Wilmington, New York Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Wilmington, New York
Town
Whiteface Mountain as seen from the Esther Mountain
Location in Essex County and the state of New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Essex
Government
• Type	Town Council
Area
• Total	65.47 sq mi (169.57 km²)
• Land	65.22 sq mi (168.93 km²)
• Water	0.25 sq mi (0.64 km²)
Elevation	1,093 ft (333 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	843
• Density	12.87/sq mi (4.99/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12997
Area code(s)	518
FIPS code	36-031-82315
GNIS feature ID	0979644

Wilmington is a small town located in northern Essex County, New York. It is found within the beautiful Adirondack Park. In 2020, about 843 people lived there.

The town is named after another town called Wilmington, Vermont, which is nearby. Wilmington, New York, is located on the northern edge of Essex County. It is southwest of a larger city called Plattsburgh. This area is often called the Whiteface region because of the famous mountain.

History of Wilmington
Geography of Wilmington
People of Wilmington
Communities and Places in Wilmington
See also

History of Wilmington

When Was Wilmington First Settled?

People first started to settle in the area around Wilmington in the year 1812. It was a new place for pioneers to build homes and communities.

How Wilmington Got Its Name

The town of Wilmington was officially formed in 1821. It was created from a part of the town of Jay. When it was first established, the town had a different name: "Dansville."

However, there was another town in New York also named Dansville. To avoid confusion, the name was changed in 1822. A settler from Vermont suggested the name "Wilmington," and that's how the town got its current name. Later, in 1848, a section of Wilmington was used to create a new town called St. Armand.

Wilmington's Tourist Attractions

In the early 1900s, Wilmington started to become a popular place for tourists. One of the most famous attractions is "Santa's Workshop." This was one of the very first theme parks in America made just for children! It's located partway up the Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway. It even has its own special Post Office, named North Pole, New York.

Wilmington is also home to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center. This mountain is 4,865 feet tall. It was an important location for the 1980 Winter Olympics, hosting the alpine skiing events.

Geography of Wilmington

What is Wilmington's Area Like?

Wilmington covers a total area of about 169.0 square kilometers. Almost all of this area, 169.0 square kilometers, is land. Only a small part, about 0.6 square kilometers, is water. This means that only about 0.36% of the town's area is covered by water.

Nearby Counties and Rivers

The northern border of Wilmington is also the border of Clinton County. In the northwestern corner of the town, you can find the edge of Franklin County as well.

The West Branch of the Ausable River flows through the middle of the town. It moves northeastward, adding to the natural beauty of the area.

Main Roads in Wilmington

Two important roads meet in Wilmington. New York State Route 431 is a highway that runs east to west. It is also known as the Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway. This road crosses with New York State Route 86, which runs north to south, right in the village of Wilmington.

People of Wilmington

How Many People Live in Wilmington?

The population of Wilmington has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the town during different census years:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1830	695	—
1840	928	33.5%
1850	1,218	31.3%
1860	861	−29.3%
1870	794	−7.8%
1880	899	13.2%
1890	678	−24.6%
1900	634	−6.5%
1910	573	−9.6%
1920	545	−4.9%
1930	567	4.0%
1940	737	30.0%
1950	574	−22.1%
1960	683	19.0%
1970	777	13.8%
1980	1,051	35.3%
1990	1,020	−2.9%
2000	1,131	10.9%
2010	1,253	10.8%
2020	843	−32.7%
2016 (est.)	1,264	0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

According to the 2020 census, there were 843 people living in Wilmington. There were also 417 households. The population density was about 17.4 people per square mile.

Diversity in Wilmington

Most of the people in Wilmington are White, making up about 98.59% of the population. A small number of residents identify as African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people also identify with two or more races. About 0.62% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Households and Families

There were 460 households in Wilmington. About 35% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Many households, about 53%, were married couples living together. About 8.7% of households had a female head of household without a husband present.

The average household size was about 2.46 people. The average family size was about 3.01 people.

Age Groups in Wilmington

The population of Wilmington includes people of all ages. About 27.7% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 13.5% were 65 years old or older. The average age of people in Wilmington was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were about 97 males.

Income Levels

The average income for a household in Wilmington was about $34,432 per year. For families, the average income was about $43,077 per year. About 10% of the total population lived below the poverty line. This included about 11.3% of children under 18 and 4.7% of people aged 65 or older.

Communities and Places in Wilmington

Haselton – This is a small hamlet located in the northeastern part of the town. It is found along County Road 12 and the Ausable River.
High Falls Gorge – This is a specific location found on NY 86, just south of the main Wilmington village. It's known for its natural beauty.
North Pole – This is a community that is home to the famous Santa's Workshop theme park. It is located northwest of Wilmington village on NY 431.
Wilmington – This is the main hamlet or village of Wilmington. It is located where Routes NY-86 and NY-431 meet, near the Au Sable River. This community is a popular spot for resorts and skiing.

Wilmington, New York facts for kids

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