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Downsville, New York
Downsville, New York is located in New York
Downsville, New York
Downsville, New York
Location in New York
Country United States
State New York
County Delaware
Town Colchester
Area
 • Total 4.47 sq mi (11.58 km2)
 • Land 4.39 sq mi (11.38 km2)
 • Water 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2)
Elevation
1,125 ft (343 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 474
 • Density 107.92/sq mi (41.67/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
13755
Area code Area code 607
FIPS code 36-20852
GNIS feature ID 948622

Downsville is a small community, sometimes called a 'hamlet,' located in Delaware County, New York, USA. It's part of the town of Colchester. In 2020, about 474 people lived there.

History of Downsville

Downsville has some interesting historical spots. One is the Downsville Bridge, which is a special covered bridge. Another is the historic Union Free School. Both of these places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites that are protected.

The community of Downsville got its name from a man named Abel Downs. He owned a tannery there. A tannery is a place where animal hides are turned into leather. Downsville is located along the East Branch of the Delaware River.

A big dam was built on this part of the river near Downsville. Workers from New York City finished building it in 1954. This dam created the Pepacton Reservoir, which is a very important part of New York City's water supply system. It helps provide drinking water for millions of people.

Years ago, the Delaware and Northern Railroad used to run south of Downsville. There was even a train station on Depot Street.

Downsville Central School is located on Maple Avenue. This school serves students from Downsville and nearby areas, including places like East Branch. The school colors are purple and white, and their mascot is the Eagle.

Geography of Downsville

Downsville is in the northern part of the town of Colchester. It's located right where a small stream called Downs Brook meets the East Branch Delaware River.

New York State Route 30 is a main road that goes through Downsville. If you go southwest on Route 30, it's about 15 miles (24 km) to the community of East Branch. If you go east, it's about 26 miles (42 km) along the Pepacton Reservoir to Margaretville.

Another road, New York State Route 206, also passes through Downsville. Going northwest on Route 206 takes you about 10 miles (16 km) to Walton. If you head southeast, it's about 14 miles (23 km) to Roscoe.

The United States Census Bureau says that the Downsville area covers about 4.0 square miles (10.4 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.9 square miles (10.2 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.08 square miles (0.2 square kilometers), is water.

Population of Downsville

Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 474
U.S. Decennial Census

The population of Downsville changes over time. According to the 2020 census, there were 474 people living in Downsville. This number helps us understand how many people call Downsville home.

See also

Learn more about Downsville in Spanish!

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