New Lisbon, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Lisbon, New York
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Otsego County map with the Town of New Lisbon in Red
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Otsego |
| Area | |
| • Total | 44.66 sq mi (115.68 km2) |
| • Land | 44.36 sq mi (114.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.30 sq mi (0.78 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,713 ft (522 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,114 |
| • Estimate
(2016)
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1,060 |
| • Density | 23.89/sq mi (9.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
13415
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| Area code(s) | 607 |
| FIPS code | 36-50485 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979268 |
New Lisbon is a small town in Otsego County, New York. In 2010, about 1,114 people lived there.
The Town of New Lisbon is located in the west-central part of Otsego County. It is just north of the City of Oneonta.
Contents
History of New Lisbon
New Lisbon was first settled around 1773. However, most pioneers did not move to the area until after the American Revolutionary War. Early settlers found an apple orchard near Noblesville. It is believed that Native Americans planted this orchard.
How New Lisbon Got Its Name
The town was first formed in 1806 from a part of Pittsfield. It was originally called "Lisbon." The name was changed to "New Lisbon" in 1808.
In 1810, a book called "Gazetteer" described the town. It mentioned four or five grain mills, seven sawmills, and a fulling mill (for making cloth). There was also a carding machine, one Baptist church, and seven schoolhouses. Most people living there were farmers. They made most of their own clothes at home. In 1810, the total population was 1,982 people.
By 1878, the town covered about 26,899 acres. A large part of this land (21,619 acres) was used for farming. There were also 5,822 acres of woodland.
Life in New Lisbon in 1878
In 1878, the hamlet of Garrattsville had two churches, three general stores, and a hardware store. It also had a saw and gristmill, a hotel, a wagon shop, and five blacksmiths. For a few years, an annual fair was held there. It took place along the Butternut Creek. Later, this fair joined with another fair held in Morris around 1886.
The hamlet of Noblesville in 1878 had one church, a store, a hotel, a mill, and a blacksmith. New Lisbon Centre only had a church. Stetsonville used to have a doctor, a store, a brickyard, and a wagon shop.
Interesting Industries and Inventions
- Hammer Factory: The Victor J. Warren hammer factory was a big business in Garrattsville. It was said to employ about 100 people. Every house in the hamlet was occupied by two families! Supplies came by oxcart from the Erie Canal. Finished hammers were shipped out the same way. An employee named Anthony Slater created a special way to make steel stronger. This process was later sold to the Maydole Hammer Co. in Norwich, New York. You can still see two Warren hammers today, one is at the town hall.
- Steam Engines: In the 1890s, Martin and Robert L. George built stationary steam engines in Noblesville. Only one of these engines is known to still exist.
- Cheese Innovation: Artemas Holdredge, a cheese maker in Garrattsville, had a clever idea. He invented the idea of putting cheese in rectangular boxes instead of round "wheel" boxes. This made it much easier to ship and store cheese on shelves.
- Wooden Tramway: Emmons L. Peck built a wooden tramway (a type of small railway) around Gilbert Lake from 1906 to 1909. He used it to move nine million feet of logs. He even had a homemade steam locomotive! There's a story that employees sank the locomotive in the lake ice when the land was bought for the state park around 1927.
- Persian Lamb Company: During World War I, there was a cooperative project called the Persian Lamb Co. They tried to raise sheep for their skins on about a thousand acres of land in the Welcome area. However, the sheep died from pneumonia. So, they switched to raising vegetables and beef. But in the end, the company's shares became worthless.
Geography of New Lisbon
New Lisbon covers a total area of about 44.7 square miles (115.68 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 44.5 square miles (114.90 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.78 square kilometers), is water.
New York State Route 51 is a main highway that runs north and south through New Lisbon.
The West Branch of Otego Creek flows along the eastern border of the town. Butternut Creek flows through the western part of New Lisbon.
Population of New Lisbon
The population of New Lisbon has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived there:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 2,221 | — | |
| 1830 | 2,232 | 0.5% | |
| 1840 | 1,909 | −14.5% | |
| 1850 | 1,773 | −7.1% | |
| 1860 | 1,733 | −2.3% | |
| 1870 | 1,545 | −10.8% | |
| 1880 | 1,569 | 1.6% | |
| 1890 | 1,323 | −15.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,225 | −7.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,039 | −15.2% | |
| 1920 | 912 | −12.2% | |
| 1930 | 781 | −14.4% | |
| 1940 | 801 | 2.6% | |
| 1950 | 877 | 9.5% | |
| 1960 | 812 | −7.4% | |
| 1970 | 823 | 1.4% | |
| 1980 | 948 | 15.2% | |
| 1990 | 996 | 5.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,116 | 12.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,114 | −0.2% | |
| 2016 (est.) | 1,060 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the census from 2000, there were 1,116 people living in New Lisbon. There were 431 households, and 309 of these were families. The population density was about 25.1 people per square mile.
About 32.9% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (58.7%) were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.59 people.
In terms of age, 25.4% of the population was under 18. About 14.0% of the people were 65 years old or older. The average age in the town was 40 years.
Communities and Locations in New Lisbon
- Crystal Lake (originally "Turtle Lake") – This is a small lake in the northwestern part of New Lisbon. It was developed as a resort in the 1930s.
- Garrattsville – This is a small village (called a hamlet) named after an early settler, John Garratt. He was captured during the American Revolution. Garrattsville is located on NY-51. It is north of the main New Lisbon village. The Lunn-Musser Octagon Barn in Garrattsville is a historic building.
- Gilbert Lake – This small lake is inside Gilbert Lake State Park. It was originally a natural lake. Over the years, it was made larger to power different industries. It became a state park in 1929. The lake was first known as Smith's Lake.
- Gilbert Lake State Park – This is a state park located at the southern border of the town. It's a great place for outdoor activities.
- Gill Hill – This hill is named after Mark Gill. His abandoned home led to many ghost stories and legends. The land became a county forest area in the 1920s.
- Gross Hill – This is an elevated area in the northwestern part of New Lisbon.
- Lake of the Twin Fawns – A small lake found within Gilbert Lake State Park. It is north of Gilbert Lake.
- Lena – A small area located on County Route 14, near the eastern border of the town.
- New Lisbon (formerly "Noblesville") – This is the main hamlet in the southwestern part of the town. It is located on NY-51.
- Stetsonville – A hamlet on NY-51, located between New Lisbon village and Garrattsville. It was named after its founder, John Stetson, who was a carpenter and wagon builder.
- Stevens Corners – A location in the northwestern part of New Lisbon.
- Welcome – A hamlet located near the center of the town. You can find it on County Routes 14 and 16.
- Wooley Hill – An elevated area located northeast of Garrattsville. Part of this hill is also in the Town of Burlington.
