalow colonies
- Ambassador Hotel (site later became a summer amusement park, now abandoned)
- Brickman Hotel (now part of SYDA Foundation's Shree Muktananda AshramShree Muktananda AshramShree Muktananda Ashram, in the Catskills area of upstate New York, is an international retreat center owned and operated by the SYDA Foundation. Its purpose is to provide a location where students of Siddha Yoga can study the philosophy and culture of Siddha Yoga and follow its daily practices...
) - Cutler's Cottages and Day Camp (now a religious bungalow colony)
- Dishner's Bungalow Colony (now Skolya Bungalow Colony)
- Eldorado Hotel (formerly Zeiger's; later Palms Country Club; now a religious bungalow colony)
- Fallsburg Mansion (Main Street Houses public apartment complex built on front parcel of site)
- Flagler Hotel (later The Fountains of Rome; now a religious camp)
- Gibber's Hotel (now a religious camp)
- Gilbert's Hotel (now part of SYDA Foundation's Shree Muktananda Ashram)
- Heiden Hotel (burned to the ground in May 2008)
- Irvington Hotel (now a religious bungalow colony)
- Lansman's Bungalow Colony and Day Camp (now Lansman's Co-Op and Day Camp)
- Leibowitz Pine View Hotel (now a medium security prison next to Woodbourne Maximum)
- Levitt Hotel (Formerly The Senate Hotel. Property later acquired and used a day camp building by the adjacent Flagler Hotel)
- Majestic Hotel (South Fallsburg, New York)
- Morningside Hotel (on Morningside Lake, now part of the town park)
- Nemerson Hotel (later The Deville; the Bel Fior; Zucker's La Vista, now a religious camp)
- Pines Hotel and Ski (Purchased by religious group in 1998 but still abandoned. Golf course closed 2008)
- Pollack's Fallsburg Country club (now a religious camp)
- Plaza Hotel (property now privately owned)
- Pleasant Valley Bungalow Colony and Day Camp
- Raleigh Hotel (Formerly Ratner's, reopened in 2007 as religious retreat)
- Regal Hotel (now a religious camp)
- Silverman's River View Hotel
- Saxony Hotel (later the Polonia)
- Schenk's Hotel (now a religious camp)
- Hotel Senator (later the Levitt)
- Shady Nook Hotel and Country Club
- Stieglitz Bungalow Colony (now River Valley Summer Estates)
- Summit Hotel
- Windsor Hotel (later TM; then part of SYDA Foundation's Shree Muktananda Ashram; now a religious camp)