Esopus, New York

Esopus is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 9,041 at the 2010 census. The town was named after the local Indian tribe and means "high banks" in English. They were one of the Lenape (Delaware) bands, belonging to a people who ranged from western Connecticut through lower New York, western Long Island, and parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania along the Delaware River. The town is on the west bank of the Hudson River south of the city of Kingston. Its center is in Port Ewen. US Route 9W passes along the east side of the town.

Esopus, New York
Town
Esopus Town Hall
Location in Ulster County and the state of New York.
Coordinates: 41°51′21″N 73°59′31″W
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Ulster
Area [1]
• Total	41.94 sq mi (108.62 km^2)
• Land	37.31 sq mi (96.64 km^2)
• Water	4.63 sq mi (11.99 km^2)
Elevation	650 ft (198 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	9,041
• Estimate  (2016)[2]	8,839
• Density	236.89/sq mi (91.47/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12429
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-24691
GNIS feature ID	0978944
Website	Town website

The Esopus Meadows Lighthouse

History

The town was founded in 1811 from territory taken from Kingston, New York,[3] which also was called "Esopus" at one time. It was officially formed on April 5, 1811. In 1818, a part of it was set off to Kingston, and a portion of Hurley was annexed. On April 12, 1842, a portion of New Paltz was annexed, making up what is mostly present-day Esopus.

The first known European to settle in the area was a trapper by the name of Christoffel "Kit" Davits,[4] who bartered with the Esopus people, a branch of the Lenape. Around 1652 or 1653 many settlers moved south from the Manor of Rensselaerswyck where they had worked the patroon's land.

During the American Revolution, a colonial prison was established there in the fall of 1777 to house overcrowding of a prison ship anchored offshore. The British army attacked this settlement in the same year and burned it to the ground.[5]

The Cumming-Parker House, Esopus Meadows Lighthouse, Col. Oliver Hazard Payne Estate, Poppletown Farmhouse, and Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Klyne Esopus are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6] Other noteworthy structures in Esopus include the Mount Academy.

Notable Residents

In the early 19th century, Esopus was a popular summer residence for wealthy American families such as the Astors, Durkees, Paynes, Rockefellers, Smiths, Tiffanys and Whitneys, who built architecturally significant mansions and hunting lodges on the west bank of the Hudson River, across from the Vanderbilt and Roosevelt estates on the east bank.

Historical figures and celebrated people who have lived in Esopus include naturalist John Burroughs; financier Harry Payne Bingham; abolitionist Sojourner Truth; 19th-century U.S. politician George W. Pratt; Standard Oil treasurer Colonel Oliver Hazard Payne; business leader and president of Avco Corporation Raymond Rich; the Smith Brothers, who invented the first cough drops in America; Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (patron saint of immigrants); Major Gen. Daniel Butterfield, who founded the American Express Company and wrote "Taps" in 1862; Eugene R. Durkee, who made a fortune in spices and salad dressings and whose West Park summer mansion became part of the Christian Brothers monastery; John Jacob Astor III; boxing champion Floyd Patterson who attended Wiltwyck School for Boys in West Park; and Alton Brooks Parker, a lawyer and judge who ran for U.S president as the 1904 Democratic party nominee, losing to incumbent Theodore Roosevelt.

In the early part of the 21st century, Esopus became known as a haven for artists and performers, including Academy Award-, Emmy Award- and Tony Award-winning actress Frances McDormand, singer and Broadway actress Kelli O'Hara, actor Sebastian Roche, director Joel Coen, choreographer/director Joe Langworth, actress Blair Ross, Emmy Award-winning actor Peter Dinklage, actress Connie Ray, and reality television personality and former countess Luann de Lesseps.

United Nations

In 1946, Esopus was under consideration for the United Nations headquarters. The community was not alone: no fewer than 248 towns in New York State were among the possible locations, along with cities in other parts of the United States and in nearly every European country. On January 9, 1946, a photo appeared in the Kingston Daily Freeman, with a caption reading, “The local UNO Committee mapping a tentative itinerary for the Sub-Committee of the United Nations Organization (UNO) was impressed with the view shown above from Camp Chi-Wan-Do on the River road between Port Ewen and Ulster Park.” Many local property owners organized to oppose the proposed UN headquarters, however, fearing eminent domain. Ultimately, a donation of more than eight million dollars by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. for 16 acres of land in Manhattan provided the UN with its current headquarters in 1948.[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.9 square miles (109 km²), of which, 37.2 square miles (96 km²) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km²) of it (11.08%) is water.

