Wells, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wells, New York
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Location in Hamilton County and the state of New York.
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Hamilton |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 178.36 sq mi (461.96 km2) |
| • Land | 176.80 sq mi (457.91 km2) |
| • Water | 1.56 sq mi (4.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,696 ft (517 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 683 |
| • Density | 3.61/sq mi (1.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
12190
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| Area code(s) | 518 |
| FIPS code | 36-041-79059 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979615 |
Wells is a small town located in Hamilton County, New York, United States. In 2020, about 683 people lived there. The town is named after Joshua Wells, who was a land agent and built the first mills in the area. Wells is found within the Adirondack Park and sits on the eastern edge of Hamilton County. It is located northwest of Schenectady.
Contents
History of Wells
The area where Wells is now located was first settled around 1798. The town itself was officially created in 1805. At that time, it was part of Montgomery County. Wells was formed from parts of two other towns: Mayfield and Northampton. Over the years, the size of Wells changed as new towns were created in Hamilton County. For example, parts of Wells were used to form Hope in 1818 and Long Lake in 1837.
The town of Gilman was once named after a settler called John Gilman. Land was taken from Wells to create Gilman in 1841. However, much of that land was given back to Wells when Gilman was closed down in 1860. Wells also grew by adding parts of Mayfield in 1812 and 1816, Northampton in 1816, and Lake Pleasant in 1858.
Wells During the War of 1812
The U.S.A. declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812. Settlers in Wells and Lake Pleasant worried about attacks. They feared Native Americans who were helping the British Empire might attack their homes. Even though no attacks happened, many settlers in the Adirondacks, who felt they were on the northern border, left their homes. They moved to safer counties like Saratoga, Rensselaer, and Montgomery. Most people left Wells, and only one family stayed in Lake Pleasant.
A few remaining settlers asked New York's governor, Daniel D. Tompkins, for help. They wanted to form a group of volunteers from Wells and Lake Pleasant. This group would act as a local army, called a militia. Its purpose was to calm people's fears, protect them, and encourage them to return home. The governor agreed. William B Peck from Lake Pleasant became the captain of the Wells and Lake Pleasant Home Guards. Later, Lt. John L Francisco from Wells took command.
The War of 1812 also led to the building of new roads. These roads were needed so U.S. forces could move into Canada. A military road was built through Wells to reach the St. Lawrence River. This made it easier to transport soldiers and supplies.
Plane Crash in Wells
On September 17, 1986, a plane crash happened in Wells. It involved the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Four planes were on a training mission, and two of them crashed into the Adirondack mountains. One pilot died, and another was injured. This crash is thought to have inspired a two-part episode of the TV show The X-Files. That episode was set in the nearby village of Northville, New York, but no filming took place in Wells or Northville.
Geography and Location
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Wells covers a total area of about 178.4 square miles (461.96 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 177.2 square miles (457.91 square kilometers), is land. The remaining 1.2 square miles (4.05 square kilometers) is water.
The eastern border of Wells is shared with Warren County.
Two main highways pass through Wells. New York State Route 30 runs north to south. New York State Route 8, which runs east to west, joins with NY-30 in the middle part of Wells.
Fun Activities in Wells
Wells is a small, country community located on Lake Algonquin. It's a popular spot for tourists who enjoy outdoor activities. You can go boating, kayaking, hiking, camping, and fishing. In the winter, people enjoy snowmobiling and ice racing on the lake. Every year, the town hosts "Old Home Days" during the first full weekend of August.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 331 | — | |
| 1830 | 340 | 2.7% | |
| 1840 | 365 | 7.4% | |
| 1850 | 532 | 45.8% | |
| 1860 | 738 | 38.7% | |
| 1870 | 817 | 10.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,113 | 36.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,298 | 16.6% | |
| 1900 | 908 | −30.0% | |
| 1910 | 742 | −18.3% | |
| 1920 | 652 | −12.1% | |
| 1930 | 527 | −19.2% | |
| 1940 | 567 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 507 | −10.6% | |
| 1960 | 539 | 6.3% | |
| 1970 | 604 | 12.1% | |
| 1980 | 627 | 3.8% | |
| 1990 | 706 | 12.6% | |
| 2000 | 737 | 4.4% | |
| 2010 | 674 | −8.5% | |
| 2020 | 683 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, the census showed that 674 people lived in Wells. These people lived in 322 households, with 205 of them being families. The population was spread out, with 21.2% of people under 18 years old. About 22.4% were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 46 years.
