High Falls, New York facts for kids
High Falls is a small community in Ulster County, New York. In 2020, about 700 people lived there. Parts of High Falls are located in different towns like Marbletown, Rosendale, and Rochester.
Quick facts for kids
High Falls, New York
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Buildings in the High Falls Historic District
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Location in Ulster County and the state of New York.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Ulster |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.69 sq mi (4.38 km2) |
| • Land | 1.69 sq mi (4.38 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 700 |
| • Density | 414.20/sq mi (159.97/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
12440
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| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-34451 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0952733 |
Contents
History of High Falls
Important old buildings in High Falls, like the High Falls Historic District and the Lock Tender's House and Canal Store Ruin, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special places that help tell America's story.
Why High Falls Got Its Name
High Falls gets its name from a large waterfall on the Rondout Creek. The creek flows over a big rock formation here. This waterfall was a great source of water power. People who ran mills, called millers, came to this area a long time ago. The first bridge to nearby Stone Ridge was built around this time. The stone Jacob DePuy House, built in 1797, is a good example of buildings from this early period.
The Canal Era
In the early 1800s, a factory in High Falls made cotton and wool. This made the hamlet a center for local manufacturing. It served many farms in the area. This led to the building of the Delaware and Hudson (D&H) Canal in 1828. The D&H Canal was built to move coal from Pennsylvania to New York City. The coal was loaded onto ships in Kingston and then sailed down the Hudson River.
High Falls was important for the canal because of its location. It had a key water crossing with an aqueduct designed by John A. Roebling. It was also a frequent stop for canal boats. Natural cement was also found nearby in Rosendale during the canal's construction. This cement needed the mill power from High Falls.
The canal changed High Falls from a quiet farm community to a busy, small industrial town. This was especially true after the canal was made bigger in 1850. It could then handle larger boats. The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company built facilities like a lock tender's house and a general store. Small shops and stores also opened nearby to serve the canal traffic. These buildings and the town's layout still exist today. They remind us of that busy time.
High Falls Today
When the canal stopped operating in 1899, development in High Falls slowed down. The area has not changed much since then. However, the state did move a part of Route 213 in 1956.
Before the canal closed, High Falls had already started to become a vacation spot. People traveling to Mohonk Mountain House would pass through High Falls. This helped the hamlet become a popular place for vacations and weekend trips. It is still known for this today. Many people from New York City have second homes in the nearby hills and fields. The shops and stores that once served canal traffic are now boutiques and restaurants. They cater to visitors on weekends and in the summer.
Geography
High Falls is located at 41°49′37″N 74°7′20″W / 41.82694°N 74.12222°W.
The United States Census Bureau says that High Falls covers about 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area.
As mentioned, parts of High Falls are in the towns of Marbletown and Rosendale. A small part also falls within the town of Rochester.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 627 | — | |
| 2010 | 627 | 0.0% | |
| 2020 | 700 | 11.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 627 people living in High Falls. There were 271 households and 169 families. The average household had about 2.3 people. The average family had about 2.9 people.
About 22.5% of the people were under 18 years old. About 13.6% were 65 years or older. The average age was 43 years.
High Falls in Pop Culture
High Falls has appeared in popular culture:
- An episode of the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series, called "Unidentified Flying Leonardo," was set in High Falls.
- Part of the 1961 movie Splendor in the Grass, starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty, was filmed at the waterfalls in the hamlet.
Images for kids
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The Jacob DePuy house
See also
In Spanish: High Falls para niños
