Kerhonkson, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kerhonkson Formerly known as Middleport
hamlet and CDP
Center of town along Route 209
Nickname(s):  K-Town; Kerhamptons
Location in Ulster County and the state of New York.
Country	United States
State	New York
Region	Hudson Valley
County	Ulster
Area
• Total	5.3 sq mi (13.7 km2)
Elevation	262 ft (80 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,722
• Density	324.91/sq mi (125.69/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code	12446
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-39397
GNIS feature ID	954549
Website	www.townofrochester.net

Kerhonkson (pronounced kər-HONGK-sən) is a small community in Ulster County, New York, United States. It's known as a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). In 2020, about 1,722 people lived there.

Kerhonkson is split between two towns: Rochester and Wawarsing. Most of it is in Rochester. The main road through the hamlet is US 209. Another important road, US 44 / NY 55, starts here. The Kerhonkson Zip Code (12446) covers a larger area, including parts of Rochester, Wawarsing, and even a bit of Olive.

You can find Soyuzivka, a Ukrainian resort and cultural center, within the Kerhonkson Zip Code area.

Exploring Kerhonkson's Location

Kerhonkson is located at 41.774485°N 74.297480°W. It covers about 5.3 square miles (13.7 square kilometers) of land. The community sits in the valley of Rondout Creek, which flows into the Hudson River. It's also right next to the Shawangunk Ridge, a mountain range famous for rock climbing and its amazing variety of plants and animals.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve is also nearby, within the Kerhonkson Zip Code area, along Route 44/55.

Understanding Kerhonkson's Population

In 2010, there were 1,684 people living in Kerhonkson. These people lived in 684 households, and 433 of those were families.

About 92.6% of the people were White, 1.8% were African American, and 1.3% were Asian. Around 7.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

About 29.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.46 people. The average family had 2.97 people. The median age in Kerhonkson was 39.4 years.

A Look at Kerhonkson's Past

Early History and the American Revolution

Kerhonkson was once the site of a fort built by early settlers. This fort helped protect their interests.

During the American Revolutionary War, in 1777, Kerhonkson briefly became very important. Before the British burned down Kingston, which was the capital of New York at the time, all important government documents and officials were moved to Kerhonkson. They stayed there for two weeks, making Kerhonkson the temporary capital of New York, before moving to Albany.

The Canal and Railroad Eras

The Delaware and Hudson Canal was finished in 1828. This canal helped local businesses grow, like coal mining, lumber, dairy farming, and hotels. Barges pulled by mules carried goods along Rondout Creek from Pennsylvania to the Hudson River. During the time of the canal, Kerhonkson was known as Middleport.

Later, in 1909, the Delaware and Oswego Railroad was built along the old canal path. A train station was built on Main Street to ship out dairy products. The tracks were removed in 1957 because trucks started moving products instead. Today, this old path is a popular 3.5-mile trail for hiking and biking, known as the Rail Trail.

Peg Leg Bates: A Local Legend

In 1951, a famous tap dancer named Peg Leg Bates opened the Peg Leg Bates Country Club. This made him the first African-American resort owner in the Catskills. The resort was in Palentown, a small community within the Kerhonkson Zip Code.

Part of Route 209 in Ulster County is now called the “Clayton Peg Leg Bates Memorial Highway” to honor him. The resort was also a significant place in 1966. A meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a group working for civil rights, was held there.

Places of Worship in Kerhonkson

Kerhonkson is home to several churches and a synagogue.

• Congregation Tifereth Yehuda Veyisroel is the main Jewish temple. It was built in 1924 and its community house in 1954. In 2013, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• The Federated Church of Kerhonkson is a Protestant church. It combines parts of the Methodist and Reformed faiths. This church helps the community with a food pantry, a thrift shop, and even a pet food pantry.
• Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church is located on Foordmore Road.
• The Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes on Route 209 is a Catholic mission.

Sports and Recreation in Kerhonkson

Kerhonkson has a strong tradition of local sports.

• The Indian Valley Little League has been playing baseball since 1953. In 2017, they won the District 16 championship! The team recently changed its mascot to be more respectful.
• The Kerhonkson Barracudas are the local swim team. They practice at the Kerhonkson Elementary School pool and compete against other teams in the summer.

Community Services in Kerhonkson

Kerhonkson has important services that help its residents.

• The Kerhonkson Fire Department is on Main Street. It has a social hall used for community meetings, dinners, and parties.
• The Kerhonkson-Accord Volunteer Ambulance Corp is on Route 209. They provide first aid services for both Kerhonkson and Accord.

Learning in Kerhonkson

The community is part of the Rondout Valley Central School District. Kerhonkson Elementary School is one of two elementary schools in this district.

Famous People from Kerhonkson

Several notable people have lived in or are connected to Kerhonkson:

• Edward Aldwell - a music expert, pianist, and teacher.
• Peg Leg Bates - a famous entertainer.
• Noel King - a broadcast journalist, known for her work with NPR.
• Herb Trimpe - a Marvel comics artist and author.

Kerhonkson's World Record Gnome

Kerhonkson was once home to the world's largest garden gnome! It was built in 2005 and is named Gnome Chomsky. You can find it on Route 209 in front of Kelder's Farm. While two even larger gnomes now exist elsewhere, Kerhonkson's gnome is still a fun local landmark!

See also

In Spanish: Kerhonkson para niños