Smallwood, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Smallwood, New York
CDP & hamlet
Location of Smallwood in Sullivan County, New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Sullivan
Area
• Total	2.53 sq mi (6.55 km2)
• Land	2.40 sq mi (6.22 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.32 km2)
Elevation	1,201 ft (366 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	839
• Density	349.15/sq mi (134.83/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12778
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-67730
GNIS feature ID	0965447

Smallwood is a small community in Sullivan County, New York, United States. It is known as a hamlet and a census-designated place (CDP). In 2020, about 839 people lived there.

Smallwood is located in the southeastern part of the Town of Bethel. It was started in the 1920s as a vacation spot called "Mountain Lakes." Later, it was renamed Smallwood after its founder, A.N. Smallwood.

Smallwood's History

Smallwood is famous for its old log cabins and camps. These were built in the 1930s by people who had moved there. The building materials for these homes came from the local area. The wood was cut and prepared right there in Smallwood. Many cabins also have unique stone fireplaces. These stones were dug up in Smallwood between the 1920s and 1950s. Most of these historic cabins are still used today, both for summer vacations and as year-round homes.

When Smallwood was first planned by A.N. Smallwood, it was set up as a "restricted community." This meant that only certain people were allowed to buy homes there. For a while, only people who could join the Mountain Lakes Country Club were allowed. This rule started to change in the 1940s. By the 1950s, many of the old rules were gone. Today, Smallwood is a very diverse place. People live there all year, and many others come for the summer. They come from places like New York City and South Florida.

Some homes in Smallwood get their water from the town only during certain months, from April to October. Other homes that are ready for winter have their own wells for water.

Fun Things to Do in Smallwood

Smallwood has many fun activities, especially outdoors!

Mountain Lake and Civic Association

Mountain Lake is a private lake in the center of Smallwood. It belongs to the Smallwood Civic Association (SWCA). If you are a member of the SWCA and pay dues, you can use the lake. It's about 65 acres big. The SWCA also owns and runs other places like a beach, tennis courts, pickleball courts, a basketball court, a playground, a ball field, and a Lodge.

The Forest Reserve and Minnie Falls

Minnie Falls is a beautiful waterfall that is part of a big public park. This park is called The Forest Reserve at Smallwood. It is run by the Town of Bethel. The Reserve has hiking trails that you can use all year. It also has a large dog park. The Falls are part of White Lake Brook. This brook flows into Mountain Lake and then continues as White Lake Brook after it leaves the lake.

The Club at Smallwood

The Club at Smallwood is another private place in the community. It is separate from the SWCA. Some people who live in Smallwood are members of both groups. The Club has a heated pool and offers fun activities in the summer. Both the Civic Association and The Club at Smallwood are open to residents who pay to be members.

Nearby Public Parks

Smallwood residents can also visit other public places nearby. These include Lake Superior State Park, which is run by Sullivan County. There is also the public Toronto Reservoir, which is right next to Smallwood. You can get to the Toronto Reservoir from Pine Grove Road. Here, you can go swimming and use a public boat launch for fishing and other boating fun.

Smallwood's Location and Size

Smallwood is located in New York State. It covers a total area of about 1.6 square miles (4.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.1 square miles (0.26 square kilometers), is water.

Smallwood's Population

In 2020, the population of Smallwood was 839 people. This was an increase from 580 people in 2010. The community has grown over the years.