Bethel, New York | |
---|---|
Motto: Home of the 1969 Original Woodstock Festival | |
Coordinates: 41°41′27″N74°50′30″W / 41.69083°N 74.84167°W | |
Country | United States |
State | New York |
County | Sullivan |
Area | |
• Total | 89.96 sq mi (232.99 km2) |
• Land | 85.27 sq mi (220.84 km2) |
• Water | 4.69 sq mi (12.15 km2) |
Elevation | 1,322 ft (403 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,959 |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP code | 12720 |
Area code | 845 |
FIPS code | 36-06310 |
GNIS feature ID | 0978730 |
Website | townofbethelny |
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was estimated at 3,959 in 2020. [2] The town received worldwide attention after it served as the location of Woodstock in 1969, which was originally planned for Wallkill, New York, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.
The first European settlers arrived circa 1795 near the present communities of Bethel and White Lake. The town of Bethel was established in 1809 from the town of Lumberland. It was named after Bethel.
By the middle of the 19th century, a tourist industry began to grow. Bethel was home to numerous hotels that were part of the "Borscht Belt" and numerous sleepaway camps for most of the 20th century, including Camp Ma-Ho-Ge, Camp Chipinaw, and Camp Ranger – all on Silver Lake. In 1961, Son of Sam mass murderer David Berkowitz was a camper at a now defunct summer camp in Bethel. Berkowitz left the camp after a suspicious fire occurred in his cabin.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 90.0 square miles (233 km2), of which 85.4 square miles (221 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2) (5.13%) is water. One of the most attractive features of Bethel is its access to numerous lakes, all within a five-minute drive of each other. They include White Lake, its northern portion known as Kauneonga Lake, Silver Lake, and Lake Superior, which is part of the state park with the same name.
The Town of Bethel, which is primarily rural in character, was part of the old Borscht Belt Catskills resort area. Although some bungalow colonies continue to exist, catering to a largely Orthodox Jewish clientele during the summer, most of the old resorts which had their heyday from the 1930s to the early 1970s have long since closed.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1820 | 1,096 | — | |
1830 | 1,203 | 9.8% | |
1840 | 1,483 | 23.3% | |
1850 | 2,087 | 40.7% | |
1860 | 2,854 | 36.8% | |
1870 | 2,736 | −4.1% | |
1880 | 2,562 | −6.4% | |
1890 | 2,158 | −15.8% | |
1900 | 2,248 | 4.2% | |
1910 | 2,164 | −3.7% | |
1920 | 1,849 | −14.6% | |
1930 | 1,799 | −2.7% | |
1940 | 2,321 | 29.0% | |
1950 | 2,351 | 1.3% | |
1960 | 2,366 | 0.6% | |
1970 | 2,763 | 16.8% | |
1980 | 3,335 | 20.7% | |
1990 | 3,693 | 10.7% | |
2000 | 4,362 | 18.1% | |
2010 | 4,255 | −2.5% | |
2020 | 3,959 | −7.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [3] [4] |
At the time of the census [5] of 2000, there were 4,362 people, 1,649 households, and 1,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 51.1 inhabitants per square mile (19.7/km2). There were 3,641 housing units at an average density of 42.6 per square mile (16.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town in 2000 was 90.35% White, 11.28% Latin American or Latino of any race, 4.61% African American, 2.80% other races, 1.40% two or more races, 0.50% Asian, 0.18% Native American, and 0.16% Pacific Islander.
There were 1,649 households, out of which 54.2% were married couples living together. 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.2% were non-families, 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.
The ages of the town's residents included 28.7% from 45 to 64, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 21.8% under the age of 18, 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older, and 6.8% from 18 to 24. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,017, and the median income for a family was $37,321. Males had a median income of $35,025 versus $24,438 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,335. About 9.4% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
The Town of Bethel was brought to the world's attention in 1969, when nearly 500,000 people gathered at Max Yasgur's Farm for "Three Days of Peace and Music". [8] The documentary made about Woodstock released in 1970 showed interviews with numerous Bethel residents, including Art Vassmer, co-owner of Vassmers General Store in Kauneonga Lake. A movie called Taking Woodstock was released in August 2009 based on the book of the same title by Elliot Tiber, whose parents owned the nearby El Monaco Motel in White Lake and played a pivotal role in bringing the Woodstock nation to Bethel.
