Sullivan County, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sullivan County
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Stream in the hamlet of Rock Hill
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Location within the U.S. state of New York
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 New York's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New York |
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| Founded | 1809 | ||
| Named for | John Sullivan | ||
| Seat | Monticello | ||
| Largest village | Monticello | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 997 sq mi (2,580 km2) | ||
| • Land | 968 sq mi (2,510 km2) | ||
| • Water | 29 sq mi (80 km2) 2.9% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 78,624 | ||
| • Density | 81.2/sq mi (31.4/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 19th | ||
Sullivan County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. In 2020, about 78,624 people lived there. The main town, called the county seat, is Monticello.
The county is named after Major General John Sullivan. He was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. He led a successful campaign against the Iroquois people. Sullivan County is part of the Hudson Valley area in New York.
For many years, from the 1920s to the 1970s, Sullivan County was famous for its many hotels and resorts. This area was known as the Borscht Belt.
Contents
History of Sullivan County
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When New York State first created its counties in 1683, the land that is now Sullivan County was part of Ulster County. Later, in 1809, Sullivan County was formed as its own separate county.
In the late 1800s, many factories started using water power from rivers. This brought more people to the area looking for jobs. Small villages grew into towns. But over time, many of these factory jobs disappeared.
After that, the county's economy changed. It became a popular place for tourists. Many resorts were built by European Jewish immigrants and their families. This area became known as the Borscht Belt. These resorts offered lots of entertainment, sometimes with famous performers. Visitors came by train and later by car. The beautiful nature also made it a great place for summer camps.
Geography and Nature
Sullivan County covers about 997 square miles. Most of this is land, with about 29 square miles of water.
The county is in the southern part of New York State. It's southeast of Binghamton and southwest of Albany. The Delaware River forms its border with Pennsylvania to the southwest.
Sullivan County is about 70 miles northwest of New York City. It is located in the Catskill Mountains. A part of the Catskill Park is in the northeastern corner of the county.
The highest point in the county is a peak called Beech Mountain. It is about 3,118 feet tall. The lowest point is along the Delaware River.
Neighboring Counties
- Delaware County - to the north
- Ulster County - to the northeast
- Orange County - to the southeast
- Pike County, Pennsylvania - to the southwest
- Wayne County, Pennsylvania - to the west
Population of Sullivan County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 6,108 | — | |
| 1820 | 8,900 | 45.7% | |
| 1830 | 12,364 | 38.9% | |
| 1840 | 15,629 | 26.4% | |
| 1850 | 25,088 | 60.5% | |
| 1860 | 32,385 | 29.1% | |
| 1870 | 34,550 | 6.7% | |
| 1880 | 32,491 | −6.0% | |
| 1890 | 31,031 | −4.5% | |
| 1900 | 32,306 | 4.1% | |
| 1910 | 33,808 | 4.6% | |
| 1920 | 33,163 | −1.9% | |
| 1930 | 35,272 | 6.4% | |
| 1940 | 37,901 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 40,731 | 7.5% | |
| 1960 | 45,272 | 11.1% | |
| 1970 | 52,580 | 16.1% | |
| 1980 | 65,155 | 23.9% | |
| 1990 | 69,277 | 6.3% | |
| 2000 | 73,966 | 6.8% | |
| 2010 | 77,547 | 4.8% | |
| 2020 | 78,624 | 1.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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In 2020, the population of Sullivan County was 78,624 people. Over the years, the number of people living in the county has grown steadily.
Education in Sullivan County
There are several public school districts in Sullivan County. These schools help students from kindergarten through high school.
Public Schools
- Eldred Central Schools
- Fallsburg Central Schools
- Liberty Central School District
- Livingston Manor Central School District
- Monticello Central Schools
- Roscoe Central Schools
- Sullivan West Central School
- Tri-Valley Central School
Colleges and Universities
Sullivan County Community College is a college located in Loch Sheldrake. It offers different programs for students after high school.
Getting Around Sullivan County
Sullivan County has bus services that connect to New York City. There are also local bus services within the county.
The Sullivan County International Airport is in Bethel. It is mainly used for smaller planes.
Main Roads
US 209
NY 17
NY 17B
NY 42
NY 52
NY 52A
NY 55
NY 55A
NY 97
NY 206
Fun Things to Do in Sullivan County
Sullivan County has been a popular place for vacations since the 1800s. People enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and boating. The Monticello Raceway is also a popular attraction. Most tourists visit during the summer.
From the 1920s to the 1970s, the county was famous for its many resorts. This area was known as the Borscht Belt. These resorts had golf courses, social events, and famous entertainers.
Many hotels, bungalow colonies (small groups of rental cabins), and summer camps were built. Bungalows often had a kitchen, bedroom, and a screened porch. Entertainment might be simple, like bingo or a movie. Because many Jewish visitors came, the area was sometimes called the "Jewish Alps".
Many famous comedians and performers started their careers or performed at these hotels. These included Milton Berle, Mel Brooks, and Henny Youngman. Eddie Fisher even got married at Grossinger's, a famous resort, in 1955.
By the late 1950s, many resorts began to close. Most were gone by the 1970s. However, some big resorts stayed open longer. Grossinger's Catskill Resort Hotel closed in 1986, and the Concord Resort Hotel closed in 1998. New resorts have been built since then.
Woodstock Festival
Sullivan County was the location of the famous 1969 Woodstock Festival. This huge music event took place on Max Yasgur's farm in the town of Bethel. About 500,000 people gathered there from August 15-18, 1969. Many famous musicians performed, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and Janis Joplin.
After the festival, laws were passed to prevent such large events from happening again. In 2019, there were plans for a 50th-anniversary celebration of Woodstock. The main "Woodstock 50" festival was canceled, but the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts held smaller concerts.
Arts and Culture
The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is now a popular place for concerts and events. It also has a museum about the 1960s and the Woodstock Festival.
Other cultural spots include the CAS Arts Center in Livingston Manor, New York. It has art exhibits and classes. The NaCl Theatre in Highland Lake is a professional theater company. The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) in Narrowsburg supports the arts in Sullivan County. It has art galleries, performances, and the Big Eddy Film Festival.
Communities in Sullivan County
Sullivan County is made up of different types of communities.
Towns
Villages
- Ateres
- Bloomingburg
- Jeffersonville
- Liberty
- Monticello (the county seat)
- Woodridge
- Wurtsboro
Census-Designated Places (CDPs)
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as one.
- Barryville
- Bridgeville
- Callicoon
- Eldred
- Fallsburg
- Grahamsville
- Hankins
- Hortonville
- Hurleyville
- Kauneonga Lake
- Kiamesha Lake
- Lake Huntington
- Livingston Manor
- Loch Sheldrake
- Mongaup Valley
- Mountain Dale
- Narrowsburg
- Rock Hill
- Roscoe
- Smallwood
- South Fallsburg
- Swan Lake
- White Lake
- Woodbourne
- Wurtsboro Hills
Hamlets
Hamlets are even smaller communities.
- Burlingham
- Debruce
- Ferndale
- Glen Spey
- Handsome Eddy
- Harris
- Haven
- Hazel
- Lew Beach
- Long Eddy
- Minisink Ford
- North Branch
- Spring Glen
- Summitville
- White Sulphur Springs
- Youngsville
Notable People from Sullivan County
- Jeff McBride (born 1959), a famous American magician and teacher.
Images for kids
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Stream in the hamlet of Rock Hill
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Flag of Sullivan County
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Seal of Sullivan County
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Sullivan (Nueva York) para niños
