Port Ewen, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Ewen, New York
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Location in Ulster County and the state of New York.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Ulster |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.74 sq mi (7.10 km2) |
| • Land | 2.09 sq mi (5.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0.65 sq mi (1.69 km2) |
| Elevation | 184 ft (56 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,678 |
| • Density | 1,760.65/sq mi (679.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
12466
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| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-59311 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0960965 |
Port Ewen is a small community in Ulster County, New York, United States. It is known as a hamlet and a census-designated place, which means it's a specific area defined for population counting. In 2020, about 3,678 people lived here.
Port Ewen is located in the Town of Esopus. It sits just south of Kingston, right along U.S. Route 9W. The community is bordered by the Rondout Creek to the north and the Hudson River to the east. Other nearby areas include Connelly and Sleightsburgh to the northwest and northeast, Ulster Park to the south, and New Salem to the west.
Contents
History of Port Ewen
Many people moved to Port Ewen hoping to find jobs with the Pennsylvania Coal Company. The West Shore Railroad also served Port Ewen. This railroad helped transport goods, including powerful explosives made by the Nitro Powder Company in Kingston.
Before 1921, if people wanted to cross the Rondout Creek, they had to use a special boat called the Skillypot. This was a chain ferry that went to Sleightsburgh. It was known for not always running on a regular schedule. In 1921, the Kingston–Port Ewen Suspension Bridge opened, making it much easier to cross the creek.
The Hercules Powder Company's Role
The Hercules Powder Company was first created in 1882 by two other companies, DuPont and Laflin & Rand Powder Company. DuPont later bought Laflin & Rand in 1902. However, in 1912, a court case forced DuPont to sell off many of its explosive-making businesses. This led to the Hercules Powder Company being started again.
The Port Ewen plant made special detonators, which are devices used to set off explosives. These were used for military purposes and for construction jobs that needed dynamite blasts. In 1973, there was an accident where two women were hurt in an explosion involving blasting caps.
Religious Communities in Port Ewen
Port Ewen has been home to several religious groups. These include the Town of Esopus United Methodist Church, the Catholic Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Reformed Church of Port Ewen.
The Catholic Church of the Presentation
A Catholic mission was started in Port Ewen for the many boatmen living near the Rondout Creek. This mission was part of St. Mary's in Rondout. In 1873, it became its own church parish.
The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was officially opened on June 14, 1874. The priest, Rev. Michael Phelan, also helped start churches in nearby Eddyville and Esopus. He even traveled to southern Ulster County to help form a church in Milton.
Rev. Thomas O'Hanlon became the pastor of the Church of the Presentation in 1877. He built the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart in Eddyville. He passed away in 1883 and was buried at the entrance of the church.
Environmental Safety in Port Ewen
Port Ewen and nearby Ulster Park were once sites where Dyno Nobel explosives were made. This area, which used to be the Hercules Inc./Dyno-Nobel site, is now a state Superfund site. This means it's a place where hazardous waste was disposed of, and it needs cleaning up because it could be a risk to people's health or the environment.
Contaminants, or harmful substances, have spread from the original site in Ulster Park into Port Ewen. The main concerns are metals in the soil and creek sediments. There are also "energetic" materials (which can explode) in wetland sediments and certain manufacturing areas. Other chemicals, like trichloroethene (TCE), are found in the groundwater.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) found mercury, lead, copper, zinc, and other chemicals in Plantasie Creek in 2023. This creek is next to the public elementary school. The DEC reported that the town of Esopus was asked to fix some unpermitted work in the area. They covered disturbed soil and put up temporary fences near the school to keep people safe.
Tests in 2021 showed high levels of lead in some water supplies at Robert R. Graves Elementary, Port Ewen's public elementary school. Levels of lead above 15 parts per billion (ppb) were found, with one sample as high as 90 ppb. Similar issues were found at Anna Devine Elementary School in Ulster Park, with one sample reaching 230 ppb.
Geography of Port Ewen
Port Ewen is located on the west bank of the Hudson River. It sits right where the Rondout Creek flows into the Hudson River.
The exact location of Port Ewen is 41°54′25″N 73°58′43″W / 41.90694°N 73.97861°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Port Ewen covers a total area of about 2.7 square miles (7.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.0 square miles (5.4 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.7 square miles (1.7 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 3,650 | — | |
| 2010 | 3,546 | −2.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,678 | 3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 3,678 people living in Port Ewen. These people lived in 1,434 households. There were also 1,784 housing units in total.
Most of the people in Port Ewen in 2020 were White. There were also people who identified as African American, Asian, Native American, and from other races. Some people identified with two or more races. About 255 people were of Hispanic or Latino background.
In 2020, about 20.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 41.1% of households were married couples living together. The average family size was about 2.91 people.
In 2000, the median age of people in Port Ewen was 39 years old. About 25.3% of the population was under 18. About 12.7% of the population was 65 years old or older.
Education in Port Ewen
Children living in Port Ewen attend schools within the Kingston City School District. The main high school for this district is Kingston High School.
Famous People from the Area
Sojourner Truth, a very important American abolitionist and activist, was once enslaved in West Park. This area is just a few miles south of Port Ewen, also within the Town of Esopus. She was forced to work at a tavern and was later sold. Sojourner Truth finally escaped in 1826. Today, a statue of her stands at the corner of Broadway and Salem Street.
Luann de Lesseps, a well-known person from the TV show Real Housewives of New York City, bought a home along the Hudson River in Port Ewen in 2018. Her home has even been shown on the television show.
Images for kids
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Location in Ulster County and the state of New York.
See also
In Spanish: Port Ewen para niños
