Sullivan County, New York

Infobox U.S. County
county = Sullivan County
state = New York




map size = 225
founded = 1809
seat = Monticello | area_total_sq_mi =997
area_water_sq_mi =27
area percentage = 2.72%
census yr = 2000
pop = 73966
density_km2 =29
web = co.sullivan.ny.us
|

Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. According to the 2007 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau, the county's population was 76,303. 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 is well-known internationally for its rich entertainment history.Fact|date=August 2008

History

When 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.

Geography

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 nestled firmly within 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) of it is land and 27 square miles (70 km²) of it (2.72%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Delaware County, New York - north
*Ulster County, New York - northeast
*Orange County, New York - southeast
*Pike County, Pennsylvania - southwest
*Wayne County, Pennsylvania - west

National protected area

* Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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 a also a little 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 16.30% 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.

Cities, Towns and Hamlets

*Bethel (town)
*Bloomingburg (village)
*Callicoon
*Callicoon (town)
*Cochecton (town)
*Delaware (town)
*Divine Corners (hamlet)
*Fallsburg (town)
*Fallsburgh (hamlet)
*Forestburgh (town)
*Fremont (town)
*Glen Wild (hamlet)
*Grahamsville (hamlet)
*Hasbrouck (hamlet)
*Highland (town)
*Hurleyville (hamlet)
*Jeffersonville (village)
*Liberty (village)
*Liberty (town)
*Livingston Manor
*Loch Sheldrake (hamlet)
*Lumberland (town)
*Mamakating (town)
*Monticello (village)
*Mountaindale (hamlet)
*North Branch
*Narrowsburg
*Neversink (town)
*Rock Hill
*Rockland (town)
*Roscoe
*Smallwood
*South Fallsburg
*Thompson (town)
*Tusten (town)
*Woodbourne (hamlet)
*Woodridge (village)
*Wurtsboro (village) : " Labels in parentheses are official political level."

Education

Sullivan County Community College is located in the hamlet of Loch Sheldrake, New York in the Town of Fallsburg.

Travel and Tourism

Sullivan County has always been a popular tourist destination, with mountain climbing, other outdoor activities, and the Monticello Raceway (including the Racino) being among the major draws. However, its two most notable legacies to American pop culture are the resort complexes of the Borscht Belt (with their golf courses, social events, and entertainers) and the 1969 Woodstock Festival. Among the comedic greats who tested their material and who performed regularly at the Borscht Belt hotels were Joey Adams, Morey Amsterdam, Milton Berle, Shelley Berman, Al Bernie, Mel Brooks, Lenny Bruce, George Burns, Red Buttons, Sid Caesar, Jack Carter, Myron Cohen, Norm Crosby, Bill Dana, Rodney Dangerfield, Phyllis Diller, Betty Garrett, Shecky Greene, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Katz, Danny Kaye, Robert Klein, Jack E. Leonard, Jerry Lewis, Jackie Mason, Jan Murray, Carl Reiner, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Freddie Roman, Jackie Vernon, Jackie Wakefield, Jonathan Winters, and Henny Youngman. Eddie Fisher performed often at Grossinger's, where in 1955 he married Debbie Reynolds.

From Aug. 15-17, 1969, some 500,000 people gathered in Sullivan County's Town of Bethel at Yasgur's farm to hear one of the most memorable rock concerts ever held - The Woodstock Festival. The concert 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, whose improvisational song "Freedom" spoke for the turbulent times in which the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement were the key issues of the day.

Today the site of the original Woodstock Concert is known as the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts and holds many concerts and other events.

Notable people from Sullivan County

*Randall Batinkoff, actor
*Stephanie Blythe, Mezzo Soprano
*Francis S. Currey -- Medal of Honor recipient in World War II.
*Gavin DeGraw, Singer
*Sheryl Ferguson Nichols, College Athletic Hall of Fame for basketball
*Stanley Finch, First Director of the FBI
*Al Gerry, cable TV pioneer, philanthropist, founder of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
*Hon. Judith Kaye, Chief Judge, New York State Court of Appeals
*Hon. Jill Konviser -- acting justice, New York State Supreme Court, former Inspector General of New York State
*Greg Kulz -- San Francisco tattoo artist
*Andrew Neiderman -- Prolific novelist
*Max Yasgur, his farm was the site of the Woodstock Festival

ee also

* Upstate New York

References

External links

* [http://www.co.sullivan.ny.us Sullivan County, New York]
* [http://www.catskills.com Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce]
*
* [http://www.bearsystems.com/Sullivan/sullivan.html Sullivan County information]
* [http://www.scva.net Sullivan County information]
* [http://www.sullivancountyhistory.org Sullivan County Historical Society]
* [http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/his/bk10/ch3.html Sullivan County history]
* [http://www.sullivancounty911.com Sullivan County Emergency Services]
* [http://www.hopefarm.com/sullivny.htm Early Sullivan County History]