Most people in Wells were White (96.61%). A small number were African American (0.54%), Native American (0.81%), or Asian (0.27%). Some people (1.63%) were of two or more races. About 0.27% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average income for a household in Wells was $29,107 per year. For families, the average income was $37,500. About 15.7% of all people in Wells lived below the poverty line. This included 12.8% of those under 18 and 12.6% of those 65 or older.
Places and Communities in Wells
Here are some of the communities and interesting places you can find in the town of Wells:
- Augur Falls – A waterfall located north of the main village of Wells.
- Big Range – A high point (elevation) north of the Wells village.
- Blackbridge – A spot on West River Road, southwest of Wells village.
- Buckhorn Mountain – A mountain located northeast of the Wells village.
- Burnham Mountain – A mountain north of the Wells village.
- Cattle Mountain – A mountain east of the Wells village.
- Corrigan Hill – A hill east of the Wells village.
- County Line Mountain – A mountain northeast of the Wells village.
- Cross Mountain – A mountain north of the Wells village.
- Devorse Mountain – A mountain south-southwest of the Wells village.
- Dugway Mountain – A mountain west of the Wells village.
- Finch Mountain – A mountain southwest of the Wells village.
- Forks Mountain – A mountain northeast of the Wells village.
- Freds Mountain – A mountain southeast of the Wells village.
- Gilmantown – A small community (hamlet) that used to be part of the old town of Gilman. It's located on Gilmantown Road between Speculator and the Wells village.
- Griffin – A small community on Route 8, near the eastern border of the town.
- Hamilton Mountain – A mountain west of the Wells village.
- Horseshoe Mountain – A mountain northeast of the Wells village.
- Humphrey Mountain – A mountain north of the Wells village.
- Lake Algonquin – A lake located west of Wells.
- Macomber Mountain – A mountain northeast of the Wells village.
- Moose Mountain – A mountain southeast of the Wells village.
- Mossy Mountain – A mountain north of the Wells village.
- Mount Morris – A mountain east-southeast of the Wells village.
- Mount Orrey – A mountain west of the Wells village.
- Mount Overrocker – A mountain north-northwest of the Wells village.
- Petes Hill – A hill north of the Wells village.
- Pettit Mountain – A mountain north of the Wells village.
- Pickleville – A former community, located north of the Wells village.
- Pine Mountain – A mountain north of the Wells village.
- Poplar Hill – A hill north of the Wells village.
- Pumpkin Hollow – A small community on Route 30, near the border with the town of Hope.
- Rooney Hill – A hill south of the Wells village.
- Round Mountain – A mountain northwest of the Wells village.
- Sacandaga River – A river that flows through the town and the village of Wells.
- Salmon Lake Mountain – A mountain east of the Wells village.
- South Pond Mountain – A mountain northeast of the Wells village.
- Spruce Mountain – A mountain east of the Wells village.
- Steve Bigle Mountain – A mountain east-northeast of the Wells village.
- Upper Pine Mountain – A mountain north of the Wells village.
- Wells – This is the main village of the town, located on Route 30 and Algonquin Lake.
- West Hill – A hill southwest of the Wells village.
- Whitehouse – A location in the northwestern part of the town. It's considered an Adirondack ghost town.
- Windfall – A location northeast of Wells.
- Willis Lake – A lake located northeast of Willis Lake.
Neighboring Towns
Wells shares its southern border with the towns of Benson and Hope. To the west, you'll find the town of Arietta. Lake Pleasant is to the northwest, and Indian Lake is to the north. On the eastern side, Wells borders the towns of Stony Creek, Thurman, and Johnsburg, all of which are in Warren County.
See also
In Spanish: Wells (Nueva York) para niños
