Big Indian, New York facts for kids

Big Indian is a small community, called a hamlet, located in Ulster County, New York. It is part of the Town of Shandaken and sits within the beautiful Catskill Park. You can find it along State Route 28, about 17 miles west of Woodstock. The Esopus Creek flows through this area, and Birch Creek joins it from the north. Nearby are Big Indian Hollow and Big Indian Mountain.

How Big Indian Got Its Name

The name "Big Indian" comes from a fascinating local story about a Munsee Native American man named Winneesook. He was very tall, about seven feet, which is why people called him "Big Indian."

Winneesook fell in love with a local woman named Gertrude Molyneux. Gertrude's parents did not approve of their relationship and arranged for her to marry another man, Joseph Bundy. But Gertrude did not want to marry Bundy. Instead, she ran away with Winneesook into the wilderness.

Years later, Joseph Bundy was looking for a lost cow. He still held a grudge against Winneesook and accused him of stealing the cow. When Bundy found Winneesook, he shot him, causing a serious injury. Winneesook managed to crawl to a pine tree, where Gertrude later found him. Sadly, he died there.

After Winneesook's death and burial, Gertrude and her children decided to live at that very spot. Over time, a community grew there, which became known as the hamlet of Big Indian. People say that the special pine tree stood until the railroad was built through Big Indian in the 1880s.

Climate in Big Indian

Big Indian has a type of weather known as a humid continental climate. This means the area experiences big changes in temperature throughout the year.

• Summers: They are usually warm to hot, and often quite humid.
• Winters: They are cold, and sometimes very cold, with snow and ice.

This climate is officially labeled as "Dfb" on climate maps, according to the Köppen Climate Classification system.

Famous People From Big Indian

Some notable individuals have lived in or are connected to Big Indian:

• Alexander Chee, an author
• Lhasa de Sela, a singer
• Dean Gitter, an entrepreneur
• Albert Rudolph, a spiritual teacher

See also

In Spanish: Big Indian para niños