Au Sable Forks, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Au Sable Forks, New York
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Location in Clinton County and the state of New York.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| Counties | Clinton (CDP portion), Essex |
| Towns | Black Brook (CDP portion), Jay |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.52 sq mi (6.54 km2) |
| • Land | 2.48 sq mi (6.42 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2) |
| Elevation | 551 ft (168 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 509 |
| • Density | 205.41/sq mi (79.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
12912
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| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-03254 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979665 |
Au Sable Forks is a small community in New York. It is located in both Clinton County and Essex County. This area is known as a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). In 2020, about 509 people lived here.
Contents
Discovering Au Sable Forks' Location
Au Sable Forks sits right on the edge of Clinton and Essex counties. It is found where two parts of the Au Sable River meet. These are the West Branch and the East Branch. They join together to form the main river. This river then flows into a famous gorge called Au Sable Chasm. From there, it goes into Lake Champlain.
Understanding the Area's Size
The part of Au Sable Forks that is a CDP covers about 6.6 square kilometers (2.5 square miles). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny bit, about 0.06 square kilometers (0.02 square miles), is water.
Major Roads and Nearby Towns
New York State Route 9N runs through the middle of Au Sable Forks. This road can take you to other towns. For example, Keeseville is about 11 miles northeast. Jay is about 6 miles southwest. If you want to go to Plattsburgh, it's about 28 miles northeast. You can get there using NY-9N and Interstate 87.
Climate and River Challenges
The weather in Au Sable Forks changes a lot. Winters are very cold, and summers can be quite hot. The community has faced many floods over the years. Big floods in 1996 and 2011 caused a lot of damage. The 2011 flood, caused by Hurricane Irene, was the biggest ever recorded. It changed how the river flows. This has made ice jams less common now.
Earthquake in 2002
On April 20, 2002, a moderate earthquake happened near the town. It was a 5.0–5.3 magnitude earthquake. The shaking was very strong and damaged roads, bridges, buildings, and chimneys.
People of Au Sable Forks
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 666 | — | |
| 2010 | 559 | −16.1% | |
| 2020 | 509 | −8.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The number of people living in Au Sable Forks has changed over time. In 2000, there were 666 people. By 2010, the population was 559. In 2020, it was 509. Most people living here are White. A small number are from other racial backgrounds.
Family Life and Age Groups
In 2000, there were 265 households in the area. About one-third of these households had children under 18. Many households were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.5 people.
The population includes people of all ages. About 27.6% were under 18 years old. About 15.8% were 65 years or older. The average age was 36 years old.
Income and Economy
In 2000, the typical household income was about $32,578 per year. For families, it was around $37,500. About 13.5% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included some children and older adults. People from Au Sable Forks are sometimes called "Au Sable Forksters."
Community Life and Services
The name "Au Sable" comes from two French words meaning "Of Sand." It should always be written as two separate words.
Local Government and Services
Au Sable Forks is unique because it's in two different counties. This means it has ties to two county seats. The Black Brook Town Offices are in Clinton County. Its county seat is in Plattsburgh. The Jay Government Offices are in Essex County. Its county seat is in Elizabethtown.
The community has important services run by volunteers. These include the Au Sable Forks Volunteer Fire Department. There is also a volunteer Au Sable Forks Ambulance Team.
Schools and Education
There is one school still open in Au Sable Forks. The Au Sable Forks Elementary School is located in Essex County. Older students go to Au Sable Valley High School in Clintonville, NY. This school serves both junior high and high school students.
Places of Worship and Health Care
You can find three different churches along Main Street. These are Holy Name Catholic Church, United Methodist Church, and St. James Episcopal Church. For health care, there is the Au Sable Forks Health Care Facility. The Au Sable Valley Dental Service is also nearby.
Library and Post Office
The Au Sable Forks Free Library is on Church Lane. The US Post Office is on Forge Street.
History of Industry and Business
The community has a rich history of industry. James Rogers and John Weed Rogers were important business owners. They settled in Au Sable Forks before 1830. They started the J & J Rogers Company. This company owned iron mines and operated forges. They also had a pulp mill and a paper mill. These businesses employed many people in the area. They even built homes for their workers.
In October 1970, the large Paper Mill closed down. This greatly impacted the local economy. Many men from Au Sable Forks now work for the New York State Department of Law Enforcement. Some are Correctional Officers, and others are NYS Troopers.
See also
In Spanish: Au Sable Forks para niños
