Peach Lake, New York
Encyclopedia
Peach Lake is a hamlet (and census-designated place
) located mostly in the town of Southeast
in Putnam County, New York
; a portion of the CDP is in the town of North Salem
in Westchester County
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,629.
The community of Peach Lake is located on the northeast side of a lake with the same name. The lake itself is in two counties. The community is south of Interstate 84
.
Prior to 1731, the eastern edge of the Bloomer farm was the border of Connecticut
. The area from there to the current state border was given to New York as part of the OBLONG, EQUIVALENCY or Connecticut's Panhandle agreement.
The area was a strong dairy community from the 1850s through 1915, when the Borden Condensed Milk factory was in production in Brewster, New York
. By 1915, the factory closed after New York City condemned much of the property along the rivers and lakes in the area to protect the water quality flowing into the newly created Croton Reservoir
system.
The Bloomer family, originally from Rye, New York, started farming the property on the west side of the lake prior to 1760. In 1762 they purchased the land and built, along with the Palmer family, the Peach Lake Meeting House (Quaker Meeting house) at the southeast corner of the Lake. This Peach Lake meeting house, like many others starting at Long Island Sound
and heading north, was built in the disputed area between the Connecticut and New York colonies called the Oblong.
The Vails family ran the dairy farm on the east side of the lake.
The Ryder family, who have for generations controlled the Putnam County National Bank, have farmed land on the northern end of Peach Lake since the 18th century.
North Salem was under the control of the Mohegans and more directly the Mohegan group called the Kitawonks, who laid claim to all the lands bordering the Kitchewan or Croton River
that separates North Salem from present-day Somers. The lake and surrounding area was called Pechquenakonck by the Indian population. Dutch documents, such as Van der Donck’s 1656 History of New Netherland, mention the area. Other maps from Dutch archives, circa 1685, show the "Indian Tribes of the New World" and locations of Indian villages, including Pechquenakonck at Peach Lake. During 1600 and 1700s the lake was called Lake Pehquenakonck. Later it was called Peach Pond, which was a derivation of the Indian Pech-Quen. By the mid 1800s, the name was changed again to Peach Lake. The local middle school is called Pequenakonck , and the Country Club at Bloomerside Cooperative is called Pehquenakonck Country Club.
There are four large residential communities around Peach Lake. There are three cooperatives: Bloomerside and Vails after the original farming families, Pietsch Gardens Cooperative originally owned by the Pietsch family (purchased in 1926 from the Teagarden family) and Northern Westchester Country Club (aka Hotel Property) formerly owned by the Palmer family in the early 19th century. These four communities comprise approximately 460 homes which started as summer homes and communities about 1914.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), of which 2.7 square miles (7 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²), or 11.76%, is water.
and Southeast
. The lake is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) wide at its center. It was created by glacial forces in a previous ice age. One can see the situation that confronted many of the early settlers by looking at the southernmost section of the lake, which, just below the surface of the water, is littered with many smaller rounded rocks.
Peach Lake drops to a depth of about 24 feet (7.3 m) at its deepest point. The western side of the lake is deeper than the eastern side, a happenstance of the final glacial gouging. A sharp thermocline
is present at a depth of about 11 to 13 ft (3.4 to 4 ) where the water temperature may change 15 °F (-9.4 °C) within an inch. This thermocline protects the lake from excessive weed growth in areas of the lake that are deeper than the thermocline layer as it is simply too cold for the weeds to start growing. This temperature gradient is caused by the natural springs that feed the lake. There are no rivers entering the lake and only a very small intermittent stream on the southeastern corner.
The lake is a Class B reservoir for New York City and outflows north into the East Branch Reservoir in the town of Southeast which is part of the Croton Reservoir system.
of 2000, there were 1,671 people, 617 households, and 468 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 619.2 per square mile (239.0/km2). There were 743 housing units at an average density of 275.3/sq mi (106.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.19% White, 0.54% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.42% from other races
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.
There were 617 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $72,222, and the median income for a family was $82,222. Males had a median income of $55,529 versus $39,479 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $33,340. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.
Census-designated place
A 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...
) located mostly in the town of Southeast
Southeast, New York
Southeast is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 17,316 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southeast part of the county. Interstate 84, Interstate 684, US Route 202, and US Route 6 pass through the town.- History :...
in Putnam County, New York
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
; a portion of the CDP is in the town of North Salem
North Salem, New York
North Salem is a town in the northeast part of Westchester County, New York, United States. The county ranks second for wealthiest counties in New York State and the seventh wealthiest county nationally...
in Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,629.
The community of Peach Lake is located on the northeast side of a lake with the same name. The lake itself is in two counties. The community is south of Interstate 84
Interstate 84 (east)
Interstate 84 is an Interstate Highway extending from Dunmore, Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, at an interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike . I-84 has mile-log junction numbering in Pennsylvania; otherwise, exit numbers are roughly sequential...
.
