Cassadaga, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cassadaga, New York
Village
Cassadaga, New York Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Chautauqua
Town	Stockton
Area
• Total	1.06 sq mi (2.75 km2)
• Land	0.85 sq mi (2.19 km2)
• Water	0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2)
Elevation	1,339 ft (408 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	573
• Density	677.30/sq mi (261.64/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	14718
Area code(s)	716
FIPS code	36-12749
GNIS feature ID	0945970

Cassadaga is a small village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The name "Cassadaga" comes from the Seneca Indian language and means "water beneath the rocks." This name describes the natural springs in the area.

The village is located in the northeast part of the town of Stockton. It is near Lily Dale and north of Sinclairville. In 2020, about 569 people lived in Cassadaga.

History

The name Cassadaga comes from the Seneca language. It means "water under the rocks." This describes how water from natural springs flows under the ground, especially when streams dry up.

European Americans first settled Cassadaga in 1848. Many settlers came from New England and eastern New York. They moved west after the American Revolutionary War when new lands became available. The Seneca people and other Iroquois League tribes had to leave the area.

The village officially became a village in 1921.

Early settlers made money by cutting down large trees. They floated the logs down the creek to sell them. They also made charcoal and pearl ash from the trees. These products were important during the early Industrial Age.

The Dunkirk, Allegheny Valley and Pittsburgh Railroad was built near Cassadaga in 1871. It helped the village grow by bringing more people and visitors. It also helped transport wood and farm products to cities.

In winter, workers used to harvest ice from the lakes. They shipped this ice to other cities for refrigeration. A company also bottled spring water from the Middle Lake and sent it to places like Buffalo. These businesses stopped by the late 1920s. The railroad line was removed after a big flood in 1972.

Geography

Cassadaga is in western New York, about 1,340 feet (408 meters) above sea level. The village is at the south end of Lower Cassadaga Lake. Lily Dale is on the east side of Upper Cassadaga Lake. A narrow "Middle Lake" connects these two lakes.

The lakes are mainly fed by springs. Their water flows into Cassadaga Creek, then into the Conewango Creek, the Allegheny River, the Ohio River, and finally the Mississippi River. This water eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. This is interesting because the lakes are only about 10 miles (16 km) from Lake Erie, which is one of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes drain into the Saint Lawrence River and then to the Atlantic Ocean.

The United States Census Bureau says Cassadaga covers about 1.06 square miles (2.7 square kilometers). About 0.85 square miles (2.2 square kilometers) is land, and 0.22 square miles (0.6 square kilometers) is water.

The soil in the area comes from glaciers. It ranges from deep gravel in the valleys to heavy clay on the hilltops. Springs are common, but their water can have minerals like calcium, sulfur, and iron.

New York State Route 60 goes through the village. This main road connects to U.S. Route 20 (7 miles north), the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) (8.5 miles north), and Interstate 86 (17 miles south).

Population and Community

In 2000, there were 676 people living in Cassadaga. By 2010, the population was 634, and in 2020, it was 569.

Most people in the village are White. A small number of people are Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. Some people are of Hispanic or Latino origin.

About 26% of households had children under 18. Many households were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.44 people.

The village has two churches, one Catholic and one Baptist. These reflect the religious backgrounds of the early settlers. There are also Amish and Mennonites in the nearby area.

Cassadaga has a volunteer fire department and ambulance squad. They are part of a county-wide plan to help each other in emergencies.

Fun Activities

The Cassadaga Lakes are home to many kinds of fish. You can find bass, carp, crappie, muskellunge, northern pike, perch, trout, and walleye. If you want to fish, you usually need a New York fishing license. It's important not to move live bait from one area to another to stop the spread of fish diseases.

Hunting is also popular for both visitors and people who live here. The Fire Department even has an annual gun raffle. You need to follow state laws for firearms and get licenses for hunting.

There is a free public boat launch on the north end of the middle lake. It has parking for cars and trailers. The lakes are small enough for paddling or rowing. Motorboats must go slowly (5 mph) in much of the middle lake.

You can walk or jog around the lower and middle lakes. The path along the road shoulders is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long.

There's a public beach on the southeast side of the lower lake. It's usually open from mid-June until Labor Day. A lifeguard is on duty, and it's free for everyone. Next to the beach, there's a basketball court that's open from morning until evening when the weather is good.

Cassadaga is also on two snowmobile trails. These trails connect to over 100 miles (160 km) of marked trails in the county for winter riding. You need to follow state rules for snowmobiles.

Notable people

• Milton Earl Beebe – He was an architect, someone who designs buildings.
• Roxanne Pulitzer – She lived in Cassadaga when she was a child.

See also

In Spanish: Cassadaga para niños