Kent, New York Facts for Kids

The Town of Kent is a community located in Putnam County, New York, in the United States. In 2020, about 12,900 people lived there. The town gets its name from an early family who settled in the area. It is in the north-central part of Putnam County. Many of the lakes in Kent are actually reservoirs that provide drinking water for New York City.

History of Kent
Geography of Kent
Population of Kent
Communities and Locations in Kent
Notable People from Kent
See also

History of Kent

Early Settlements and Native Americans

Kent was once part of a large land grant called the Philipse Patent, given in 1697. At that time, the area was home to the Wappinger tribe. Daniel Nimham was a very important leader of the Wappingers. He was known as the last chief of his tribe in the Hudson Valley.

European settlers first arrived in the mid-1700s. They came from places like New England and Westchester County. One of the first settlers was Elisha Cole. He and his wife, Hannah Smalley, built a mill called Coles Mills in 1748. This mill was used until 1895, when it was covered by the West Branch Reservoir.

Forming the Town of Kent

Kent was originally part of a larger area called Frederickstown Precinct, created in 1772. This precinct also included parts of what are now the towns of Carmel, Patterson, and Southeast. Many early families, like the Kents, Townsends, and Ludingtons, helped settle the area.

A famous story from the American Revolutionary War involves Sybil Ludington. She was the daughter of Col. Henry Ludington, who lived in Kent. In 1777, when she was just 16, Sybil rode about 40 miles (64 km) at night. She was calling her father's militia to action. A statue of Sybil Ludington stands near Lake Gleneida in Putnam County.

In 1795, the towns of Carmel and Patterson were separated from Frederickstown. The remaining part became the "Town of Frederick." In 1817, its name was changed to "Kent."

Changes in Economy and Growth

For a long time, Kent's economy relied on dairy farming. Farmers produced milk for New York City. However, in the late 1800s, many reservoirs were built to supply water to the city. These reservoirs covered many farms. By the 1920s, dairy farming had mostly stopped.

Around this time, more people started moving to Kent from the city. This was partly because cars made it easier to travel. Lake Carmel, an area around an artificial lake, became a major community in the 1920s.

Today, Kent is home to the Nimham Mountain Fire Tower. It is 82.5 feet (25.1 m) tall and was built in 1940. It is the tallest remaining fire tower in New York state. The Chuang Yen Monastery is also in Kent. It has the largest indoor statue of Buddha in the Western Hemisphere.

Geography of Kent

Lake Carmel, despite its name, is located in Kent.

Kent is a very hilly area located about 60 miles (97 km) north of New York City. It is in the north-central part of Putnam County. Kent shares borders with several other towns. These include Philipstown and Putnam Valley to the west. To the east is Patterson, and to the south is Carmel. The northern border of Kent is also the border of Dutchess County.

Kent offers many outdoor activities. There are two state parks: Wonder Lake in the east and Fahnestock in the west. A part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail also runs through the town. Thousands of acres of protected land offer even more chances to explore nature.

Canopus Lake is found in Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park.

The town has many beautiful lakes. Some of these, like Sagamore Lake, Kentwood Lake, and White Pond, were once popular for summer vacations. Now, many people live around these lakes all year. Kent also has two large reservoirs that are part of New York City's water system. These are Boyds Corner and West Branch. The West Branch Reservoir is a key part of the water supply coming from the Catskill and Delaware areas.

Major roads like Interstate 84 and the Taconic State Parkway pass through Kent.

Population of Kent

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	1,801	—
1830	1,928	7.1%
1840	1,830	−5.1%
1850	1,557	−14.9%
1860	1,479	−5.0%
1870	1,547	4.6%
1880	1,361	−12.0%
1890	1,147	−15.7%
1900	1,026	−10.5%
1910	968	−5.7%
1920	696	−28.1%
1930	770	10.6%
1940	1,546	100.8%
1950	2,146	38.8%
1960	3,924	82.9%
1970	8,106	106.6%
1980	12,433	53.4%
1990	13,183	6.0%
2000	14,009	6.3%
2010	13,507	−3.6%
2016 (est.)	13,283	−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

According to the census in 2000, there were 14,009 people living in Kent. The population density was about 345 people per square mile (133 people per square kilometer). The town had 4,868 households. About 38% of these households had children under 18 living with them.

The median age in Kent was 38 years old. This means half the people were younger than 38, and half were older. For every 100 females, there were about 98 males. The average income for a household in Kent was about $72,346 per year.

Communities and Locations in Kent

The Chuang Yen Monastery houses the largest indoor statue of Buddha in the Western Hemisphere.

Kent is made up of several smaller communities and interesting places:

Allen Corners – a small community in the northwest.
Berkshire Terrace – a community in the northern part of town.
Camp Hines – a specific location.
Carmel Park Estates – another specific location.
Clear Pool Camp – a place with this name.
Coles Mills – a historic community, now under the West Branch Reservoir.
Clarence Fahnestock State Park – a large state park in the western part of town.
Farmers Mills – a community in the northwest.
Gipsy Trail Club – a specific club location.
Hill & Dale Country Club – located in the Palmer Lake Community.
Lake Carmel – a community in the eastern part of town.
Kent Cliffs – a specific location.
Kent Corners – a community north of Lake Carmel.
Kent Hills – a community south of Ludingtonville.
Kent Lakes – where the Town Hall is located.
Kentwood Estates – a community in the northern part of town.
Ludingtonville – a community near the northern town line.
Meads Corners – a specific location.
Nimham Mountain Fire Tower – the tallest historic fire tower in New York state.
Richardsville – a specific location.
Seven Hills Lake – a specific lake and area.
Wonder Lake State Park – a state park in the eastern part of town.
Yale Corners – a specific location.

Notable People from Kent

Lewis Ludington – a successful businessman who was born in Kent. He was known for his work in lumber and real estate.
John Corigliano and Mark Adamo – both are famous composers. They split their time between their homes in Manhattan and Kent Cliffs.
George Whipple III – a lawyer and reporter for NY1. He grew up in Kent.

Kent, New York facts for kids

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