Pleasant Valley (town), New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pleasant Valley, New York
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Town hall
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Location of Pleasant Valley, New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Dutchess |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 33.14 sq mi (85.83 km2) |
| • Land | 32.58 sq mi (84.37 km2) |
| • Water | 0.56 sq mi (1.46 km2) |
| Elevation | 211 ft (64 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,799 |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) |
| ZIP code |
12569
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| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-027-58695 |
| GNIS feature ID | 979378 |
Pleasant Valley is a lovely town located in Dutchess County, New York. It's part of the beautiful Hudson Valley region. In 2020, about 9,799 people called Pleasant Valley home. The town is right in the middle of the county, just northeast of the city of Poughkeepsie. A major road, U.S. Route 44, runs through the town, making it easy to get around.
Contents
History of Pleasant Valley
People started settling in Pleasant Valley after 1735. The land was originally part of a large area called the Great Nine Partners Patent, which was established in 1697. The town of Pleasant Valley was officially created in 1821. It was formed from a section that used to be part of the town of Clinton.
Famous People from Pleasant Valley
Many interesting people have connections to Pleasant Valley! Here are a few:
- Blythe Auffarth is an actress.
- Julia Dean (1830-1868) was a stage actress who was born here.
- Jacob R. Evertson (1734–1807) was an important delegate during the American Revolution. He is buried in the Pleasant Valley Presbyterian Churchyard.
- Thomas T. Flagler served as a US congressman.
- Jackson Kemper (1789-1870) was the very first missionary bishop for the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was born in Pleasant Valley.
- Irene McGee was a cast member on the TV show The Real World: Seattle.
- Tony Romeo was a songwriter who wrote famous songs like "Indian Lake" and "I Think I Love You". He lived in Pleasant Valley for many years.
- Thomas R. Sherwood was the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
- Melancton Smith was a delegate who helped decide on the U.S. Constitution.
- Jeffrey Wigand was a former vice president at a large tobacco company.
- James Kirke Paulding was born in Pleasant Valley. He was a former United States Secretary of the Navy and a writer. He was also a childhood friend of the famous writer Washington Irving.
- Carson Robison (1890-1957) was an early country and western music and radio performer.
Geography of Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley covers a total area of about 85.8 square kilometers (33.1 square miles). Most of this area, about 84.4 square kilometers (32.6 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.5 square kilometers (0.6 square miles), is water.
Major Roads in Pleasant Valley
U.S. Route 44 is a main road that runs through Pleasant Valley. It goes from the southwest to the northeast. This route also crosses the Taconic State Parkway, which is a highway that runs north and south in the northern part of the town.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 2,419 | — | |
| 1840 | 2,219 | −8.3% | |
| 1850 | 2,226 | 0.3% | |
| 1860 | 2,343 | 5.3% | |
| 1870 | 1,963 | −16.2% | |
| 1880 | 1,785 | −9.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,531 | −14.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,483 | −3.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,358 | −8.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,160 | −14.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,520 | 31.0% | |
| 1940 | 2,061 | 35.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,751 | 33.5% | |
| 1960 | 4,046 | 47.1% | |
| 1970 | 6,021 | 48.8% | |
| 1980 | 6,892 | 14.5% | |
| 1990 | 8,063 | 17.0% | |
| 2000 | 9,066 | 12.4% | |
| 2010 | 9,672 | 6.7% | |
| 2020 | 9,799 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the census from 2000, there were 9,066 people living in Pleasant Valley. The population has grown over the years, reaching 9,799 people by the 2020 census. The town is home to many families, with about 35.7% of households having children under 18. The average age of people in Pleasant Valley in 2000 was 38 years old.
Pleasant Valley Free Library
The Pleasant Valley Free Library first opened its doors in 1903. It has been an important part of the community for over a century! The library moved twice in its history. The first time was after a fire in 1913. It moved again in 1974 to its current location.
The library offers many different things for people of all ages. You can find books, audiobooks, music CDs, and DVDs for adults, teens, and children. There are also public computers available for use. The library provides helpful services like printing, faxing, photocopying, and even tech help if you have computer questions.
You can also enjoy digital services from the library. These include platforms like Overdrive, Hoopla, and NovelNY, where you can borrow e-books and other digital content. The library hosts fun programs too, such as book discussion groups, storytimes for younger children, and even yoga classes!
2018 Library Fire
On November 6, 2018, an electrical fire started in the library's basement. The fire spread through the walls to the upper floor. Sadly, the library lost about 52,000 items, mostly due to smoke damage. However, the community rallied together! In the year after the fire, the library received 30,000 new items, mostly through donations. The historic building, which was built in the 1870s, needed about $3 million to be rebuilt and made even better. The library finally reopened in early February 2022.
Library Board of Trustees
The Pleasant Valley Free Library is guided by a Board of Trustees. This board currently has 12 members and can have up to 13. They meet on the third Thursday of every month to help make decisions for the library.
- President: Joy Dyson
- Vice President: Julie Kessler
- Treasurer: Steve MacNish
- Secretary: Gail Rau
- Dorothy Denny
- Pauline Herr
- Dave Kruger
- Kathy Kruger
- Michael Rifenburgh
- Don Sagliano
- Kim Sears
- Anna Wei
Communities and Locations in Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley is made up of several smaller communities and interesting spots:
- Bloomvale – This used to be a small village with mills. It's north of Washington Hollow.
- Clark Heights – You can find this area southwest of the main Pleasant Valley hamlet, along Route 44.
- Gretna – This location is in the western part of the town.
- Netherwood – This spot is southwest of Salt Point.
- Pleasant Valley – This is the main hamlet and census-designated place. It's in the southwestern part of the town on Route 44. It used to be called "Charlotte."
- Salt Point – This is a hamlet located near the northeastern border of the town.
- Timothy Heights – This area is south of the Pleasant Valley hamlet on Route 44.
- Valleydale – This is a housing development southeast of Pleasant Valley, off Traver Road.
- Washington Hollow – This hamlet is near the eastern town line. It was once the location of the Dutchess County Fair.
See also
In Spanish: Pleasant Valley (Nueva York) para niños
