Fallsburg is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The town is in the eastern part of the county. The population was 12,870 at the 2010 census.
Video Fallsburg, New York
History
Fallsburg takes its name from a waterfall on the Neversink River and was established in 1826. The town is in the heart of a once popular predominately Jewish summer resort area known as the Catskills Borscht Belt.
Maps Fallsburg, New York
Geography
The east town line is the border of Ulster County, New York. It is also bordered by the Town of Thompson, the Town of Neversink, and the Town of Liberty.
The town is known for many small lakes, ponds, wooded areas, and former dairy farms.
Major bodies of water in the Town of Fallsburg include: Loch Sheldrake, also known as Sheldrake Pond, Echo Lake, Evans Lake, Morningside Lake, Pleasure Lake, East Pond, and the Neversink River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 79.0 square miles (205 km2), of which, 77.6 square miles (201 km2) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) of it (1.73%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,234 people, 3,761 households, and 2,478 families residing in the town. The population density was 157.6 people per square mile (60.9/km²). There were 6,661 housing units at an average density of 85.8 per square mile (33.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.19% White, 15.56% African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.04% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.53% of the population.
There were 3,761 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the town, the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 133.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,036, and the median income for a family was $39,216. Males had a median income of $31,949 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,744. About 15.9% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Annual cultural events
Fallsburg celebrates Francis Currey Day each year in honor of Francis S. Currey and other military veterans. Currey received a Medal of Honor for his bravery in World War II.
Tourism
The Living Torah Museum, an Orthodox Jewish museum, has a branch of the museum in Fallsburg. The area has also served as a bastion for stand-up comedy since the mid-20th century. Comedy legends, including Woody Allen, Rodney Dangerfield, Jerry Seinfeld, and Henny Youngman, performed there, as did Sid Caesar, Billy Crystal, Buddy Hackett, Gabe Kaplan, Andy Kaufman, and Joan Rivers. Jerry Lewis worked as a busboy while his parents did a vaudeville act. He would entertain customers while cleaning tables, giving him a chance to hone his skills while upping his tips. Famed prize fighters like Rocky Marciano and Sonny Liston, and Muhammad Ali, Leon Spinks and Floyd Patterson trained there.
Parks and recreation
Several parks and golf courses are located in the area, including Terry Brae Golf Course, Lochmor Golf Course, Pines Golf Course, Morningside Park and Mountaindale Park. International retreat center Shree Muktananda Ashram is also located in Fallsburg. The center provides a location for students of Siddha Yoga to practice the daily practices of sadhana.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
The Fallsburg Central School District serves the town of Fallsburg. The district is the "Home of the Comets". Schools in the district include Benjamin Cosor Elementary School and Fallsburg Junior Senior High School.
Colleges and universities
Two colleges in the area serve Fallsburg. Sullivan County Community College is located in Fallsburg and is a two-year community college. Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe is a private rabbinical college located in South Fallsburg.
Summer camps
Stagedoor Manor is a performing arts summer camp located in Loch Sheldrake, New York. Each summer, Stagedoor Manor holds three three-week-long sessions that start in late June and end in late August. Approximately 280 campers, ranging in age from 10 to 18, attend each session.
Public libraries
The Fallsburg Library serves the town and is located in South Fallsburg. It has been in operation since 1991.
Infrastructure
Two correctional facilities are located in the area and operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services. Woodbourne Correctional Facility is a medium security men's prison located in the hamlet of Woodbourne, New York and Sullivan Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison for male inmates located in Fallsburg.
Notable people
- Gurumayi Chidvilasananda is the head of the Siddha Yoga organisation and spends most of her time at the Shree Muktananda Ashram
- Francis S. Currey - former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration--the Medal of Honor--for his actions in World War II. Grew up in Hurleyville in a dairy farming family
- Gavin DeGraw - singer
- Greg Kulz - San Francisco tattoo artist
- Andrew Neiderman - former English teacher at Fallsburg Central High School. Prolific author of horror novels, including Devil's Advocate, made into a movie starring Al Pacino
- Rufus Palen- U.S. Congressman, grew up in Fallsburg
- Joseph "Diamond Jo" Reynolds, a steamship tycoon, was born in Fallsburg.
- Allen Young - grew up in Glen Wild
Communities
- Divine Corners - A location north of Loch Sheldrake. Home to many bungalow colonies.
- Fallsburg - The hamlet of Fallsburg, formerly known as "Neversink Falls" or "Old Falls," or just plain "Fallsburgh", is on Route 42.
- Glen Wild - A hamlet by the south town line.
- Hasbrouck - A hamlet in the north part of the town.
- Hurleyville - A hamlet formerly called "Luzon Station."
- Loch Sheldrake - A hamlet in the northwest part of the town on Route 52.
- Mountain Dale - A hamlet in the southeast part of the town, formerly called "Sandburg."
- South Fallsburg - A hamlet by the west town line.
- Woodridge - The Village of Woodridge. Formerly known as "Centreville."
- Woodbourne - A hamlet on Route 52 north of Fallsburg hamlet.
- Woodbourne Correctional Facility - A New York prison south of Woodbourne.
- Shree Muktananda Ashram is located on Brickman Road. It is the Western headquarters of the Siddha Yoga organisation.
- Gardnertown was a town between Fallsburg and Woodridge at the base of Olympic Hill. It no longer exists.
References
External links
- official town website
- Fallsburg history
- ePodunk
- City-Data.com
Source of article : Wikipedia
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