Fallsburg, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fallsburg, New York
Town
Town hall
Location within Sullivan County, New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Sullivan
Area
• Total	79.11 sq mi (204.89 km2)
• Land	77.62 sq mi (201.04 km2)
• Water	1.49 sq mi (3.86 km2)
Elevation	1,168 ft (356 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,192
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12733
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-25241
GNIS feature ID	0978951

Fallsburg is a town located in Sullivan County, New York, United States. It's in the eastern part of the county. In 2020, about 14,192 people lived there. It's important not to confuse the town of Fallsburg with the smaller area called the hamlet of Fallsburg, which is inside the town.

History of Fallsburg

Fallsburg became a town on March 9, 1826. The New York State Legislature created it from parts of two other towns: Thompson and Neversink. The town got its name from a beautiful waterfall on the Neversink River.

The first town meeting happened on April 4, 1826. It took place in a schoolhouse where the hamlet of Fallsburg is today.

Early Life and Changes

The Neversink River flows through Fallsburg from north to south. It was very important for the town's early growth. In the late 1700s, the land near the falls was known for being good for farming and not too expensive. This brought many new settlers from Ulster County. By 1800, the areas along the river were well-settled.

In the early 1800s, Fallsburg was mostly a farming community. Life was simple and people often had to travel far to trade goods. Getting mail from Kingston could take as long as 90 days!

Things changed a lot when the Delaware and Hudson Canal opened in 1828. This made it easier to trade goods, with Ellenville becoming the closest trading spot. Before this, Hasbrouck was the main settlement. Many sawmills and gristmills were built in the 1790s. The hamlet of Fallsburg was a busy business area for many years. It had different shops and even its own post office from 1846 to 1923.

Fallsburg is located in the Catskill Mountains. It was once a very popular summer vacation spot, especially for Jewish families. This area was known as the "Borscht Belt."

Geography of Fallsburg

Fallsburg is located in a scenic area. Its eastern border touches Ulster County. The town is surrounded by other towns: Mamakating to the southeast, Thompson to the south, Liberty to the west, Neversink to the north, and Wawarsing to the east.

The town has many small lakes, ponds, and wooded areas. You can also see former dairy farms.

Bodies of Water

Some of the main bodies of water in Fallsburg include:

• Loch Sheldrake (also called Sheldrake Pond)
• Echo Lake
• Evans Lake
• Morningside Lake
• Pleasure Lake
• East Pond
• The Neversink River

The town covers a total area of about 79 square miles (204.89 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small part being water.

Population of Fallsburg

Fallsburg has grown steadily over the years. Here's how the population has changed:

Arts and Culture in Fallsburg

Annual Events

Fallsburg celebrates Francis Currey Day every year. This day honors Francis S. Currey and other military veterans. Currey was a hero in World War II and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.

Fun and Entertainment

The Living Torah Museum, which is an Orthodox Jewish museum, has a branch in Fallsburg.

The area has also been a famous place for stand-up comedy since the mid-1900s. Many comedy legends performed here, including:

• Woody Allen
• Rodney Dangerfield
• Jerry Seinfeld
• Henny Youngman
• Sid Caesar
• Billy Crystal
• Buddy Hackett
• Gabe Kaplan
• Andy Kaufman
• Joan Rivers

Even Jerry Lewis worked as a busboy here before he became famous. He would entertain customers while cleaning tables, which helped him practice his comedy skills.

Fallsburg was also a popular training spot for famous prize fighters. Former world heavyweight champions like Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Leon Spinks, Ingemar Johansson, and Floyd Patterson all trained in the area.

Parks and Recreation

You can find several parks and golf courses in Fallsburg. These include:

• Terry Brae Golf Course
• Lochmor Golf Course
• Pines Golf Course
• Morningside Park
• Mountaindale Park

The Shree Muktananda Ashram is an international retreat center located in Fallsburg. It's a place where students of Siddha Yoga can practice their daily spiritual exercises.

Education in Fallsburg

Local Schools

The Fallsburg Central School District serves the town of Fallsburg. The district's sports teams are known as the "Comets." The schools in the district are:

• Benjamin Cosor Elementary School
• Fallsburg Junior Senior High School

Colleges

Fallsburg is home to two colleges:

• Sullivan County Community College, now called SUNY Sullivan, is a two-year college.
• Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe is a rabbinical college.

Summer Camps

Fallsburg is a popular spot for summer camps.

• Stagedoor Manor is a famous performing arts summer camp in Loch Sheldrake, New York. Each summer, it holds three three-week sessions. Around 280 campers, aged 10 to 18, attend each session to learn about theater.
• Lansman's Day Camp, located in Woodbourne, New York, has been open since 1949. It's the longest continuously running day camp in Sullivan County. It offers an eight-week session, with shorter options available. Campers range from three years old to 14 years old.

Public Library

The Fallsburg Library serves the town and is located in South Fallsburg. It has been helping the community since 1991.

Correctional Facilities

Fallsburg is home to two correctional facilities operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services.

• Woodbourne Correctional Facility is a medium-security facility for men, located in the hamlet of Woodbourne, New York.
• Sullivan Correctional Facility is a maximum-security facility for men, located in Fallsburg. Sullivan Correctional is scheduled to close in November 2024.

Notable People from Fallsburg

Many interesting people have connections to Fallsburg:

• Francis S. Currey – A former United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in World War II. He grew up in Hurleyville.
• Gavin DeGraw – A well-known singer.
• Joey DeGraw – A singer-songwriter.
• Sari Feldman – A librarian.
• Andrew Neiderman – A former English teacher at Fallsburg Central High School and a famous author of horror novels, including The Devil's Advocate, which was made into a movie starring Al Pacino.
• Rufus Palen – A U.S. congressman who grew up in Fallsburg.
• Joseph "Diamond Jo" Reynolds – A wealthy steamship owner, born in Fallsburg.
• Allen Young – A writer who grew up in Glen Wild.

Communities and Locations in Fallsburg

The town of Fallsburg includes several smaller communities and locations:

• Divine Corners – A place north of Loch Sheldrake, known for its bungalow colonies.
• Fallsburg – The hamlet of Fallsburg, also known as "Neversink Falls" or "Old Falls," is on Route 42.
• Glen Wild – A hamlet near the southern border of the town.
• Hasbrouck – A hamlet in the northern part of the town.
• Hurleyville – A hamlet formerly called "Luzon Station."
• Loch Sheldrake – A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town on Route 52.
• Mountain Dale – A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town, once called "Sandburg."
• South Fallsburg – A hamlet near the western border of the town.
• Woodridge – The Village of Woodridge, formerly known as "Centreville."
• Woodbourne – A hamlet on Route 52, north of Fallsburg hamlet.
• Shree Muktananda Ashram – Located on Brickman Road, it is the Western headquarters of the Siddha Yoga organization.
• Gardnertown – A former town between Fallsburg and Woodridge that no longer exists.

Images for kids

• 

  Characteristic evergreen forest at Fallsburg

• 

  Lake Nityananda, on the property of the Shree Muktananda Ashram, Fallsburg

See also

In Spanish: Fallsburg para niños