The east town line, marked by the Hudson River, is the border of Dutchess County. The Rondout Creek marks the north town line, while the Wallkill River defines the western border.

The lowest point in the town is the shore of the Hudson River, which is at sea level. The highest point is the summit of Hussey Hill, at 906 feet (276 m).[8] Hussey Hill is part of the Marlboro Mountains, which run roughly north to south through the central and eastern sections of Esopus.[3]

Esopus also has three lakes: Esopus Lake and Mirror Lake, which are in Ulster Park, and Louisa Pond, which is located to the west of the hamlet of Esopus. Louisa Pond is located in Shaupeneak Ridge Cooperative Recreation Area.

Government

The town's government is made up of a supervisor, four council members, two justices, a highway superintendent, a clerk, and a tax collector.

The following is a list of town supervisors:[9]

Name	Years Served	Years Lived	Notes
John J. LeFevre	1811
Peter R. Decker	1812	1776-1844[10]
Gerrit Jacob Freer	1813-1816	1765-1827[11]
Cornelius DuBois Hasbrouck	1817	1778-1855[12]	Vacated
Joshua DeGraff	1817-1819	1778-bef.1835
Isaac LeFevre	1820-1825	1767-1847	Relative of John J. LeFevre; previously served as Town of New Paltz, New York supervisor[13]
Jacob E. Hermance	1826	1790-?
Peter R. Decker	1827	1776-1844
Thomas Martin Holt	1828-1829	1792-1858[14]
Peter R. Decker	1830	1776-1844
Jan Gerrit "John" Freer	1831-1834	1793-1866	Son of Gerrit J. Freer[15]
Joseph Stringham	1835		Vacated or Died in Office
Ephraim Van Aken	1835	1779-1844[16]
Jan Gerrit "John" Freer	1836-1837	1793-1866
John Henry Schryver	1838-1839	1802-1877
Jan Gerrit "John" Freer	1840	1793-1866
John Henry Schryver	1841-1842	1802-1877
David Horton	1843-1846	1797-1854
Richard Eltinge	1847-1848	1795-1878	Married into Hasbrouck family[17]
David Horton	1849-1851	1797-1854
Peter Meier Van Aken	1852	1803-1890	Son of Ephraim Van Aken[18]
David Horton	1853-1854	1797-1854	Died in office
Ezekiel Brodhead	1854-1855	1814-1874[19]
Ebenezer Van Aken	1856	1815-1865	Nephew of Ephraim Van Aken; first cousin of Peter M. Van Aken
John Horton	1857	c. 1800-1857	Brother of David Horton; Died in office
Marinus Van Aken Wheeler	1857	1800-1885[20]
George T. Pierce	1858-1859	1823-1874	Served as member of New York State Assembly and Senate
Josiah Hasbrouck	1860	1830-1889	Member of Hasbrouck family
Abraham Sleght	1861-1862	1807-1876	Son-in-law of Richard Eltinge[21]
Edward McKenzie	1863	1815-1886[22]
Josiah Hasbrouck	1864-1865	1830-1889[23]
Edward McKenzie	1866	1815-1886
Henry Cantine Connelly	1867-1870	1832-1912	Served as member of New York State Senate
Morgan Everson	1871	1810-1875
