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Wawarsing, New York

Coordinates: 41°45′32″N 74°21′27″W / 41.75889°N 74.35750°W / 41.75889; -74.35750
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Wawarsing, New York
Town
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyUlster
Area
 • Total133.9 sq mi (346.7 km2)
 • Land130.7 sq mi (338.6 km2)
 • Water3.1 sq mi (8.1 km2)
Elevation
1,204 ft (367 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total12,889
 • Density98.6/sq mi (38.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
12489
Area code845
FIPS code36-78828Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0979609Template:GR

Wawarsing is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 12,889 at the 2000 census. The name means "a place where the stream bends" in the Warwarsink language and refers to the geography of the land; particularly the joining of the Ver Nooy Kill and the Rondout Creek. [1]

The Town of Wawarsing is in the western part of the county. The southern and eastern-most portions are on the Shawangunk Ridge. Most of the hilly town is in the Appalachian foot-hills, while the northern most part is in the Catskills. It has three State Forests (Shawangunk Ridge, VerNooykill, and Witches Hole), as well as most of Minnewaska State Park and Sam's Point Preserve, and portions of the Catskill Preserve and Sundown State Park. US 209 crosses the town, passing through many principal communities: Spring Glen, Laurenkill, Ellenville, Napanoch, the hamlet of Wawarsing, Soccanissing, and Kerhonkson. US 44 begins at a junction with 209 near the east town line. N.Y. Route 52 runs east-west near the southern border. All three roads are part of the Shawangunk Ridge National Scenic Byway.

History

The Lenape settlement "at Wawarasinke" was burned by Dutch militiamen, led by Maarten Crieger, after the Natives attacked Wiltwyck (present day Kingston) and took captives in 1663. In 1685 Waarner Hoornbeek leased land there and is accepted as its first European pioneer. In 1703 the areas of Mombaccus and Wawarasink, Ulster County, were made The Town of Rochester. During The Revolutionary War Wawarsing, Napanoch and Pinebush (Kerhonkson area) where attacked by British raiders and many women and children were masacred and most of the farms burned. In 1806 Wawarsing, Napanoch, Laurenkill, Lackawack, and Greenfield joined together to form The Town of Wawarsing out of Southern Rochester and parts of un-incorporated Ulster County.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 133.9 square miles (346.7 km²), of which, 130.8 square miles (338.6 km²) of it is land and 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²) of it (2.32%) is water.

The western and southern borders of the town is Sullivan County, New York.

The northern part of the town is the southern-most portion of the Catskill Mountains. The eastern border is the Shawangunk Ridge (pronounced Shaw-ong-ungk). Rondout Creek passes through the town, as do the Sandburgh, Laurenkill, Beerkill, Fantinekill and VerNooykill creeks.

Communities and locations in Wawarsing

  • East Wawarsing – A hamlet southeast of Wawarsing village.
  • Ellenville – The Historic Village of Ellenville is at the junction of Routes 52 and 209. The Town government building is located on Canal Street, Ellenville.
  • Cragsmoor – A hamlet in the south part of the town.
  • Dairyland – A hamlet near the western town line on Route 52.
  • Greenfield Park – A hamlet west of Ellenville on Route 52.
  • Kerhonkson – The hamlet is located by the northern town line.
  • Honk Hill – Located in Napanoch, near Honk Lake.
  • Honk Lake – A small lake south of Honk Hill.
  • Kerhonkson – A hamlet at the northeast town line on Route 209.
  • Lackawack – A hamlet northwest of Wawarsing village and at the edge of the Catskill Park.
  • Minnewaska State Park – A state park partly in the town.
  • Napanoch – A hamlet northeast of Ellenville on Route 209.
  • Pine Bush – A hamlet at the northeast town line.
  • Potterville – An abandoned community in the town.
  • Rondout Reservoir – A reservoir partly in the north part of the town.
  • Sam's Point Preserve – A nature preserve south of Ellenville.
  • Soyuzivka, a Ukrainian resort in Kerhonkson
  • Spring Glen – A hamlet by the south town line.
  • The Cape – A hamlet northwest of Ellenville on Route 52.
  • Ulster Heights – A hamlet in the western part of the town.
  • Wawarsing – The hamlet of Wawarsing is on Route 209.
  • Yagerville – An area near the Rondout Reservoir, too small to be a hamlet.

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ "Ulster County Under the Dutch". Retrieved 2008-05-04.
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41°45′32″N 74°21′27″W / 41.75889°N 74.35750°W / 41.75889; -74.35750

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