Amenia (town), New York Facts for Kids

Amenia is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern side of the county. In 2020, about 3,769 people lived there.

History of Amenia
Where is Amenia?
People in Amenia
Schools and Learning
- Primary and Secondary Schools
- Library
Getting Around Amenia
Famous People from Amenia
Places in Amenia
Historic Buildings
See also

History of Amenia

Amenia was one of the first towns created in New York on March 7, 1788. It includes land from two old land grants: the Oblong Tract and the Great Nine Partners Patent.

Early Settlers

Before Europeans arrived, the area was home to the Pequots and other Native American groups. They had a village near a pond they called Wequagnoch.

In 1703, Richard Sackett tried to claim land near Wassaic Creek. But this land was already part of an older grant, so his claim wasn't valid. Later, a factory was built there during the American Revolutionary War to make steel for the army.

In 1724, Captain Garret Winegar came to Amenia Union from another part of New York. His family was among the German Palatines who settled in New York in 1710. Another Palatine family, the Rouhs (Rowes), also came to Hitchcock's Corner (Amenia Union) before 1731. Samuel Hitchcock, who the hamlet was named after, arrived around 1757.

Dr. Thomas Young lived in the area and married Captain Winegar's daughter. He gave the town its name, "Amenia," which comes from Latin and means "pleasant to the eye."

Revolutionary War Era

In 1758, a church called the "Red Meeting House" was built. In 1762, Amenia officially became a "Precinct" by the colonial government.

During the summer of 1778, many prisoners from the Battles of Saratoga were marched through Amenia. Most of these prisoners were Hessians, German soldiers who fought for the British. Some of them managed to escape and stayed in America.

Growing as a Town

Jacob Bockee, a local captain, worked to end slavery in New York. He introduced a bill for this in 1795. By 1824, just before slavery was fully abolished in New York, there were 32 enslaved people in Amenia.

Around 1812, a company was formed in Amenia to make woolen goods. It was called the "Amenia Manufacturing Company." Their factory was located on the banks of Webatuck Creek in Leedsville.

Amenia officially became a town, separate from its precinct, in 1788.

Where is Amenia?

Amenia covers about 43.62 square miles (112.96 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. The Ten Mile River flows through the town. This river is made up of Wassaic Creek and Webatuck Creek.

The eastern border of Amenia is also the border of Connecticut. U.S. Route 44 and New York State Route 22 are major roads that go through the town.

People in Amenia

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	3,114	—
1830	2,389	−23.3%
1840	2,179	−8.8%
1850	2,229	2.3%
1860	2,288	2.6%
1870	2,662	16.3%
1880	2,697	1.3%
1890	2,362	−12.4%
1900	2,374	0.5%
1910	2,123	−10.6%
1920	1,831	−13.8%
1930	1,969	7.5%
1940	6,873	249.1%
1950	7,481	8.8%
1960	7,546	0.9%
1970	7,842	3.9%
1980	6,299	−19.7%
1990	5,195	−17.5%
2000	4,048	−22.1%
2010	4,436	9.6%
2020	3,769	−15.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020

In 2000, there were 4,048 people living in Amenia. There were 1,625 households, and 1,074 families. About 29.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.46 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 23.7% were under 18 years old. The median age was 40 years.

Silo Ridge Country Club in Amenia

Schools and Learning

Primary and Secondary Schools

The Webutuck Central Schools District serves the town of Amenia. This district has schools for students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. These include Webutuck Elementary School, Eugene Brooks Intermediate School, and Webutuck High School.

There is also a private boarding school called Maplebrook School. It helps teenagers and young adults who have learning differences.

Library

The Amenia Free Library serves the town. It was started in 1938 and has many historical books.

Getting Around Amenia

The main roads in Amenia are New York State Route 22 and U.S. Route 44. These roads help people travel through the town and to other places.

The Metro-North Railroad has two train stations in Amenia: Tenmile River station and Wassaic station. These trains offer service to New York City on the Harlem Line. Trains usually leave every two hours during the day and on weekends. During busy times, trains leave more often.

Famous People from Amenia

Many interesting people have lived in or come from Amenia:

John Barlow (1872–1944) – An expert on insects and a college leader.
Joel Benton (1832–1911) – A poet.
Gail Borden (1801-1874) – He invented condensed milk and opened his first factory in Amenia.
Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen – A famous football player and a supermodel who built a home in Silo Ridge.
Michael Cole (born 1966) – A television announcer for World Wrestling Entertainment.
Joseph Cummings (1817-1890) – A president of Wesleyan University and Northwestern University.
Obadiah German (1766–1842) – Born in Amenia, he became a United States senator.
Erastus Otis Haven (1820-1881) – A bishop, school principal, and president of several universities.
Samuel Herrick (1779–1852) – Born in Amenia, he was a United States congressman from Ohio.
John Miller (1774–1862) – Born in Amenia, he was a doctor and congressman.
Lewis Mumford (1895-1990) – A historian who lived and died in Amenia.
Peter C. Rhodes (1909-1965) – A reporter and writer.
Joel Elias Spingarn (1875-1939) – An educator, writer, and civil rights activist who lived in Amenia.
Frank Stella (born 1936) – A famous painter who lived in Amenia.
Benjamin Swift (1781-1847) – A U.S. congressman and senator.
Smith Thompson (1768-1848) – A justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Charles Augustus Wheaton (1809–1882) – An activist who worked to end slavery.
Thomas Young (1731–1777) – A doctor and American Revolutionary patriot who took part in the Boston Tea Party.

Places in Amenia

Here are some of the communities and places you can find in Amenia:

Amenia – This is a main hamlet in the northeastern part of the town.
Amenia Union – A hamlet right on the border with Connecticut.
Leedsville – A location in the northeastern part of the town.
Sharon Station – A hamlet at the northern edge of the town.
Silo Ridge – A newer, fancy development.
Smithfield – A hamlet on the town line in the northwestern part.
South Amenia – A hamlet in the eastern part of the town.
Wassaic – A hamlet in the south-central part of the town.
Wassaic Creek – A stream that flows through the western side of the town.

Historic Buildings

Several buildings in Amenia are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. They include:

Beth David Synagogue
Indian Rock Schoolhouse
Lewis Mumford House
Hendrik Winegar House
St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Amenia (town), New York facts for kids

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