Brasher, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brasher, New York
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Map highlighting Brasher's location within St. Lawrence County.
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 Brasher, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | St. Lawrence |
| Area | |
| • Total | 92.07 sq mi (238.46 km2) |
| • Land | 91.11 sq mi (235.96 km2) |
| • Water | 0.96 sq mi (2.50 km2) |
| Elevation | 240 ft (73 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,512 |
| • Estimate
(2016)
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2,410 |
| • Density | 26.45/sq mi (10.21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 36-07938 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978750 |
Brasher is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, in the United States. In 2010, about 2,512 people lived there. The town was named after Philip Brasher, who was one of the first landowners in the area.
Brasher is in the northeastern part of St. Lawrence County. It is located southeast of the village of Massena.
Contents
History of Brasher
Settlers began arriving in the Brasher area after 1815. The town was officially formed in 1825. It was created from a larger area that was once part of the town of Massena.
In 1827, a small piece of the town of Lawrence was added to Brasher. The border between Lawrence and Brasher used to be a straight line. It was later changed to follow the middle of the St. Regis River.
The iron industry was very important in Brasher's early days. People mined and melted iron ore. Later, they used the iron to make things like stoves.
Geography and Nature in Brasher
Brasher covers a total area of about 92.1 square miles (238.46 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 91.2 square miles (235.96 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.9 square miles (2.50 square kilometers), is water.
Rivers and Streams
The St. Regis River flows through the western part of Brasher. This river is a tributary (a smaller river that flows into a larger one) of the St. Lawrence River. The Deer River joins the St. Regis River in a place called Helena.
Other smaller streams in Brasher include Bell Brook, Squeak Brook, Lawrence Brook, Red Water Brook, and Trout Brook.
Walter Pratt Memorial Forest
In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built a dam on Red Water Brook. This created a pond. Today, this area is known as the Walter Pratt Memorial Forest. It's also called the "CC Dam" by local people.
This forest is a great place for outdoor activities. It has areas for primitive camping and picnics. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation manages it.
Trails and Outdoor Activities
Brasher has nearly 20,000 acres of state-owned forest lands. The DEC maintains many miles of trails here. These trails are perfect for:
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Fishing
- Cross-country skiing
- Horseback riding
- Snowmobiling
Roads and Borders
New York State Route 37C is a main road that runs east to west in northern Brasher. New York State Route 11C goes through the southwestern part of the town.
The eastern border of Brasher is shared with Franklin County. The northeastern corner of the town borders the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.
Population and Community Life
The population of Brasher has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived in the town during different census years:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 828 | — | |
| 1840 | 2,118 | 155.8% | |
| 1850 | 2,582 | 21.9% | |
| 1860 | 3,377 | 30.8% | |
| 1870 | 3,342 | −1.0% | |
| 1880 | 3,578 | 7.1% | |
| 1890 | 2,910 | −18.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,703 | −7.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,179 | −19.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,922 | −11.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,706 | −11.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,892 | 10.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,916 | 1.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,536 | 32.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,410 | −5.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,375 | −1.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,124 | −10.6% | |
| 2000 | 2,337 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,512 | 7.5% | |
| 2016 (est.) | 2,410 | −4.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,337 people living in Brasher. About 25% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the town was 38 years.
Schools and Services
Most students in Brasher attend schools in the Brasher Falls Central School District. This district is also known as "St. Lawrence Central."
Electricity for most of the town comes from National Grid. Some areas in the northwest get electricity from Massena Electric.
The hamlets of Brasher Falls and Winthrop have a public sewer system. The hamlet of Helena has a public water system. This was needed because the well water in that area was not safe to drink.
For phone and internet, residents can choose from several providers. These include Verizon, Nicholville Telephone Company, SLIC, and Time-Warner. Wireless phone service is available from Verizon Wireless and AT&T. Enbridge provides natural gas to the Brasher Falls-Winthrop area.
Communities and Locations in Brasher
Brasher has several small communities and important locations:
- Brasher Center – This hamlet is on County Road 53. It's on the west bank of the St. Regis River. A dam and a mill were built here in 1826, starting the community.
- Brasher Falls – This hamlet is in the southeastern part of the town. It's on NY-11C and sits on both sides of the St. Regis River.
- Brasher Iron Works – This location is on County Road 55 in the northern part of town. It was home to iron factories that first opened in 1836.
- Deer River – This is a stream located in the southern part of the town.
- Helena – This hamlet is where NY-37C and County Road 37 meet. It's on the south bank of the St. Regis River. The community was founded in 1819 and named after Helen Pitcairn.
- Ironton – This location is east of Brasher Iron Works. It's in the northeastern part of Brasher. It was once at the junction of Smith Road and an old railroad line.
See also
In Spanish: Brasher para niños