Ezra Van Aken	1872-1873	1836-1923[24]	Son of Peter M. Van Aken; grandson of Ephraim Van Aken; cousin of Ebenezer Van Aken
Benjamin Neise	1874	1798-1891[25]
Berdett Terpenning	1875	1837-1888
Philip A. Schryver	1876-1878	1823-1901
John Samuel Griffiths	1879	1821-1887[26]
Harvey L. Manning	1880-1881	1833-1884[27]
Charles Tupper Coutant	1882-1887	1843-1919[28]
Daniel Webster Benton	1888	1845-1926[29]	Husband of Mary Lavinia Van Aken, who was cousin of Ebenezer, Ephraim, Peter M. and Ezra Van Aken
Daniel Elsworth	1889	1831-?
Daniel Webster Benton	1890	1845-1926
Josiah Keator	1891	1833-1899[30]
George Sharpe Sleight	1892-1894	1845-1899[31]	Son of Abraham Sleght; grandson of Richard Eltinge
Josiah Hasbrouck Jr.	1895	1864-1913[32]	Son of Josiah Hasbrouck
John A. Decker	1896-1897	1850-1930[33]	First wife Rebecca was granddaughter of Thomas Martin Holt
Robert Gillies	1898-1899	1849-1902
Simon Brodhead Van Wagenen	1900-1903	1864-1927[34]
Ellis B. Long	1904-1905	1874-?
Charles McDonald	1906-1909	1851-?
George E. House	1910-1913	1853-1926[35]
Charles H. Schoonmaker	1914-1917	1868-1943[36]	Husband of Etta Van Aken, who was cousin of Ebenezer, Ephraim, Peter M. and Ezra Van Aken
Holt Norris Winfield	1918-1919	1886-1960[37]	Great-grandson of Thomas Martin Holt; nephew of John A. Decker
John H. Beaver	1920	1871-1964[38]	Resigned 8/28/1920
Elmer E. Elsworth	1920-1923	1871-1932[39]
Roscoe Van Aken Elsworth	1924-1925	1893-1990[40]	Cousin of the Van Aken family (Ebenezer, Ephraim, Peter M., Ezra)
Harold Vincent Story	1926-1927	1880-1962
Missing Information	1928-1929
Roscoe Van Aken Elsworth	1930-1935	1893-1990	Went on to serve as a New York State Supreme Court Judge (1945 to 1969)
Missing Information	1936-1939
Raymond Howe	1940-1943	1897-1959[41]
John Taylor Groves	1944-1947	1891-1963[42]	Later served as Ulster County Treasurer (1949 to 1952)
Henry Madison Cameron	1948-1951	1896-1993[43]
Edward R. Eckert	1952-1957	1920-1994
Roger Wallace Mabie	1958-1967	1917-2008[44]
George Harding Freer	1968-1975	1923-1978[45]	Distant cousin of Gerrit J. Freer and Jan G. Freer
Joseph Edward Sills Jr.	1975-1982	1932-
Marilyn A. Clark Coffey	1982-1987	1934-2016[46]	First female supervisor
Roger Wallace Mabie	1988-1993	1917-2008	Most years of service as Esopus supervisor overall (16 years)
Philip Stephan "Steve" Sickler	1994-1995	1947-2017[47]
Raymond E. "Ray" Rice	1996-2005	1943-	Most years of service as Esopus supervisor consecutively (10 years)
John K. Coutant	2006-2015	1945-2015[48]	Died in office; Most years of service as Esopus supervisor consecutively (10 years)
Kyle W. Barnett	2015 (acting)	1969-
Diane McCord	2016-2017	1947-
Shannon Harris	2018-Present

