kids encyclopedia robot

Antwerp, New York facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Antwerp, New York
Antwerp, New York is located in New York
Antwerp, New York
Antwerp, New York
Location in New York
Antwerp, New York is located in the United States
Antwerp, New York
Antwerp, New York
Location in the United States
Country United States
State New York
County Jefferson
Settled 1803
Named for Antwerp, Belgium
Government
 • Type Town council
Area
 • Total 108.56 sq mi (281.16 km2)
 • Land 106.18 sq mi (275.01 km2)
 • Water 2.38 sq mi (6.16 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,683
 • Density 15.85/sq mi (6.12/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP
13608, 13671
FIPS code {{{1}}}-{{{2}}}

Antwerp is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2020 census. The town is named after Antwerp, Belgium, the home of the early investors in the town, who had organized under the name of the Antwerp Company.

The town of Antwerp contains a village also called Antwerp. The town is at the eastern corner of the county and is northeast of Watertown.

History

Bird's-eye view of Antwerp, N.Y. LOC 75694745
Perspective map of Antwerp from 1888 with list of landmarks and inset image of Ives Seminary, published by L. R. Burleigh

Settlement began circa 1803 near what is now Oxbow. The town was created from part of the town of Le Ray in 1810. In 1855, the town had the second largest number of cows in New York.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 108.6 square miles (281.2 km2), of which 106.2 square miles (275.0 km2) are land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), or 2.19%, are water.

The northeastern town line is the border of St. Lawrence County. The southeastern town line is the border of Lewis County.

The Oswegatchie River flows through the northern part of the town and loops back at Oxbow.

U.S. Route 11, a northeast to southwest highway, passes through the town.

The southeastern portion of Antwerp contains part of the Fort Drum Military Reservation.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,319
1830 2,412 82.9%
1840 3,109 28.9%
1850 2,665 −14.3%
1860 3,313 24.3%
1870 3,310 −0.1%
1880 3,414 3.1%
1890 3,095 −9.3%
1900 3,008 −2.8%
1910 2,848 −5.3%
1920 2,569 −9.8%
1930 2,292 −10.8%
1940 2,187 −4.6%
1950 1,781 −18.6%
1960 1,905 7.0%
1970 1,794 −5.8%
1980 1,859 3.6%
1990 1,856 −0.2%
2000 1,793 −3.4%
2010 1,846 3.0%
2020 1,683 −8.8%
US Decennial Census

Communities and locations in the town

  • Antwerp – A village centrally located in the town by the Indian River and US-11.
  • Bentleys Corners – A location in the western part of the town on County Road 23.
  • Bishops Corners – A location in the western corner of the town on County Road 194.
  • Fort Drum – A military reservation partly located in the southeastern part of the town.
  • Halls Corners – A location in the western part of the town on County Road 28.
  • Indian River – A stream and canoe trail that flows past Antwerp village.
  • Keenes – A hamlet on the northeastern town line, partly in St. Lawrence County.
  • Oxbow – A hamlet and census-designated place by the northeast border on County Road 25, located on the Oswegatchie River. It is the site of the first settlement, a tavern.
  • Payne Lake – A small lake in the northern part of the town near Oxbow.
  • Rices Corner – A hamlet in the eastern corner of the town and inside Fort Drum on County Road 24.
  • Spragueville – A hamlet on the northeastern town line on County Road 26, partly in St. Lawrence County. It was formerly called "Spragues Corners".

Notable people

Albert Woolson, an American Civil War veteran and the last surviving member of the Grand Army of the Republic, was born in Antwerp.

A Friend in Need 1903 C.M.Coolidge
"A Friend in Need" from Dogs Playing Poker, by C. M. Coolidge

Artist Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, noted mainly for his paintings depicting dogs playing cards, was born and raised in Antwerp, started its first bank, and is buried there. He is also credited with inventing carnival cut-outs, the painted backdrops with faces missing, enabling individuals to pose for novelty photos.

Charles B. Hoard, businessman and member of the United States House of Representatives, lived in Antwerp and served as postmaster before relocating to Watertown in the 1840s.

John Harris, Wisconsin state senator and businessman, was born in Antwerp.

Writer Helen Hinsdale Rich, known as "The Poet of the Adirondacks", was born in Antwerp.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Antwerp (Nueva York) para niños

kids search engine
Antwerp, New York Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.