Carmel (pronounced CAR-mel) is a town located in Putnam County, New York, United States. It's a great place to learn about history and nature. In 2020, about 33,576 people lived here.

The Town of Carmel is in the southern part of Putnam County. It is right next to Westchester County. Carmel is about 50 miles north of New York City. It is also about 10 miles west of Danbury, Connecticut. Carmel does not have any official villages. However, the areas of Carmel and Mahopac are quite large. Many people think of them as villages.

History of Carmel Town
- Putnam County Courthouse History
- Important Events in Carmel
Education in Carmel
- Carmel Central School District Schools
- Mahopac Central School District Schools
Geography and Landmarks
- Notable Places in Carmel
- Communities and Areas in Carmel
Population and People
- Famous People from Carmel
See also

History of Carmel Town

The statue of Sybil Ludington on Gleneida Avenue

The original 1814 Putnam County Courthouse

The land where Carmel is now was first home to the Wappinger people. In 1691, they sold the land to Dutch traders. Later, in 1697, a rich merchant from New York named Adolphus Philipse bought the land. He received a special paper from King William III of England. This paper gave him ownership of all the land that is now Putnam County.

The town of Carmel was settled around 1740 by George Hughson. A famous event happened here during the American Revolutionary War. On April 26, 1777, British soldiers started burning nearby Danbury, Connecticut. A brave 16-year-old girl named Sybil Ludington heard the news. She rode her horse all night long. She rode through Carmel, Mahopac, Kent Cliffs, and Farmers Mills. Sybil warned everyone that the British were coming. She returned home at dawn. Today, a statue of Sybil Ludington stands next to Lake Gleneida. It honors her amazing ride.

Carmel became a town on March 17, 1795. It was formed from parts of other towns. At that time, it was still part of Dutchess County. In 1812, Dutchess County was divided. This created Putnam County. Carmel was chosen as the main town, or county seat, for Putnam County. In 1861, a small piece of Carmel was given to the town of Putnam Valley.

Putnam County Courthouse History

The Putnam County Courthouse was built in 1814. It is the second oldest courthouse in New York State that is still in use. General James Townsend, who was from Carmel, designed the building. It has a classic look and is a well-known building on Gleneida Avenue. A jail was added to the courthouse in 1855. A new Putnam County Courthouse was finished in 2008. It is also located on Gleneida Avenue, close to the old one.

Important Events in Carmel

1965 Air Incident: On December 4, 1965, two airplanes had a mid-air collision. This happened near Carmel.
1971 Tornado: On July 29, 1971, a strong tornado hit near the town center. It caused a lot of damage.
1974 Downtown Fire: On October 22, 1974, a big fire destroyed many businesses. These businesses were on Gleneida Avenue. Over 200 volunteer firefighters helped put out the blaze.
1982-1983 Track Star: Mike Stahr, a track star from Carmel High School, was the best in the U.S. for the mile run. He set state records. He also won the Millrose Games mile race two years in a row.
1989 Tornado: On July 10, 1989, another strong tornado hit Carmel. It caused injuries and a lot of damage.
September 11, 2001 Memorial: Eight Carmel residents sadly passed away in the September 11 attacks. The town has a special memorial for them. It is at Spain-Cornerstone Park.
2007 Revolutionary War Event: On April 27-28, 2007, Carmel hosted a special event. It was a Revolutionary War militia camp. This event celebrated Sybil Ludington's brave ride.

Carmel Police Department patrol vehicle

Education in Carmel

The Town of Carmel has two main school districts. These are the Carmel Central School District and the Mahopac Central School District. Some smaller parts of the town are in other school districts. These include Lakeland, North Salem, and Brewster Central School Districts.

Carmel Central School District Schools

The Carmel Central School District covers a large area. It serves about 5,000 students. These students come from six different towns.

George Fischer Middle School: This is Carmel's main middle school. It was built in 1963. The school is named after George F. Fischer, a former school board member. It has many students, from grades 5 to 8. The school is well-known for its music program.
Carmel High School: This high school was built in 1929. It is located on Fair Street. About 1,843 students attend Carmel High School. The building has had several additions over the years. The newest addition, built in 2007, has science classrooms and a library.
St. James the Apostle: This is a Catholic elementary school in Carmel. It opened in 1954.