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	1,513		—
1830	1,770		17.0%
1840	1,939		9.5%
1850	2,900		49.6%
1860	4,734		63.2%
1870	4,557		−3.7%
1880	4,736		3.9%
1890	4,659		−1.6%
1900	4,907		5.3%
1910	4,732		−3.6%
1920	3,913		−17.3%
1930	4,167		6.5%
1940	4,220		1.3%
1950	4,738		12.3%
1960	6,597		39.2%
1970	6,974		5.7%
1980	7,605		9.0%
1990	8,860		16.5%
2000	9,331		5.3%
2010	9,041		−3.1%
2016 (est.)	8,839	[2]	−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[49]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census[50] there were 9,331 people, 3,439 households and 2,235 families residing in the town. The population density was 250.5 people per square mile (96.7/km²). There were 3,724 housing units at an average density of 100.0 per square mile (38.6/km². The racial makeup of the town was 94.57% white; 2.18% African American; 0.24% Native American; 0.94% Asian; 0.49% from other races; and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.91% of the population.

There were 3,439 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 51.7% were married couples living together; 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present; and 35.0% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.

The population in town was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18; 6.9% from 18 to 24; 29.3% from 25 to 44; 25.9% from 45 to 64; and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,915, and the median income for a family was $55,442. Males had a median income of $38,016 versus $31,010 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,174.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, the racial makeup was 89.1% White, 5.0% African American, 0.4% Native American and 1.4% Asian. Hispanic or Latino people were 5.4% of the population.[51]

Emergency services

The town has five fire districts: Connelly, Esopus,[52] Rifton, St. Remy,[53] and Port Ewen. Emergency medical services are provided by a volunteer ambulance corps.[54]

Hamlets in Esopus

• Connelly – a hamlet in the northeast part of the town and suburb of Kingston. It is on the south bank of Rondout Creek.
• Dashville – a hamlet south of Rifton.
• Esopus – a hamlet by the Hudson River and located on Route 9W.
• New Salem – a hamlet at the north town line by Rondout Creek.
• Port Ewen – a hamlet in the northeast part of the town; it is considered a suburb of Kingston.
• Rifton – a hamlet in the western part of the town on Route 213.
• St. Remy – a hamlet south of New Salem.
• Sleightsburgh – a hamlet at the northeast corner of the town and suburb of Kingston. The community is at the mouth of Rondout Creek.
• Ulster Park – a hamlet north of Esopus hamlet on Route 9W.
• Union Center – a hamlet west of Ulster Park.
• West Park – a hamlet south of Esopus hamlet on Route 9W.

See also

• Esopus Wars
• Esopus Spitzenburg

Notable people

• Sojourner Truth

References

1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 5, 2017.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
3. "About Esopus", Town of Esopus
4. Van Buren, Augustus H., A History of Ulster County Under the Dominion of the Dutch, Kingston. 1923, p. 17
5. Hurd, Anner. "Land Petitions of Upper Canada, 1763-1865". RG 1 L3, C-2046-00745. Gov't of Canada. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
7. About Town: What Might Have Been
8. "Hussey Hill Summit - New York Mountain Peak Information". Retrieved 2011-08-14.
9. Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Ulster County. Kingston, New York: Freeman Publishing Company. 1923. pp. 433–434.
10. "Peter R. Decker and Elizabeth Louw". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
11. "Gerrit Jacob Freer and Geertje Van Vliet". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
12. "Cornelius DuBois Hasbrouck and Hannah Van Wagenen". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
13. "Isaac LeFevre and Catharina Burhans". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
14. "Thomas Martin Holt and Rebecca Van Vliet". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
15. "Jan Gerrit Freer and Dinah Roosa". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
16. "Ephraim Van Aken and Elizabeth Van Aken". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
17. "Richard Eltinge and Elizabeth Hasbrouck". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
18. "Peter Meier Van Aken and Ann Cole". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
19. "Ezekiel Brodhead". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
20. "Marinus Van Aken Wheeler". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
21. "Abraham Sleght and Hester B. Eltinge". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
22. "Edward McKenzie at Findagrave.com". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
23. "Josiah Hasbrouck and Ellen Jane Blauvelt". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
24. "Ezra Van Aken and Gertrude Elting". Ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
25. "Benjamin Niese at Findagrave". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
26. "Lt. John Samuel Griffiths at Findagrave". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
27. "Henry L. Manning at Findagrave". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
28. "Charles T. Coutant obituary". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
29. "Daniel Webster Benton and Mary Lavinia Van Aken". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
30. "Josiah Keator at Findagrave". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
31. "George Sharp Sleight and Hattie Rickard". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
32. "Josiah Hasbrouck Jr. and Lillian Hutton". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
33. "John A. Decker and Rebecca Jane Norris". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
34. "Simon Brodhead Van Wagenen". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
35. "George E. House at Findagrave.com". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
36. "Charles H. Schoonmaker at Findagrave.com". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
37. "Holt Norris Winfield". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
38. "John H. Beaver at Findagrave.com". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
39. "Elmer E. Elsworth at Findagrave.com". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
40. "Roscoe Van Aken Elsworth". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
41. "Raymond Howe at Findagrave.com". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
42. "John Taylor Groves and Elsie M. Hotaling". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
43. "Henry Madison Cameron at Findagrave.com". Find A Grave. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
44. "Roger W. Mabie obituary". Funeral Innovations. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
45. "George Harding Freer and Helen Theresa Kruszenski". ourfamtree.org. Ray Gurganus. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
46. "Marilyn Clark Coffey obituary". Legacy. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
47. "Philip S. Sickler obituary". Legacy. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
48. "John K. Coutant obituary". Legacy. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
49. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
50. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
51. American Fact Finder, 2010, Esopus, New York, https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=CF
52. Esopus Fire Department
53. St Remy Fire Department
54. "Town of Esopus Volunteer Ambulance Squad : Squad History and Information". esopusems.com. Retrieved 2018-10-03.

External links

• Town of Esopus, New York
• Town of Esopus Library
• Connelly Fire Department
• Rifton Fire Department
• Port Ewen Volunteer Fire Department