Watkins Glen, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watkins Glen, New York
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Franklin Street in Watkins Glen
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 Watkins Glen, New York
Location in New York
Watkins Glen, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Schuyler |
| Settled | 1791 |
| Named | 1842 as Jefferson |
| Named | 1852 as Watkins Glen |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.94 sq mi (5.03 km2) |
| • Land | 1.56 sq mi (4.04 km2) |
| • Water | 0.38 sq mi (0.99 km2) |
| Elevation | 463 ft (141 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,863 |
| • Density | 1,194.23/sq mi (461.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
14891
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| Area code(s) | 607 |
| FIPS code | 36-78696 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0974082 |
Watkins Glen is a village in New York, USA. It is the main town of Schuyler County. In 2020, about 1,829 people lived there. Watkins Glen is located between the towns of Dix and Reading.
Near the village is the Watkins Glen International race track. This track hosts big races like the NASCAR Cup Series and WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It used to host the Formula One United States Grand Prix and IndyCar races too.
In 2017, the village received a ten-million-dollar grant. This money was given to help improve the village center. Former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo approved these projects. The goal was to encourage more private businesses to invest in the village. Most of these projects were finished by December 2023.
Contents
History of Watkins Glen Village
The area where Watkins Glen is now was first settled in 1791. In 1842, the village was named "Jefferson." Later, in 1852, it was renamed Watkins Glen. This new name honored Dr. Samuel Watkins.
Dr. Samuel Watkins' older brother, John, bought land near the gorge in 1794. He built mills there. After John died, Samuel Watkins inherited the property. For 40 years, Samuel worked to build up the area. He added roads, shops, and a hotel. The local newspaper, Watkins Glen Review & Express, has been serving the community since 1854.
Geography and Location
Watkins Glen is located at 42°22′52″N 76°52′16″W / 42.38111°N 76.87111°W.
The United States Census Bureau says the village covers about 2.2 square miles (5.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.4 square miles (1.0 square kilometer) is water.
Several important roads meet in Watkins Glen. New York State Route 14 connects with New York State Route 79 and New York State Route 414. NY-14 is one of the main streets in the village. New York State Route 329 and New York State Route 409 also lead into Watkins Glen from the west.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,039 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,716 | 33.2% | |
| 1890 | 2,604 | −4.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,943 | 13.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,817 | −4.3% | |
| 1920 | 2,785 | −1.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,956 | 6.1% | |
| 1940 | 2,913 | −1.5% | |
| 1950 | 3,052 | 4.8% | |
| 1960 | 2,813 | −7.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,716 | −3.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,440 | −10.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,207 | −9.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,149 | −2.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,859 | −13.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,829 | −1.6% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,228 | 19.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 1,859 people living in Watkins Glen. They lived in 873 households. About 442 of these were families. The village had 977 housing units.
Most people in the village were White (96.2%). A small number were African American (0.50%), Native American (0.40%), or Asian (0.50%). Some people were from other races (0.70%) or two or more races (1.70%). About 1.40% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 22.60% of households had children under 18. About 33.70% were married couples. The average household had 2.09 people. The average family had 2.86 people.
The population's age was spread out. About 22.70% were under 20 years old. About 17.50% were 65 or older. The average age was 43.20 years old. There were 866 male residents and 993 female residents.
The average income for a household was $34,969. For families, it was $55,357. About 5.0% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Fun Things to Do and See
Watkins Glen State Park: Nature's Beauty
Watkins Glen State Park is a large park covering 778 acres. It has a deep, narrow gorge that is 400 feet (120 meters) deep. This gorge features 19 waterfalls over less than two miles. It is considered a very important park by New York State.
Auto Racing: A Fast History
Watkins Glen is famous for its auto racing history. It has a well-known race track called Watkins Glen International. This track is one of the best road racing tracks in the United States. It hosts races like the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen. It also hosts the IMSA SportsCar Championship 6 Hours of Watkins Glen.
The first Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix was held in 1948. It took place on public streets in and near the village. This was the first road race in the United States after World War II. It helped bring back American road racing.
The original race course was about 6.6 miles (10.6 kilometers) long. It went right through the center of the village. Today, you can still see the streets used for this course. A checkered flag marks the original start-finish line on the main street.
In 1952, a sad accident happened during a race. A driver hit people sitting on a curb. A 7-year-old boy died, and 10 others were hurt. This tragedy led to the end of street racing in Watkins Glen and other places in the United States.
A special race track, the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course, opened in 1956. It has hosted many types of road races. These include the Sahlen's 6 Hours of Watkins Glen (since 1948) and the Formula One United States Grand Prix (from 1961 to 1980). It also hosts the I Love New York 355 at The Glen (since 1957). This was one of the few NASCAR Cup Series races not held on an oval track.
International Motor Racing Research Center
The International Motor Racing Research Center opened in 1999. It is a special place that collects and keeps the history of motorsports. Its goal is to save and share the story of racing from all over the world.
Personal Watercraft Racing
Since 2014, Watkins Glen has hosted a weekend of IJSBA (International Jet Sports Boating Association) watercraft racing. This event has become one of the biggest in the sport. The races happen on Seneca Lake, near Clute Memorial Park. They usually take place on the last weekend in August. The event is free for people to watch. It includes both closed course racing and freestyle competitions. Different types of watercraft are used, like stand-up and sit-down jet skis.
Summer Jam Rock Festival (1973)
The race track was also the site of a huge rock festival on July 28, 1973. This event was called the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen. About 600,000 people attended, which was one and a half times the crowd at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. It set a world record for the largest number of people at a pop music festival. The concert featured famous bands like The Allman Brothers Band, Grateful Dead, and The Band. The music started on Saturday noon and continued into Sunday.
Phish Music Festivals
The band Phish has hosted several music festivals at Watkins Glen.
- From July 1-3, 2011, they held Superball IX.
- From August 21-23, 2015, they hosted their 10th festival, Magnaball.
- Phish planned to return for their 11th festival, Curveball, in August 2018. However, it was canceled because floods affected the local water supply.
True Love Schooner
Watkins Glen is the home port for a boat called True Love. This schooner was built in 1926. It was even featured in the 1956 movie High Society.
Farm Animal Protection Movement
Watkins Glen is home to Farm Sanctuary. This is a national organization that works to protect farm animals. It was started by activist Gene Baur in 1986. In 1991, Farm Sanctuary opened a shelter in Watkins Glen. This shelter has given a safe home to thousands of animals rescued from bad situations. It also hosts many public events and welcomes visitors from all over the world.
Images for kids
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Franklin Street in Watkins Glen
See also
In Spanish: Watkins Glen (Nueva York) para niños
