Wawarsing, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wawarsing, 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 | 133.86 sq mi (346.70 km2) |
| • Land | 130.51 sq mi (338.01 km2) |
| • Water | 3.36 sq mi (8.69 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,204 ft (367 m) |
| Population
(20 0)
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| • Total | 12,771 |
| • Density | 95.406/sq mi (36.8359/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
12489
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| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-78828 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979609 |
Wawarsing (pronounced /wəˈwɔːrsɪŋ/) is a town located in Ulster County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 12,771 people lived there. The name Wawarsing comes from the Lenape language. It means "a place where the streams wind." This name describes the area where the Ver Nooy Kill and Rondout Creek meet. Wawarsing is the only Lenape name in Ulster County that points to an exact spot.
The town is in the western part of Ulster County. Its southern and eastern areas are on the Shawangunk Ridge. Much of the town is hilly and part of the Appalachian foothills. The northernmost section is in the Catskills. Wawarsing is home to several state parks and preserves. These include Shawangunk Ridge, VerNooykill, and Witches Hole State Forests. It also has most of Minnewaska State Park and Sam's Point Preserve. Parts of the Catskill Preserve and Sundown State Park are also here.
US 209 runs through the town. It connects many communities like Spring Glen, Ellenville, Napanoch, and Kerhonkson. US 44 starts near the eastern town line. New York Route 52 is found near the southern border. These roads are all part of the Shawangunk Ridge National Scenic Byway.
Contents
History of Wawarsing
Early Settlements and Conflicts
The Lenape people had a settlement called "Wawarasinke." In 1663, English soldiers led by Marten Crieger burned this settlement. This happened after the Lenape attacked Wiltwyck and took people captive. In 1685, Warnaar Hoornbeek became the first European settler to lease land here.
In 1703, the areas of Mombaccus and Wawarasink became part of The Town of Rochester. During the American Revolutionary War, British raiders attacked Wawarsing, Napanoch, and Pinebush (now Kerhonkson). They harmed many women and children and burned farms.
Forming the Town of Wawarsing
In 1906, several communities joined together. These included Wawarsing, Napanoch, Laurenkil, Lackawack, and Greenfield. They formed The Town of Wawarsing. This new town was created from parts of Southern Rochester and other areas of Ulster County.
The O & W Railroad Station at Port Ben is an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Geography of Wawarsing
Size and Location
The town of Wawarsing covers about 133.9 square miles (346.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 130.8 square miles (338.0 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 3.1 square miles (8.0 square kilometers), is water.
Wawarsing shares its western and southern borders with Sullivan County.
Mountains and Waterways
The northern part of the town is the southernmost section of the Catskill Mountains. The eastern border is formed by the Shawangunk Ridge. This ridge is pronounced "Shaw-ong-ungk."
The Rondout Creek flows through the town. Other creeks like the Sandburg, Laurenkill, Beerkill, Fantinekill, and Vernooy Kill also pass through Wawarsing.
Population of Wawarsing
How Many People Live Here?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,811 | — | |
| 1830 | 2,738 | 51.2% | |
| 1840 | 4,044 | 47.7% | |
| 1850 | 6,459 | 59.7% | |
| 1860 | 8,311 | 28.7% | |
| 1870 | 8,151 | −1.9% | |
| 1880 | 8,547 | 4.9% | |
| 1890 | 7,758 | −9.2% | |
| 1900 | 7,225 | −6.9% | |
| 1910 | 7,787 | 7.8% | |
| 1920 | 6,910 | −11.3% | |
| 1930 | 7,437 | 7.6% | |
| 1940 | 9,260 | 24.5% | |
| 1950 | 9,912 | 7.0% | |
| 1960 | 11,245 | 13.4% | |
| 1970 | 11,690 | 4.0% | |
| 1980 | 12,956 | 10.8% | |
| 1990 | 12,348 | −4.7% | |
| 2000 | 13,936 | 12.9% | |
| 2010 | 13,157 | −5.6% | |
| 2020 | 12,771 | −2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 | |||
In 2000, there were 12,889 people living in Wawarsing. There were 4,382 households and 2,966 families. The population density was about 98.6 people per square mile (38.1 people per square kilometer). There were 5,821 housing units, with about 44.5 units per square mile (17.2 units per square kilometer).
Diversity in Wawarsing
The racial makeup of the town in 2000 was mostly white (75.03%). There were also African American (12.45%), Native American (0.52%), and Asian (1.17%) residents. About 7.76% of people were from other races, and 3.06% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 18.05% of the population.
Households and Age
Of the households, 32.4% had children under 18 living with them. About 46.8% were married couples. About 14.9% had a female head of household with no husband present. Around 26.2% of all households were single individuals. About 11.8% had someone 65 years or older living alone. The average household had 2.57 people, and the average family had 3.07 people.
The population's age spread in 2000 was:
- 23.2% under 18
- 8.2% from 18 to 24
- 33.1% from 25 to 44
- 23.4% from 45 to 64
- 12.1% who were 65 or older
The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were about 117.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were about 119.9 males.
Income Levels
In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $35,872. For a family, the median income was $43,828. Males earned a median income of $32,121, while females earned $24,656. The average income per person in the town was $16,512. About 13.3% of families and 19.1% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included 23.6% of those under 18 and 12.9% of those 65 or older.
Communities and Places in Wawarsing
- Cragsmoor – A small community in the southeastern part of the town.
- Dairyland – A community near the western town line on Route 52.
- East Wawarsing – A community southeast of the main Wawarsing hamlet.
- Ellenville – A village where routes 52 and 209 meet. The town government building is located here.
- Greenfield Park – A community west of Ellenville on Route 52.
- Honk Hill – Located in Napanoch, close to Honk Lake.
- Honk Lake – A small lake south of Honk Hill.
- Kerhonkson – A community near the northern town line along Route 209.
- Lackawack – A community northwest of Wawarsing hamlet, at the edge of the Catskill Park.
- Minnewaska State Park – A state park that is partly located in the town.
- Napanoch – A community north of Ellenville on Route 209.
- Pine Bush – A community at the northeastern town line.
- Potterville – An old community in the town that is now abandoned.
- Rondout Reservoir – A reservoir partly in the northwestern part of the town.
- Sam's Point Preserve – A nature preserve southeast of Ellenville.
- Soyuzivka – A Ukrainian resort found in Kerhonkson.
- Spring Glen – A community near the southern town line.
- Stony Kill Falls – An 87-foot-high waterfall in the area.
- The Cape – A community northwest of Ellenville on Route 52.
- Ulster Heights – A community in the western part of the town. The Ulster Heights Synagogue was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
- Wawarsing – This is the main community that the town is named after, located on Route 209.
- Yagerville – A small area near the Rondout Reservoir.
Notable People from Wawarsing
- Max Schubel, a composer.
- John Simon, a record producer.
- Joseph Terwilliger, a geneticist.
See also
In Spanish: Wawarsing para niños
