Margaretville, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Margaretville, New York Middletown Center
Village
Margaretville
Main Street from Walnut Street to Bridge Street near NY 30
Etymology: From Margaret Lewis
Location of Margaretville within New York
Location of New York in the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Delaware
Incorporated	1875
Area
• Total	0.71 sq mi (1.85 km2)
• Land	0.70 sq mi (1.80 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	1,316 ft (401 m)
Highest elevation (NE corner on Kettle Hill)	1,600 ft (500 m)
Lowest elevation (East Branch Delaware River at SW boundary)	1,280 ft (390 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	514
• Density	738.51/sq mi (285.33/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	12455
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-45557
GNIS feature ID	0956506

Margaretville is a small village located in Delaware County, New York, United States. In 2010, about 596 people lived there. The village is part of the town of Middletown and is found right on the edge of the beautiful Catskill Park.

Geography of Margaretville

Margaretville is located in the middle of the town of Middletown. It's in the eastern part of Delaware County, nestled in the valley of the East Branch Delaware River.

The village covers a total area of about 1.82 square kilometers (0.71 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Major roads run through Margaretville. New York State Route 30 goes through the center of the village. It connects Margaretville to Grand Gorge to the northeast and Downsville to the west. NY 28 also passes through the southern part of the village, leading to Kingston in the east and Delhi in the northwest.

History of Margaretville

Early Beginnings and Naming

The land where Margaretville now stands was first given to Johannes Hardenbergh in 1708 by Queen Anne of England. Later, a large part of this land was divided among the family of Robert R. Livingston. In 1779, some land was given to Livingston's sister, who married Morgan Lewis. They had a daughter named Margaret, and the village was named after her.

Early settlers came to the area in the 1770s. They bought the land from the American Indians.

Settlers and the American Revolutionary War

During the American Revolutionary War, in 1778, settlers in the East Branch of the Delaware River valley had to leave their homes. A group of Loyalists and American Indians led by Joseph Brant raided the valley. Luckily, an Indian named Tunis gave the settlers a friendly warning, and they were able to return to the Hudson Valley safely. After the war ended, the settlers came back to their homes.

In 1784, settlers like Ignos DuMond returned. He sold his land claim to John Tompkins, who then built the first sawmill in the area.

Growth and Development

In 1820, the Old Stone Schoolhouse was built in a nearby area called Dunraven. By 1831, Dr. Charles Poldino started practicing medicine in the community. He also became the first postmaster in June 1848, when Margaretville got its own post office.

The local newspaper, the Margaretville Messenger, started in 1894. Later, in 1904, Clarke A. Sanford bought it and changed its name to the Catskill Mountain News.

Railroads and Modern Times

A railroad, the Delaware and Eastern Railroad, was built in 1905. It later became the Delaware and Northern Railroad. This railroad helped the village grow, but it only operated until the 1940s.

In 1907, the first automobile arrived in Margaretville, brought by Clarke A. Sanford. In 1922, Sanford also built the Galli-Curci Theatre on Main Street, named after a famous singer.

Healthcare and Education

A very important person for Margaretville's healthcare was Dr. Gordon Bostwick Maurer. He moved to the community in 1925, and his home quickly became like a small hospital. The Margaretville Hospital officially opened on January 13, 1931. It was run by Dr. Maurer until he passed away in 1938. Later, in 1969, the Margaretville Memorial Hospital was built to replace the older facility, dedicated to Dr. Maurer.

Another famous doctor from Margaretville was Dr. Orvan Hess. He was inspired by Dr. Maurer. Dr. Hess invented the fetal heart monitor, which helps doctors check a baby's heartbeat before birth. He was also one of the first doctors to successfully treat a patient with penicillin, a very important medicine.

In 1939, the Margaretville Central School was built. It brought together students from many smaller local schools.

Reservoir and Floods

In 1954, the Pepacton Reservoir dam was finished near Downsville. This project caused some nearby villages to be covered by water, which affected local businesses. However, it also gave Margaretville its own sewer system, which was a big improvement.

Margaretville has experienced several floods. On January 19, 1996, a major flood damaged the downtown area. Again, on August 28, 2011, Hurricane Irene caused record flooding. Many buildings were damaged, and over 100 residents had to find shelter at the village fire station. The water levels were higher than ever before.

Historic Buildings

Several buildings in Margaretville are considered historically important and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the District 10 School, the First Presbyterian Church of Margaretville, the Galli-Curci Theatre, and the Van Benschoten House and Guest House.

Population of Margaretville

As of the 2010 census, Margaretville had a population of 596 people. The village is home to people of different backgrounds. Most residents are White, with smaller percentages of African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 2.9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Margaretville as a Filming Location

Margaretville and the areas around it have been used as a setting for several movies and music videos. Some of these include:

• Julian Po (1997)
• You Can Count on Me (2000) - This was the main location for the movie.
• The music video for "Sugar, We're Goin Down" by Fall Out Boy (2005)
• Stake Land (2010)
• The Dead Don't Die (2019), a zombie film starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, and Selena Gomez, also used Margaretville and its school for some scenes.

See also

In Spanish: Margaretville para niños