Kent, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Kent, New York
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
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map_caption = 300px


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Putnam
government_footnotes =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 111.8
area_land_km2 = 105.2
area_water_km2 = 6.6
area_total_sq_mi = 43.2
area_land_sq_mi = 40.6
area_water_sq_mi = 2.5

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 14009
population_density_km2 = 133.1
population_density_sq_mi = 344.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 186
elevation_ft = 610
latd = 41 |latm = 28 |lats = 6 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 41 |longs = 18 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
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blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-39331
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979740
website =
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Kent is a town in Putnam County, New York, United States. The population was 14,009 at the 2000 census. The name is that of an early settler family.

The Town of Kent is the north-central part of the Putnam County. It is sometimes called "Kent Lakes."Fact|date=February 2008 Many of the lakes are reservoirs for New York City.

Leaders

Kathy Doherty-SupervisorLou Tartaro - Deputy SupervisorKarl Rohde - Town Board MemberPenny Osborn - Town Board MemberMichael Tierney - Town Board Member

History

Kent was part of the Philipse Patent of 1679, when it was still populated by the Wappinger tribe. Daniel Nimham, (1724-1778) was the last chief of the Wappingers and was the most prominent Native American of his time in the Hudson Valley.The town was first settled around 1750 by Zachariah Merritt. It became the Frederickstown Precinct in 1772. Other early family names were Boyd, Wixon, Farrington, Burton, Carter, Barrett and Ludington and they can still be found today.

The present day intersection of I-84 and Ludingtonville Road was the home of Col. Henry Ludington and his daughter Sybil, who rode 40 miles one dark night to call up her father's militia during our fight for Independence. Whereas Paul Revere was captured and failed to complete his mission (a little known historical fact), Sybil, then just 16 years old, succeeded. In honor of this brave woman and her father we now know that location as Ludingtonville and a statue of her stands on the shores of Lake Gleneida across from the Putnam County Courthouse.

Sybil convinced her father to let her summon her father's militia. She rode her horse Star on 40 miles of country roads in the dark. Her course took her down through Carmel, on to Mahopac, and around to Kent Cliffs, to Hortontown, through Farmers Mills to Stormville and then back home again.

The Town of Kent was established as the "Town of Frederick" in 1795 when the township boundaries were realigned. Until 1812 was part of Dutchess County. The town's name was changed to "Kent" in 1817. A small portion of the Town of Philipstown was transferred to Kent in 1877.

The major population center of the township is Lake Carmel, a settlement around an artificial lake (also known as "Lake Carmel") developed in the 1920s. Historically the population centers had been Farmer's Mills and Ludingtonville, little of which remain. The town is served by the Carmel Central School District and, for the majority of residents, by the Carmel Post Office under the name Kent Lakes (because another community upstate has a post office called Kent).

Due to little commercial development and suburban sprawl the Town of Kent has become one of the most beautiful natural locations within 50-60 miles of New York City. West Kent is a sought after weekend destination for New York City second-home owners. The abundant lakes, streams, rock formations and Parks and the clean air and water make it an oasis of nature.

Kent is home to a number of reservoirs that supply water to New York City and Westchester County and consequently a large portion of the land has been purchased for conservation by New York City through the Watershed Preservation Program.

Taxes are lower than in Westchester but higher than other Putnam County towns which have seen developments by major big box retailers and have lost much of their small town charm.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.2 square miles (111.8 km²), of which, 40.6 square miles (105.2 km²) of it is land and 2.5 square miles (6.6 km²) of it (5.88%) is water.

The north town line is the border of Dutchess County. Kent sits high on the spectacular Hudson Highlands sixty miles north of New York City in the north central portion of Putnam County. Within the borders are two State Parks: Wonder Lake in the east and Fahnestock in the west, a portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and thousands of acres of spectacular open spaces under the permanent protection of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

Kent is home to a number of quite beautiful lakes which were once the domain of summer visitors but now have become year-round communities. Sagamore Lake, Kentwood Lake, Lake Tibet, China Lake (so named for a case of china an angry housewife threw in it to spite her drunken husband), Palmer Lake and White Pond.

Kent is also home to The Mt. Ninham Fire Tower. Located in the Taconic Hills north of New York City, in the Town of Kent, Putnam County, Mount Ninham Fire Tower was built by the State of New York and the CCC in 1940. The 90'Aermotor tower with 7'x 7'metal cab is located on state forestland. The tower was first staffed in 1941 reporting 73 fires and 266 visitors. Although not used for fire detection in many years, it is maintained as a radio repeater site. Vandals burned the observer's cabin in 1994. Restoration of the tower is being initiated by the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Commission. It is the tallest remaining fire tower in NY State. This tower appears on the National Historic Lookout Register. Local volunteers organized by the Town of Kent began restoring the tower in the mid-1990s. Their work was completed in the spring of 2005 and the official dedication held on July 24, 2005. 3 miles northwest of Carmel.

Kent Lakes is also home to several New York City reservoirs, among them Boyd's Corners and West Branch, with the former being the east of Hudson terminus of the Catskill/Delaware system and a vastly important link in what may be the world's most important engineering feat - the NYC water supply.

Interstate 84 and the Taconic State Parkway pass through the town.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 14,009 people, 4,868 households, and 3,748 families residing in the town. The population density was 344.8 people per square mile (133.1/km²). There were 5,353 housing units at an average density of 131.8/sq mi (50.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.81% White, 1.41% African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.77% of the population.

There were 4,868 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $72,346, and the median income for a family was $79,716. Males had a median income of $51,634 versus $38,575 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,984. About 4.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities and locations in Kent

*Allen Corners -- A hamlet in the northwest part of the town.
*Berkshire Terrace -- A hamlet in the north part of the town.
*Camp Hines --
*Carmel Park Estates --
*Clear Pool Camp --
*Clarence Fahnestock State Park -- A state park in the west part of the town.
*Farmers Mills -- A hamlet in the northwest part of the town.
*Gypsy Trail --
*Lake Carmel -- A hamlet in the south part of the town.
*Kent Cliffs --
*Kent Corners -- A hamlet north of Lake Carmel village.
*Kent Hills -- A hamlet south of Luddingtonville.
*Luddingtonville -- A hamlet near the north town line.
*Meads Corners --
*Ninham Fire Tower -- Tallest Historic Fire Tower in NY State
*Richardsville --
*Wonder Lake State Park --
*Yale Corners --

References

External links

* [http://www.townofkent.org/ Town of Kent, NY]
* [http://www.kentlibrary.org/ Kent Public Library]
* [http://history.rays-place.com/ny/put-kent-ny.htm History of Kent, NY]