Palenville, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Palenville, New York
Census-designated place
Rowena Memorial School
Nickname(s):  "Village of Falling Waters"
Palenville, New York Location in New York Show map of New York Palenville, New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Greene
Town	Catskill
Area
• Total	3.39 sq mi (8.79 km2)
• Land	3.38 sq mi (8.76 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	568 ft (173 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,002
• Density	296.19/sq mi (114.35/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12463
Area code(s)	518
FIPS code	36-56132
GNIS feature ID	0959772

Palenville is a small community, also called a hamlet, located in Greene County, New York. In 2020, about 1,000 people lived there.

It sits at the base of the Catskill Mountains, a beautiful area known for its nature. A creek called Kaaterskill Creek flows through Palenville, offering fun swimming spots in the summer. The Long Path, a famous hiking trail, also goes through the town.

History of Palenville

Palenville got its name from the Palen family. They built and ran tanneries, which are places where animal hides are turned into leather, starting in the 1820s. This tannery business didn't last long. When the local supply of hemlock bark, used in tanning, ran out, the tanneries closed. Palenville then had to find new ways to thrive.

Palenville as an Art Colony

Otis Elevating Railway in Palenville, around 1900

Because of its many waterfalls and beautiful natural views, Palenville became a very important place for the Hudson River School of painting in the 1800s. Famous painters like Thomas Cole and Frederic Church lived and worked here. The well-known painting Kindred Spirits shows Cole and William Cullen Bryant near Kaaterskill Falls, which is just uphill from Palenville.

The famous Catskill Mountain House, a grand hotel, was also located near Palenville. Palenville is even the fictional home of Rip Van Winkle, a character from a famous short story by Washington Irving. Dr. Roland Van Zandt called Palenville the "First Art Colony in America."

Palenville as a Vacation Spot

As the 1900s began, many large hotels on the mountaintop started to close. However, Palenville remained a popular place for city people to visit. It was one of the Catskills' favorite vacation spots, with many small hotels and boarding houses.

Old studio of Artist Hall in 1906

In the late 1900s, an art gallery opened on Palenville's Main Street. The Pine Orchard Summer Festival also began. The Terrance Gallery, which opened in 1980, showed art from over 1,200 American artists. The Pine Orchard festival, located on 60 acres, turned an old chapel into a theater. It hosted operas, plays, musicians, writers, and artists.

Famous actress Mary Pickford even made several movies in Palenville. While the Terrance Gallery and Pine Orchard festivals have closed, the Palenville Library and the Woodbine Inn are still open today.

Other Artists in Palenville

Many other noted artists visited Palenville and the nearby Kaaterskill Clove. These included Winslow Homer, Asher B. Durand, and John Frederick Kensett. Later, in the 20th century, landscape painters like Albert Handel and Michelle Moran also worked here. George H. Hall, a painter known for everyday scenes, lived in Palenville in the late 1800s.

Population Information

In 2000, about 1,120 people lived in Palenville. By 2010, the population had decreased slightly to 1,037. In the most recent census in 2020, the population was 1,002 people.

About 25% of the people living in Palenville in 2000 were under 18 years old. The average age was 38 years old.

Notable People from Palenville

Many interesting people have connections to Palenville:

• Hannah Arendt, a political thinker (she had a summer home here)
• A. A. Bondy, a musician and singer
• Carrot Top, a comedian
• The Felice Brothers, a folk rock band
• Rufus Palen, a former congressman
• Rip Van Winkle, a famous fictional character