Mahopac Central School District Schools

The Mahopac Central School District has six public schools. They serve 4,138 students in Mahopac, New York.

Elementary Schools: There are three schools for grades K-5. These are Lakeview, Fulmar Road, and Austin Road Elementary Schools.
Mahopac Middle School: This school is for students in grades 6-8.
Mahopac High School: This school serves students in grades 9-12.
Nursery School: The district also runs a nursery school. It is located at the Mahopac Falls school.

Long ago, Mahopac had five small, one-room school houses. In 1935, they were all joined together. This became the central school, which is now Lakeview Elementary School.

St. John the Evangelist was a Catholic elementary school in Mahopac. It was open from 1955 until 2011. The school building is still there. It is across the street from the active Church.

Geography and Landmarks

Carmel covers about 40.7 square miles (105.39 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. About 4.6 square miles (12.40 square kilometers) is water. The southern border of Carmel is the border of Westchester County. The town of Somers is right next door.

Carmel is about 50 miles north of New York City. It is also about 10 miles west of Danbury, Connecticut.

Putnam Valley/Kent	Kent	Patterson
Putnam Valley		Southeast
	Carmel

Yorktown	Somers	North Salem

Notable Places in Carmel

Carmel Town Hall

Chuang Yen Monastery: This is a large Buddhist monastery.
Gilead Cemetery: A historic cemetery.
Putnam Hospital Center: A hospital that opened in 1964.
Reed Memorial Library: A local public library.

Communities and Areas in Carmel

Carmel is made up of several smaller communities and areas:

Baldwin Place: Located where US 6 and NY 118 meet.
Boyds Corners
Carmel: The main hamlet and county seat.
Carmel Hills: South of the Carmel hamlet.
Crafts: Named after the Craft Family.
Field Corners
Hopkins Corners
Houseman Corners
Kent
Kent Cliffs
Lake Carmel
Ludington
Mahopac: A large hamlet where the town government is located.
Mahopac Falls: In the southwestern part of town.
Mahopac Mines: Old abandoned mines.
Mahopac Point: A former private community on Lake Mahopac.
Mahopac Golf Club: An 18-hole golf and beach club.
Rock Hill Camp: A Girl Scout camp on Long Pond.
The Sedgewood Club: A private community with golf and tennis.
Secor Corners
Seven Hills
Stillwater: In the southwestern part of town.
Thompkins Corners
Tilly Foster: Southeast of Carmel hamlet.

Population and People

Here's a quick look at the people living in Carmel:

Total Population (2020): 33,576
Males: About 49% of the population.
Females: About 51% of the population.
Median Age: The average age is about 40.1 years old.
Average Household Size: About 2.99 people per home.
Median Household Income (2015): About $105,406.
High School Graduation Rate: About 94.1% of people have graduated high school.
College Graduation Rate: About 42.1% of people have graduated college.

Famous People from Carmel

Many interesting people have lived in Carmel:

Lou Albano (1933–2009): Known as "Captain Lou," a famous professional wrestler and manager.
Nancy Allen (born 1950): A talented classical harpist.
Leo Burmester (1944–2007): An actor who appeared on stage and television.
Daniel Drew (1797–1879): A well-known businessman and financier.
Dave Fleming (born 1969): A professional baseball pitcher.
Ryan Kelly (born 1991): A professional basketball player.
Lisa Lane (1933–2024): The U.S. Women's Chess Champion in 1959.
Larry Laoretti (born 1939): A professional golfer.
Bob May (1939–2009): An actor and stuntman, famous for playing The Robot in Lost in Space.
Caleb McLaughlin (born 2001): An actor, known for his role in Stranger Things.
Jim Ryan (born 1939): A former news anchor for Good Day New York.
Sabrina Vega (born 1995): A member of the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team.

Carmel, New York facts for kids

Contents