Kerhonkson, New York

Kerhonkson /kərˈhɒŋksən/ is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 1,684 at the 2010 census.

Kerhonkson

Formerly known as Middleport
hamlet and CDP
Center of town along Route 209
Nickname(s): 
K-Town; The Kerhamptons
Location in Ulster County and the state of New York.
Coordinates: 41°46′28″N 74°17′51″W
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
RegionHudson Valley
CountyUlster
Area
 • Total5.3 sq mi (13.7 km2)
Elevation
262 ft (80 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,684
 • Density320/sq mi (120/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code
12446
Area code(s)845
Websitewww.townofrochester.net

The Kerhonkson CDP is an urban concentration that straddles the border of the town of Rochester and the town of Wawarsing, with the larger portion in Rochester. US 209 is the hamlet's main artery. The western terminus of US 44 / NY 55 is at Route 209 in the Warwarsing portion of the Kerhonkson CDP. The U.S. Postal Service Zip Code of Kerhonkson (12446) covers a much larger area of the town of Rochester, as well as part of Warwarsing and a small area of the town of Olive.[1][2]

Kerhonkson Elementary school is one of two elementary schools in the Rondout Valley Central School District. Soyuzivka, a Ukrainian resort and cultural center, is within the Kerhonkson Zip Code, in the town of Warwarsing.

Geography

The Kerhonkson CDP is located at 41°46′28″N 74°17′51″W.[3] with a total area of 5.3 square miles (14 km2), all land. The CDP is in the valley of Rondout Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River, and adjacent to the Shawangunk Mountains, famous for the rock climbing and biodiversity of the Shawangunk Ridge.

The Minnewaska State Park Preserve is in the Kerhonkson Zip Code area, along Route 44/55.

Demography

As of the census[4] of 2010, there were 1,684 people, 684 households, and 433 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 317.7 per square mile (120.3/km2). There were 857 housing units at an average density of 161.7/sq mi (61.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.6% White, 1.8% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.8% of the population.

There were 684 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, 6.6% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 36.7% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 19, 6.1% from 20 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

As of 2016 the median income for a household in the CDP was $41,541 and the median income for a family was $53,423. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,964. As of 2000 6.4% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over. Males had a median income of $32,008 versus $24,412 for females.[5]

History

Colonial Era

Kerhonkson was the site of a colonial fort, on Deyo's Hill, that protected early immigrants from Native American attacks.[6]

Before the burning of Kingston on October 12, 1777, all the important documents and government officials were moved to Kerhonkson, remaining for two weeks until they were moved to Albany, making Kerhonkson briefly the capital of New York.[7]

Canal Era

The Delaware and Hudson Canal was completed in 1828. This opened up local industries such as coal, lumber, dairy, and hotel. Barges towed by mules transported goods along Rondout Creek from Pennsylvania to the Hudson River. In the canal era, Kerhonkson was known as Middleport [8]

Railroad Era

The Delaware and Oswego Railroad was constructed in 1909 along the old canal towpath and a station was constructed along Main Street to ship out dairy products. The Summitville to Kingston segment was acquired by the New York, Ontario and Western. In the line's waning years, passenger service was reduced to Sunday and holiday service, and summer only.[9] The tracks were pulled up in 1957 once products were being moved by truck upstate. The path is now a popular local hiking and biking destination known as the Rail Trail. It is 3.5 miles long.

Peg Leg Bates

In 1951, the famed tap dancer Peg Leg Bates became the first African-American resort owner in the Catskills when he opened the Peg Leg Bates Country Club, in Palentown, a hamlet in the northern end of the Kerhonkson Zip Code. His wife Alice E. Bates died in 1987, and Bates leased the property to a new owner in 1989.[10] Part of Route 209 in Ulster County was named “Clayton Peg Leg Bates Memorial Highway” in his honor.[11]

Religion

Congregation Tifereth Yehuda Veyisroel is the primary Jewish temple in the area. It was constructed in 1924. The community house also found on that property was constructed in 1954. In 2013 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Federated Church of Kerhonkson is a Protestant church that is partially of the Methodist denomination and partially of the Reformed denomination. The church has a food pantry ("Christ's Cupboard"), a thrift shop, and a pet food pantry.

Local sports

Kerhonkson has hosted a baseball Little League, Indian Valley Little League, since 1953. Indian Valley won the 2017 District 16 championship, defeating Rondout Valley Little League. More recently Indian Valley removed its longtime mascot, Chief Wahoo, from signs, shirts, hats, website, and Facebook for its racial insensitivity.[12]

The local swim team, the Kerhonkson Barracudas, are based out of the Kerhonkson Elementary School pool and compete against other local teams in the summer.

Local services

The Kerhonkson Fire Department is on Main Street near where the railroad used to be. It has a social hall that holds meetings of local organizations, dinners, and parties.

The Kerhonkson-Accord Volunteer Ambulance Corp is along Route 209 and provides first aid service for both Kerhonkson and Accord.

Notable inhabitants

World records

Kerhonkson contained what was once the world's largest garden gnome, constructed in 2005; it is situated on Route 209 in front of Kelder's Farm and is named Gnome Chomsky.[13] There are two other, larger gnomes that now hold the distinction of being the world's largest.[14]

References
  1. "Zip Code Profile of 12446".
  2. "New York Census view".
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Archived from the original on 2002-05-27. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. "Kerhonkson, NY Population - Census 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts - CensusViewer". censusviewer.com. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  5. (PDF) https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc-2-34-pt1.pdf. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. "NYS Museum: Historic Markers". New York State Museum. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  7. "Kerhonkson, NY The Early Years". oldkerhonksonny.tripod.com. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  8. Vivian Yess Wadlin (2016). "Kerhonkson".
  9. journal |title=New York, Ontario and Western Railway, Table 5 |journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=74 |issue=1 |date=June 1941}}
  10. Dunning, Jennifer (1998-12-08). "Peg Leg Bates, One-Legged Dancer, Dies at 91". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  11. "Kerhonkson – AboutTown". Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  12. "LETTER: Indian Valley Little League was right to retire 'Chief Wahoo'". Daily Freeman. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
  13. Horrigan, Jeremiah. "Kerhonkson gnome pursues Guinness record". Times Herald Record. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  14. Ward, Terence P. (2011-05-12). "Will Rondout be the Valley of the Giants?". Shawangunk Journal. Ellenville, NY: Electric Valley Media LLC. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
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