Prattsville (town), New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prattsville, New York
Town
Location in Greene County and the state of New York.
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Greene
Area
• Total	21.07 sq mi (54.56 km2)
• Land	20.96 sq mi (54.28 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.27 km2)
Elevation	1,539 ft (469 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	774
• Density	32.8/sq mi (12.67/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12468
Area code(s)	518
FIPS code	36-039-59751
GNIS feature ID	0979396

Prattsville is a small town located in Greene County, New York. It's in the northwestern part of the county. In 2020, about 774 people lived there.

History of Prattsville

An 1844 drawing of the town

Zadock Pratt helped Prattsville grow in the 1800s. The town was later named after him.

Early Settlement and Naming

People first settled in the Prattsville area around 1763. Back then, the region was called "Schoharie Kill." During the American Revolution, British soldiers and their allies tried to force the settlers out. But the settlers fought back and won.

The town of Prattsville was officially created in 1824. It was formed from parts of another town called Windham. Later, in 1848, some of Prattsville's land was used to create the town of Ashland.

Prattsville was named after Zadock Pratt. He was an important citizen and even served in the U.S. Congress. Pratt built a huge tannery in the town. A tannery is a place where animal hides are turned into leather. His tannery was the biggest in the world at that time. This helped Prattsville become a very important town in upstate New York.

Pratt's Tannery and Population Changes

In 1830, Prattsville had 830 residents. When Zadock Pratt opened his tannery, it created many jobs. By 1850, the town's population grew to 1,989 people.

However, the tannery used a lot of hemlock bark to process the leather. By 1845, all the hemlock trees within 10 miles (16 km) had been cut down. Pratt had not replanted any trees. Because of this, he had to close the tannery. Many people lost their jobs, and the town's population dropped to 1,314 by 1875.

Two historic buildings in Prattsville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Old Episcopal Manse was added in 2000. The John and Martinus Laraway Inn was added in 2012.

Hurricane Irene's Impact

On August 28, 2011, Hurricane Irene caused severe flooding in Prattsville. The Schoharie Creek overflowed, leading to huge damage. Almost every building on Main Street was partly or completely destroyed. This included all 22 of the town's businesses.

The flood also destroyed many homes. Eleven houses collapsed, and fifteen more had to be torn down. Over 100 homes were so damaged that people could not live in them anymore. Luckily, no one died in the flood. Prattsville's struggle received national news coverage because the town was almost completely washed away. The governor of New York, Andrew M. Cuomo, said Prattsville was the hardest-hit place in the state by the storm.

Geography of Prattsville

Location and Natural Features

Prattsville covers about 19.7 square miles (51 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 19.6 square miles (50.8 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.26 square kilometers), is water.

The town is located within the beautiful Catskill Mountains. The northern border of Prattsville touches Schoharie County. The western border is shared with Delaware County.

The Schoharie Creek flows through Prattsville. This creek is a branch of the Mohawk River. It flows northward through the town, passing by the small community of Prattsville.

Population of Prattsville

Population Trends

According to the census from 2000, there were 665 people living in Prattsville. These people made up 253 households and 182 families. The town had about 33.9 people per square mile (13.1 per square kilometer).

The average household in Prattsville had 2.61 people. The average family had 3.04 people. About 25.9% of the population was under 18 years old. About 18.6% of the population was 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 36 years.

The median income for a household in Prattsville was $30,655. For a family, the median income was $33,571. About 11.5% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 16.3% of those under 18 and 7.4% of those 65 or older.

Climate in Prattsville

Prattsville experiences a typical climate for its region. Summers are generally warm, and winters are cold with snow. The area receives a good amount of rain throughout the year.

Communities and Locations in Prattsville

• Four Corners – This is a small community, or hamlet, located on the eastern border of the town. It is northeast of the main Prattsville village.
• Pratt Rocks – These are a series of interesting stone carvings located east of the Prattsville village. They tell the story of Zadock Pratt's life.
• Prattsville – This is the main hamlet of Prattsville. It's in the southern part of the town along Route 23. It used to be an official village but later changed back to a hamlet.
• Red Falls – Another hamlet found in the southeastern part of the town, also on Route 23.

See also

In Spanish: Prattsville (Nueva York) para niños