Sullivan County, New York

Not to be confused with Sullivan, New York.
Sullivan County, New York

Seal
Map of New York highlighting Sullivan County
Location in the state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location in the U.S.
Founded 1809
Named for John Sullivan
Seat Monticello
Largest town Thompson
Area
 • Total 997 sq mi (2,582 km2)
 • Land 968 sq mi (2,507 km2)
 • Water 29 sq mi (75 km2), 2.9%
Population
 • (2010) 77,547
 • Density 80/sq mi (31/km²)
Congressional district 19th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website co.sullivan.ny.us
Swan Lake
County courthouse in Monticello
New York State Route 17 in Liberty
Hamlet of Callicoon
Hamlet of Grahamsville

Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547.[1] The county seat is Monticello.[2] The county's 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.

In 2010, the center of population of New York was located at the southern edge of Sullivan County.[3]

History

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.

In the late 19th century, the Industrial Revolution and the advent of factories driven by water power along the streams and rivers led to an increase in population attracted to the jobs. Hamlets enlarged into towns. As industry restructured, many of those jobs left before the middle of the twentieth century. The economy changed again after that, shifting to a more tourist-based variety and benefiting from resorts established by European Jewish immigrants and their descendants in what became called the Borscht Belt of the 20th century. Resort hotels featured a wide variety of entertainers, some nationally known. At the beginning of this period, visitors traveled to the area by train, and later by automobile. The natural resources of the area also provided a setting for numerous summer camps frequented by the children of immigrants and their descendants.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 997 square miles (2,580 km2), of which 968 square miles (2,510 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (2.9%) is water.[4]

Sullivan County is in the southern part of New York State, southeast of Binghamton and southwest of Albany. It is separated from Pennsylvania along its southwest boundary by the Delaware River.

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.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Government and politics

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. In 2008, however, it was won by Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain by a margin of 54% to 45%.

There are thirty six town and village courts in Sullivan County.[5]

Legislative authority is vested in the county legislature which consists of 9 members each elected from single member districts. Districts Map Currently, there are 7 Democrats and 2 Republicans.

Sullivan County Legislature
District Legislator Title Party
1 Scott B. Samuelson Chairman Democratic
2 Kathleen LaBuda Majority Leader Democratic
3 Kathleen Vetter Vice Chairman Republican
4 Jonathan Rouis Democratic
5 Cindy Kurpil Gieger Democratic
6 Cora Edwards Democratic
7 Eugene L. Benson Democratic
8 Ira Steingart Democratic
9 Alan Sorensen Minority Leader Republican

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18106,108—
18208,90045.7%
183012,36438.9%
184015,62926.4%
185025,08860.5%
186032,38529.1%
187034,5506.7%
188032,491−6.0%
189031,031−4.5%
190032,3064.1%
191033,8084.6%
192033,163−1.9%
193035,2726.4%
194037,9017.5%
195040,7317.5%
196045,27211.1%
197052,58016.1%
198065,15523.9%
199069,2776.3%
200073,9666.8%
201077,5474.8%
Est. 201376,665−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[10] 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. A small population of Russians, late twentieth-century immigrants, live 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.

Education

Public school districts

Higher education

Transportation

Sullivan County has some service provided by Coach USA to New York City. It also has some local service provided by the county itself, as well as community organizations.[11][12][13]

Tourism

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. The majority of the tourism occurs in the summer months. 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 15–18, 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; Jimi Hendrix; 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.

Other notable cultural destinations include the CAS Arts Center, a multi-arts exhibit space and education center run by the Catskill Art Society in Livingston Manor, New York, and the NaCl Theatre, a professional regional theatre company focusing on experimental work in Highland Lake, New York.

Communities

Village of Wurtsboro
Monticello Raceway in Monticello

Towns

Villages

Census-designated places

Hamlets

See also

References

Notes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  5. ↑ Sullivan County Evaluation (PDF), National League of Defenders Association, January 2009, p. 8
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ http://www.communityalliance.net/?page_id=137
  12. ↑ http://www.co.sullivan.ny.us/Departments/Transportation/tabid/3387/Default.aspx
  13. ↑ http://www.coachusa.com/CoachUsaAssets/files/98/HudsonSL.pdf

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sullivan County, New York.


 Delaware County Ulster County
Wayne County, Pennsylvania
  Sullivan County, New York  
Pike County, Pennsylvania Orange County

Coordinates: 41°43′N 74°46′W / 41.72°N 74.76°W