History
Peach Lake is in two towns (North Salem and Southeast) and two counties (Westchester and Putnam). Peach Lake was originally farmed by several families. On the west side of the lake were the Bloomer and Palmer families, on the north side the Ryder family in the town of Southeast, and the Vail family were on the east side of the lake.Prior to 1731, the eastern edge of the Bloomer farm was the border of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The area from there to the current state border was given to New York as part of the OBLONG, EQUIVALENCY or Connecticut's Panhandle agreement.
The area was a strong dairy community from the 1850s through 1915, when the Borden Condensed Milk factory was in production in Brewster, New York
Brewster, New York
Brewster is a village within the town of Southeast in Putnam County, New York, United States. Its population was 2,162 at the 2000 census. The village is the most densely populated portion of the town...
. By 1915, the factory closed after New York City condemned much of the property along the rivers and lakes in the area to protect the water quality flowing into the newly created Croton Reservoir
New Croton Reservoir
The New Croton reservoir is a narrow reservoir in Westchester County, New York, lying approximately north of New York City, for which the reservoir supplies water. It is the collecting point for water from all reservoirs in the Croton Watershed....
system.
The Bloomer family, originally from Rye, New York, started farming the property on the west side of the lake prior to 1760. In 1762 they purchased the land and built, along with the Palmer family, the Peach Lake Meeting House (Quaker Meeting house) at the southeast corner of the Lake. This Peach Lake meeting house, like many others starting at Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
and heading north, was built in the disputed area between the Connecticut and New York colonies called the Oblong.
The Vails family ran the dairy farm on the east side of the lake.
The Ryder family, who have for generations controlled the Putnam County National Bank, have farmed land on the northern end of Peach Lake since the 18th century.
North Salem was under the control of the Mohegans and more directly the Mohegan group called the Kitawonks, who laid claim to all the lands bordering the Kitchewan or Croton River
Croton River
The Croton River is a river in southern New York that begins where the East and West Branches of the Croton River meet a little way downstream from the Croton Falls Reservoir...
that separates North Salem from present-day Somers. The lake and surrounding area was called Pechquenakonck by the Indian population. Dutch documents, such as Van der Donck’s 1656 History of New Netherland, mention the area. Other maps from Dutch archives, circa 1685, show the "Indian Tribes of the New World" and locations of Indian villages, including Pechquenakonck at Peach Lake. During 1600 and 1700s the lake was called Lake Pehquenakonck. Later it was called Peach Pond, which was a derivation of the Indian Pech-Quen. By the mid 1800s, the name was changed again to Peach Lake. The local middle school is called Pequenakonck , and the Country Club at Bloomerside Cooperative is called Pehquenakonck Country Club.
There are four large residential communities around Peach Lake. There are three cooperatives: Bloomerside and Vails after the original farming families, Pietsch Gardens Cooperative originally owned by the Pietsch family (purchased in 1926 from the Teagarden family) and Northern Westchester Country Club (aka Hotel Property) formerly owned by the Palmer family in the early 19th century. These four communities comprise approximately 460 homes which started as summer homes and communities about 1914.
Geography
Peach Lake is located at 41.363521°N 73.574454°W (41.363521, -73.574454).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 CDP has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8 km²), of which 2.7 square miles (7 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²), or 11.76%, is water.
Peach Lake water body
The water body Peach Lake is located in the towns of North SalemNorth Salem, New York
North Salem is a town in the northeast part of Westchester County, New York, United States. The county ranks second for wealthiest counties in New York State and the seventh wealthiest county nationally...
and Southeast
Southeast, New York
Southeast is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 17,316 at the 2000 census. The town is in the southeast part of the county. Interstate 84, Interstate 684, US Route 202, and US Route 6 pass through the town.- History :...
. The lake is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) wide at its center. It was created by glacial forces in a previous ice age. One can see the situation that confronted many of the early settlers by looking at the southernmost section of the lake, which, just below the surface of the water, is littered with many smaller rounded rocks.
Peach Lake drops to a depth of about 24 feet (7.3 m) at its deepest point. The western side of the lake is deeper than the eastern side, a happenstance of the final glacial gouging. A sharp thermocline
Thermocline
A thermocline is a thin but distinct layer in a large body of fluid , in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below...
is present at a depth of about 11 to 13 ft (3.4 to 4 ) where the water temperature may change 15 °F (-9.4 °C) within an inch. This thermocline protects the lake from excessive weed growth in areas of the lake that are deeper than the thermocline layer as it is simply too cold for the weeds to start growing. This temperature gradient is caused by the natural springs that feed the lake. There are no rivers entering the lake and only a very small intermittent stream on the southeastern corner.
The lake is a Class B reservoir for New York City and outflows north into the East Branch Reservoir in the town of Southeast which is part of the Croton Reservoir system.
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 1,671 people, 617 households, and 468 families residing in the CDP. 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 619.2 per square mile (239.0/km2). There were 743 housing units at an average density of 275.3/sq mi (106.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.19% White, 0.54% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.42% 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 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.
There were 617 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $72,222, and the median income for a family was $82,222. Males had a median income of $55,529 versus $39,479 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 CDP was $33,340. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.