Old Forge, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old Forge, New York
|
|
|---|---|
Tourist souvenir shop in Old Forge, 1973
|
|
 Old Forge, New York
Location in New York
Old Forge, New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Herkimer |
| Town | Webb |
| Settled | 1798 |
| Incorporated | October 1903 |
| Dissolved | March 31, 1936 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.96 sq mi (5.09 km2) |
| • Land | 1.79 sq mi (4.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,857 ft (566 m) |
| Population
(2023)
|
|
| • Total | 573 |
| • Density | 407.05/sq mi (157.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
13420
|
| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-54639 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2631633 |
Old Forge is a small community, called a hamlet, located in Herkimer County, New York. It's part of the town of Webb. In 2010, about 756 people lived here. Old Forge used to be a village, but it stopped being an official village in 1936. Even so, it's still the main town in its area.
Old Forge is known as a western "gateway" to the huge Adirondack Park. This means it's a popular starting point for exploring the park. The town has many shops and businesses that mostly serve tourists, especially in the summer. The local school, Town of Webb UFSD, teaches students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Their sports teams are called the Timberwolves. Old Forge often has some of the coldest winter temperatures in New York. For example, on February 17, 1979, the temperature dropped to an amazing -52 degrees Fahrenheit (about -46 degrees Celsius)!
Contents
Old Forge: A Cool Adirondack Town
A Look Back: Old Forge History
The story of Old Forge began in 1798. A family from Rhode Island, the Browns, bought a huge area of land, about 210,000 acres (85,000 hectares). They tried to get about 20 families to live there. They even built a 25-mile (40 km) wagon trail. However, the land wasn't good for farming, so these early attempts to settle failed. By 1803, most people had left.
Later, one of John Brown's daughters, Sarah "Sally" Brown, and her husband, Charles Frederick Herreshoff II, tried again. They moved to the area and attempted to raise sheep and open an iron mine. They also built the very first forge, which is a place where metal is heated and shaped. But these efforts didn't work out either. Charles Herreshoff died in 1819. A few people stayed, like a famous settler named Nat Foster.
A big change came in 1888 when a railroad was built. At first, it was planned for horses to pull cars on wooden rails. But before it was finished, the plans changed to use steam trains instead. A train station was built nearby in Thendara.
Old Forge officially became a village in October 1903. But this didn't last long. In 1933, residents voted to stop being a village because it cost too much to run the local government. After some legal discussions, the Village of Old Forge officially dissolved on March 31, 1936.
Fun Things to Do in Old Forge
Old Forge is a great place for outdoor fun, no matter the season!
Winter Sports
You can see many mountains from Old Forge, including McCauley Mountain. This mountain is home to the McCauley Mountain Ski Resort. Old Forge gets a lot of snow, and the resort can make snow too. This means McCauley Mountain usually has a deep snow base and stays open for about 105 days of skiing each winter.
All that snow also makes Old Forge perfect for snowmobiling. It's even called the "Snowmobile Capital of the East" by USA Today! Old Forge gives you access to over 500 miles (800 km) of specially prepared trails. You can also ride on frozen lakes, like the Fulton Chain of Lakes, and connect to other large trail systems.
Summer Adventures
The Enchanted Forest Water Safari is New York's largest water theme park. It's located right in Old Forge and is a super popular spot for summer fun.
For those who love paddling, the western end of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail is near Old Forge. This amazing water trail stretches for about 700 miles (1,126 km) all the way to Maine. It follows old routes used by Native Americans and early settlers. It's the longest water trail in the United States!
Arts and Culture
The Goodsell House is an important historic building in Old Forge. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
The View Arts Center is a community hub where you can enjoy many activities. They have art shows, performances, special events, and workshops. You can also take classes like yoga, painting, and pottery.
Getting Around and Important Places
Airport and Dam
Just a mile north of Old Forge is the Old Forge Airport. It's a small airport with grass runways. It's privately owned, so you need permission to land there.
The Old Forge Dam is an important structure. It separates the Fulton Chain of Lakes from the Moose River.
Roads and Travel
The main road through Old Forge is New York State Route 28. This highway goes east for 22 miles (35 km) to Raquette Lake. It also goes southwest for 26 miles (42 km) to Route 12 at Alder Creek. Old Forge sits right along the Moose River at the western end of the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
Where is Old Forge?
Old Forge is in the northern part of Herkimer County. It's located within the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. These mountains are an important natural feature of New York. Because Old Forge is inside the Adirondack Park, there are rules about how much building can happen. These rules help protect the park's natural beauty.
The community covers about 1.96 square miles (5.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.18 square miles (0.46 square kilometers) is water. The climate here has cool summers and cold, snowy winters.
Who Lives in Old Forge?
As of 2010, there were 756 people living in Old Forge. There were 371 households, and 208 of these were families. About 19% of the people were under 20 years old, and about 19% were 65 or older. The average age was around 47.9 years. Most people living in Old Forge are White (97%).
Many of the homes in Old Forge are used only during certain seasons, like for vacations. Out of 778 housing units, 407 were empty, and 351 of those were for seasonal or recreational use.
Famous Visitors and Residents
Old Forge has been a home or a summer getaway for many interesting people. These include former presidents, Olympic athletes, and pioneering doctors.
- Lowell Bailey: An Olympic athlete in Biathlon and World Cup Skier. He lived and learned to ski in Old Forge when he was young.
- Louie Ehrensbeck: Also a U.S. Olympic athlete in Biathlon.
- Patrick Farmer: A successful coach for college and professional women's soccer teams.
- Benjamin Harrison: The 23rd President of the United States. He built a summer home in Old Forge called Berkley Lodge.
- Hank Kashiwa: A US National Ski Champion, Olympic Skier, and sports commentator.
- Alexandra Waterbury: A model and ballet dancer.
See also
In Spanish: Old Forge (Nueva York) para niños
