Hunter, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hunter, New York
|
|
|---|---|
Mary of the Mountain Church in Hunter
|
|
Location in Greene County and the state of New York.
|
|
.svg)
Location of New York in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Greene |
| Area | |
| • Total | 90.21 sq mi (233.65 km2) |
| • Land | 89.89 sq mi (232.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 3,035 |
| • Density | 33.644/sq mi (12.9895/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
12442
|
| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-039-36178 |
Hunter is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 3,035 people lived here. The town includes two villages: Hunter and Tannersville. You'll also find several smaller communities called hamlets, like Haines Falls and Platte Clove.
Hunter is located on the southern edge of Greene County. It's right next to the towns of Woodstock and Saugerties in Ulster County.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The town of Hunter was first created on January 27, 1813. Back then, it was called "Edwardsville." The name "Hunter" was chosen in 1814, named after a person named John Hunter. Over the years, the town's borders changed a bit, losing some land to nearby towns like Saugerties and Jewett.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Hunter became a very popular place for tourists. People would travel to the area using the Ulster and Delaware Railroad. This train line brought many visitors to the beautiful Catskill Mountains for vacations.
Where is Hunter?
Hunter covers about 90.7 square miles (235.0 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
The town is located within the Catskill Mountains and the Catskill Park. The southern and eastern borders of Hunter touch Ulster County. Many tall mountains, known as the Catskill High Peaks, are found in Hunter. This includes Hunter Mountain, which is the highest point in Greene County. It's also the second-highest mountain in the entire Catskills range!
How Many People Live in Hunter?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,025 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,960 | 91.2% | |
| 1840 | 2,019 | 3.0% | |
| 1850 | 1,849 | −8.4% | |
| 1860 | 1,698 | −8.2% | |
| 1870 | 1,524 | −10.2% | |
| 1880 | 1,882 | 23.5% | |
| 1890 | 2,436 | 29.4% | |
| 1900 | 2,788 | 14.4% | |
| 1910 | 2,699 | −3.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,309 | −14.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,299 | −0.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,166 | −5.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,028 | −6.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,799 | −11.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,742 | −3.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,252 | 29.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,116 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,721 | 28.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,732 | 0.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,035 | 11.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,721 people living in Hunter. By 2020, the population had grown to 3,035 people.
About 26.6% of the households in 2000 had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.25 people. The median age of people in the town was 41 years old. This means half the people were younger than 41, and half were older.
Communities and Important Places
The town of Hunter has several smaller communities and interesting spots:
- Edgewood – A small community in the southern part of town, located on New York State Route 214.
- Elka Park (ZIP Code 12427) – Another community south of Tannersville.
- Haines Falls (ZIP Code 12436) – A community east of Tannersville.
- Hunter (ZIP Code 12442) – This is a village located in the western part of the town, on New York State Route 23A.
- Kaaterskill Falls – A beautiful waterfall located east of Haines Falls.
- Lanesville (ZIP Code 12450) – A community in the southern part of the town, also on Route 214.
- Onteora Park – A private park north of Tannersville.
- Platte Clove (ZIP Code 12427) – A community in the eastern part of the town.
- Tannersville (ZIP Code 12485) – This is another village, located east of Hunter village.
- Twilight Park – A private park found in Haines Falls.
Fun Things to Do and See
Hunter is known for several interesting places and activities:
- Camp Loyaltown is a summer camp in the village of Hunter. It opened in 1949 and helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Each summer, over 650 campers come to enjoy traditional camp activities in a scenic setting. The camp also brings staff from all over the world, which helps the local economy.
- Camp Jened was another summer camp for people with disabilities. It was important for the disability rights movement and the idea of independent living.
- Hunter Mountain is the tallest peak in Greene County and the second tallest in the Catskills. It's home to the Hunter Mountain ski area. In winter, you can go skiing and tubing. In summer, you can enjoy biking, sightseeing, zip lining, and hiking. The ski resort is a major employer in Hunter, and its seasonal activities greatly affect the town's economy.
Famous People From Hunter
- Robert O. Tyler (1831–1874) – He was a general during the U.S. Civil War.
- John Francis Hylan (1868–1936) – He served as the 96th mayor of New York City.
