| Sullivan County, New York | ||
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Location in the state of New York |
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New York's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1809 | |
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| Seat | Monticello | |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
997 sq mi (2,582 km²) 970 sq mi (2,512 km²) 27 sq mi (70 km²), 2.72% |
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| Population - (2010) - Density |
77,547 80/sq mi (30.8/km²) |
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| Website | co.sullivan.ny.us | |
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War. The county was the site of hundreds of Borscht Belt hotels and resorts, which had their heyday from the 1920s through the 1970s.
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When the colony that is now New York State established its first twelve counties in 1683, the present Sullivan County was part of Ulster County. In 1809, Sullivan County was split from Ulster County.
Sullivan County is generally considered a swing county as it has been won by both Democrats and Republicans. In 2004 Republican George Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry by a margin of 49.47% to 48.55% or a difference of 285 votes. [1] In 2008 however it was won by Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain by a margin of 54% to 45%.[2]
There are thirty six town and village courts in Sullivan County.[1]
Legislative authority is vested in the county legislature which consists of 9 members each elected from single member districts. Districts Map Currently, there are 5 Democrats and 4 Republicans.
| Historical populations | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 6,108 |
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| 1820 | 8,900 | 45.7% | |
| 1830 | 12,364 | 38.9% | |
| 1840 | 15,629 | 26.4% | |
| 1850 | 25,088 | 60.5% | |
| 1860 | 32,385 | 29.1% | |
| 1870 | 34,550 | 6.7% | |
| 1880 | 32,491 | −6.0% | |
| 1890 | 31,031 | −4.5% | |
| 1900 | 32,306 | 4.1% | |
| 1910 | 33,808 | 4.6% | |
| 1920 | 33,163 | −1.9% | |
| 1930 | 35,272 | 6.4% | |
| 1940 | 37,901 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 40,731 | 7.5% | |
| 1960 | 45,272 | 11.1% | |
| 1970 | 52,580 | 16.1% | |
| 1980 | 65,155 | 23.9% | |
| 1990 | 69,277 | 6.3% | |
| 2000 | 73,966 | 6.8% | |
| 2010 | 77,547 | 4.8% | |
| [2][3][4] | |||
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 73,966 people, 27,661 households, and 18,311 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 44,730 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile (18/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.31% White, 8.51% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.89% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 9.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.6% were of German, 13.9% Irish, 12.5% Italian, 7.3% American and 6.2% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 86.6% spoke English, 7.4% Spanish and 1.0% German as their first language. There is also a small population of Russians living in the villages.
There were 27,661 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.10% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 103.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,998, and the median income for a family was $43,458. Males had a median income of $36,110 versus $25,754 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,892. About 11.60% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.
Sullivan County is in the southern part of New York State, southeast of Binghamton and southwest of Albany. It is separated by the Delaware River from Pennsylvania.
The county, which starts about 75 miles northwest of New York City, is in the Catskill Mountains. Its northeastern corner is within the Catskill Park.
The highest point in the county is a 3,118-foot (950 m) peak unofficially known as Beech Mountain, near Hodge Pond, a subsidiary summit to Mongaup Mountain across the Ulster County line. The lowest point is along the Delaware River.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 997 square miles (2,582 km²), of which 970 square miles (2,512 km²) is land and 27 square miles (70 km²) (2.72%) is water.
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White Sulphur Springs (TOWN)
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Sullivan County has been a popular vacation spot since the 19th Century, with mountain climbing, boating, and other outdoor activities, and the Monticello Raceway being among the attractions. It was the site of the hundreds of resort complexes of the Borscht Belt (with their golf courses, social events, and entertainers), between the 1920s and 1970s. It was the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
Many famous comedians tested their material and performed regularly at Borscht Belt hotels, including Milton Berle, Mel Brooks and Henny Youngman. Eddie Fisher performed often at Grossinger's, where in 1955 he married Debbie Reynolds.
During the period August 15–17, 1969, some 500,000 people gathered in Sullivan County's Town of Bethel at Max Yasgur's farm to attend the Woodstock Festival. The entertainers included The Who, the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Band, Canned Heat, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Janis Joplin, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, Blood, Sweat and Tears, and Richie Havens.
Today the site of the original Woodstock concert is the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which includes a museum of the sixties and holds many concerts and other events.
| Delaware County | Ulster County | |||
| Wayne County, Pennsylvania | ||||
| Sullivan County, New York | ||||
| Pike County, Pennsylvania | Orange County |
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