Keeseville, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keeseville, New York
Hamlet and CDP
Richard Keese II house (1823)
Location in Clinton County and the state of New York.
Country	United States
State	New York
Counties	Clinton, Essex
Towns	Au Sable and Chesterfield
Incorporated	May 1878
Dissolved	December 31, 2014
Area
• Total	6.13 sq mi (15.88 km2)
• Land	6.02 sq mi (15.59 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Elevation	417 ft (127 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,931
• Density	486.88/sq mi (187.98/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	12911, 12924, 12944
Area code(s)	518
FIPS code	36-39089
GNIS feature ID	2390918

Keeseville is a small community in New York, United States. It is known as a hamlet and a census-designated place. This means it is a small town-like area that is part of larger towns. Keeseville is located in both Clinton and Essex counties.

In 2010, about 1,815 people lived there. The community is named after the Keese family, who were early settlers from Vermont. Keeseville grew up along the Ausable River. The river's power helped run mills and other industries. Today, Keeseville is inside the beautiful Adirondack Park.

In 2013, the people of Keeseville voted to change how their local government worked. The village officially stopped being a separate village on December 31, 2014. Now, the towns of Au Sable and Chesterfield manage the area.

History of Keeseville

A detailed map of Keeseville from 1887, showing important buildings.

Early settlers from New England first called this area "Anderson Falls." This was after the American Revolutionary War. Around 1812, the name changed to "Keeseville." This new name honored a local businessman and manufacturer, Mr. Keese.

Keeseville quickly became an industrial center. It was known for its lumber, iron processing, and mills. For example, the Ausable Chasm Horse Nail Works made two tons of nails every day from 1863 to 1925. Many people of French Canadian background also moved to the area. This influence can still be seen, for example, in the French style of St. John's Catholic Church.

Over time, fewer people lived in Keeseville. Many moved to larger cities or to areas further west in New York.

The "Peanut RR"

From 1890 to 1924, a small railroad called the "Peanut RR" connected Keeseville. Its full name was the Keeseville, Ausable Chasm & Lake Champlain Railroad. This railroad helped connect the area to steamships at Port Kent and the larger Delaware & Hudson Railroad. It was important for local businesses and tourism, especially for people visiting the Ausable Chasm.

The "Peanut RR" was 5.6 miles long. It used the standard size tracks, which made it easy to connect with other train lines in the U.S. The old train station is now a historic site. A special marker was placed there on May 19, 2018. You can learn more about local history at the Anderson Falls Heritage Society in Keeseville.

Local Newspaper and Village Dissolution

The Essex County Republican newspaper moved to Keeseville in the 20th century. It became the Keeseville Essex County Republican. This newspaper shared local news with the community.

In January 2013, the people of Keeseville voted to dissolve the village. This means it would no longer have its own separate village government. The vote was 268 to 176 in favor of dissolving. The village officially dissolved on December 31, 2014. Now, the two towns it is in, Au Sable and Chesterfield, provide services and government for the area.

Historic Places in Keeseville

Several buildings and structures in Keeseville are very old and important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect special places. Some of these include:

• The Double-Span Metal Pratt Truss Bridge
• The Keeseville Historic District (a whole area with many historic buildings)
• Rembrandt Hall
• The Stone Arch Bridge
• The Swing Bridge
• The Tomlinson House

Geography of Keeseville

Keeseville is located at 44°30′13″N 73°28′52″W / 44.50361°N 73.48111°W / 44.50361; -73.48111. It is south of the city of Plattsburgh. It is also just west of Lake Champlain, a very large lake. The community is inside the beautiful Adirondack Park.

The Ausable River flows right through Keeseville. This river forms the border between Clinton and Essex counties. So, the northern part of Keeseville is in Clinton County, and the southern part is in Essex County.

North of Keeseville, the Ausable River has carved a deep, two-mile-long canyon. This canyon is called Ausable Chasm. It is a very popular place for tourists to visit.

Area and Roads

According to the United States Census Bureau, Keeseville covers about 3.2 square kilometers (1.2 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Keeseville is an important meeting point for several roads. These include US Route 9, New York State Route 22, and New York State Route 9N. Several county roads also meet here. The main highway, Interstate 87 (also called the Northway), passes west of Keeseville. You can get to Keeseville from Exit 34 on this highway.

Population of Keeseville

In 2000, about 1,850 people lived in Keeseville. There were 706 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people living in Keeseville were White (96.54%). A small number of people were African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people were also from other backgrounds or more than one race. About 1.35% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (34.4%) had children under 18 living with them. About 48.7% of households were married couples. The average household had about 2.57 people. The average family had about 3.04 people.

The population of Keeseville has a mix of ages. About 27.1% of the people were under 18 years old. About 12.8% were 65 years or older. The average age was 36 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 94.7 males.

Education

Students in Keeseville attend schools in the AuSable Valley Central School District.

Notable People from Keeseville

St. John's Catholic Church, designed in the French Gothic style.

Keeseville is the birthplace of some interesting people.

• William Henry Jackson (born April 4, 1843) was a famous photographer and painter. He took many pictures of the American frontier and during the Civil War. His photos helped people see what the American West was like. He joined the U.S. Army in 1862 and was at the Battle of Gettysburg. His old glass negatives are now kept in museums.

• Julia H. Thayer (1847-1944) was a poet and educator. She also came from Keeseville.

• Isaac G. Perry was an architect who lived in Keeseville. He designed many churches and public buildings in New York in the late 1800s. Many of his buildings are now on the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

In Spanish: Keeseville para niños