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Greene County, New York

Coordinates: 42°17′N 74°08′W / 42.29°N 74.13°W / 42.29; -74.13
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Not to be confused with Greene, New York or Greene (village), New York.
Greene County
County
The Greene County Court House in Catskill, NY
The Greene County Court House in Catskill, NY
Flag of Greene County
Flag
Official seal of Greene County
Seal
Map of New York highlighting Greene County
Location within the U.S. state of New York
Map of the United States highlighting New York
New York's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°17′N 74°08′W / 42.29°N 74.13°W / 42.29; -74.13
Country United States
State New York
FoundedMarch 3, 1800
Named forNathanael Greene
SeatCatskill
Largest townCatskill
Area
 • Total658 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land648 sq mi (1,680 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  1.58%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total49,221
 • Density76/sq mi (29.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district19th
Websitewww.greenegovernment.com

Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 49,221.[1] Its county seat is Catskill.Template:GR Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene.[2]

History

On March 25, 1800, Greene County was created by the partitioning of Albany (360 Square Miles) and Ulster (270 Square Miles) counties, producing a county of 620 square miles (1,600 km2).[3]

On April 3, 1801, 90 square miles (230 km2) of land was transferred from Delaware and Ulster counties, raising the total area to 710 square miles (1,800 km2). This transferred Prattsville, Vly Mountain, Halcott Center, Bushnellsville, Highmount, Shandaken, Lanesville, and Pine Hill within Greene County.[4]

On May 26, 1812, Greene County lost 20 square miles (52 km2) to Ulster County, lowering the total area to 690 square miles (1,800 km2), reassigning Pine Hill, Highmount, and Shandaken to Ulster County.[5]

On April 15, 1814, the county borders were re-surveyed, and the line adjusted with no change in area.[6]

On April 17, 1822, the border was again surveyed, with no change in area, but Palenville was found to be inside Greene County.[7]

On April 23, 1823, the border was again resurveyed, and the Hudson River border with Columbia County realigned accordingly.[8]

On March 3, 1836, 30 square miles (78 km2) of area was lost to Schoharie County, reducing the total area to 660 square miles (1,700 km2), and reassigning Manorkill, producing the Greene County that exists today.[9]

Geography

Kaaterskill Falls is in Greene County

Greene County is located in southeast central New York State, just west of the Hudson River and south of Albany.

The northern and eastern regions are mostly low-lying flatlands. Along the Hudson River the lowest elevation is at sea level. The southern and western areas rise sharply into the Catskill Mountains.

Catskill Park takes up much of the south central region. The park contains some of the tallest peaks south of the Adirondacks. For example, the highest elevation is Hunter Mountain, at approximately 4,040 feet (1,232 m) above sea level; In addition, there are many picturesque waterfalls in the park such as the famed, Kaaterskill Falls.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 658 square miles (1,704.2 km2), of which 648 square miles (1,678.3 km2) is land and 10 square miles (25.9 km2) (1.58%) is water.Template:GR

The entirety of Greene County is in the 20th Congressional District, and is represented by Chris Gibson.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
180012,584—
181019,53655.2%
182022,99617.7%
183029,52528.4%
184030,4463.1%
185033,1268.8%
186031,930−3.6%
187031,832−0.3%
188032,6952.7%
189031,598−3.4%
190031,478−0.4%
191030,214−4.0%
192025,796−14.6%
193025,8080.0%
194027,9268.2%
195028,7452.9%
196031,3729.1%
197033,1365.6%
198040,86123.3%
199044,7399.5%
200048,1957.7%
201049,2212.1%
2012 (est.)48,673−1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
2012 Estimate[1]

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 48,195 people, 18,256 households, and 12,067 families residing in the county. The population density was 74 people per square mile (29/km²). There were 26,544 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.76% White, 5.53% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 4.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.8% were of Irish, 17.8% Italian, 17.5% German, 8.6% American and 6.9% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.3% spoke English, 2.8% Spanish, 1.5% German and 1.3% Italian as their first language.

There were 18,256 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,493, and the median income for a family was $43,854. Males had a median income of $35,598 versus $25,346 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,931. About 8.6% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Greene County is considered a Republican stronghold. It was one of only 11 counties in New York that did not vote for Bill Clinton in 1996, and it supported John McCain by a margin just under ten points in 2008, a Democratic year. In 2012, 54.1% of the county voted for Republican challenger Mitt Romney, and 43.7% voted for Democratic incumbent Barack Obama, again despite it being a Democratic year. The last time Greene County voted Democrat was in 1964.

In some elections, certain towns in Greene County have had a plurality that have voted Democratic, though the county remains Republican.

Cities and towns

==> Labels in parentheses are official political designation.

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  2. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 143.
  3. ^ New York. Laws of New York., 1800, 23rd Session, Chapter 51; Page 493
  4. ^ New York. Laws of New York., 1801, 24th Session, Chapter 123, Page 290.
  5. ^ New York. Laws of New York.1812, 35th Session, Chapter 46, Page 382.
  6. ^ New York. Laws of New York.1814, 37th Session, Chapter 211, Page 275.
  7. ^ New York. Laws of New York.1822, 45th Session, Chapter 243, Page 257.
  8. ^ New York. Laws of New York.1823, 46th Session, Chapter 251, Page 377.
  9. ^ New York. Laws of New York.1836, 59th Session, Chapter 31, Page 33.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  11. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.

Further reading

Beers, Frederick L. (1884). History of Greene County, New York: with biographical sketches of its prominent men. New York: J.B. Beers & Co.

42°17′N 74°08′W / 42.29°N 74.13°W / 42.29; -74.13

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