In 1998, a concert was hosted at the original site and this helped ignite the vision of philanthropist Alan Gerry and daughter Robyn to acquire the land and build what was to become Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. In 2008, an interactive museum commemorating Woodstock and the Baby Boomer generation opened at Bethel Woods.
On July 1, 2006, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts opened on the site of the original Woodstock Festival and hosted the New York Philharmonic. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young closed out the inaugural season in August 2006, bringing the foursome back to Bethel for the first time since August 1969. The summer 2007 concert lineup at Bethel Woods began in June 2007 with the bands Chicago and America. Other performers during the summer of 2007 included the New York Philharmonic, Bob Dylan, Brad Paisley, Lynyrd Skynyrd with The Marshall Tucker Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Phish, and others.
In 2006, Bethel Woods opened on the original Woodstock site as a state-of-the-art performing arts venue. In early-2008, a multi-media Woodstock "interpretive" museum opened near the old Yasgur's Farm to complement the concert space, which hosted the New York Philharmonic, Wynton Marsalis, Diane Reeves, Chris Botti, the Goo Goo Dolls, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in its inaugural season. Highlights of the center's 2007 season were performances by Lynyrd Skynyrd/Marshall Tucker Band, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens/Arlo Guthrie, Earth, Wind & Fire, and repeat performances of the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Pops Orchestra. 2008's season featured The New York Philharmonic, the Boston Pops Orchestra, Steely Dan, the Allman Brothers, and sold-out performances by the Jonas Brothers and the last concert of the season, featuring Heart, Journey, and Cheap Trick. The 2009 season was headlined by Brad Paisley and his band "The Drama Kings".
The state and the town of Bethel council subsequently passed laws prohibiting mass event types of festivals. In 2019, a 50th celebration of Woodstock was organized: "Sullivan County ... finally embracing the ultimate symbol of peace and love, the 1969 Woodstock festival". [9] The Woodstock 50 festival, scheduled for August, was canceled months earlier so it did not take place. [10] The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts did organize a weekend of "low-key" concerts. [11]
Sullivan County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 78,624. The county seat is Monticello. The county's name honors Major General John Sullivan, who was labeled at the time as a hero in the American Revolutionary War in part due to his successful campaign against the Iroquois.
Ira is a town in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,145 at the 2020 census. The town is in the northern part of the county and is northwest of Syracuse.
Scotchtown is a hamlet in the Town of Wallkill, in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 10,578 at the 2020 census. It has the ZIP Code 10941. The hamlet is located east of the City of Middletown. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.
Cochecton is a town located in west-central Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 1,448 at the 2020 census. The name is derived from the Lenape word "cushetunk" meaning "place of red stone hills".
Highland is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 2,196 at the 2020 census. The town's name denotes its location on elevated ground north of the Delaware River. The town is in the southwestern part of the county.
Smallwood is a hamlet in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 839 at the 2020 census.
Thompson is a town in the southern part of Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 16,550 at the 2020 census. The town is named after William Thompson, an early settler.
Tusten is a town in Sullivan County in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 1,405 at the 2020 census. The name is derived from Benjamin Tusten, a military leader killed at the Battle of Minisink.
Shandaken is a town on the northern border of Ulster County, New York, United States, northwest of Kingston, New York. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 2,866. The name is believed to be from an Esopus phrase for "land of rapid waters."
Lake Luzerne, formerly the Town of Fairfield and then Luzerne, is a town in southern Warren County, New York, United States. The town is located within the Adirondack Park. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lake Luzerne is west of the city of Glens Falls. The town population was 3,079 at the 2020 census.
Bridgeport is a hamlet located partly in the town of Sullivan in Madison County, New York, United States and partly in the town of Cicero in Onondaga County. The population was 1,490 at the 2010 census.
Liberty is a town in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 10,159 at the 2020 census. The village is bisected by New York State Route 52 (NY 52) and NY 55, and is crossed by NY 17.
Max Bernard Yasgur was an American farmer. He was the owner of the 600-acre (240 ha) dairy farm in Bethel, New York, where the Woodstock Music and Art Fair was held on August 15–18, 1969. He sold his farm in 1971 and retired to Florida, where he died in 1973.
Samuel Stephen Yasgur was an American attorney and Sullivan County, New York official. He was the son of Max Yasgur, who leased land on his 600 acres (2.4 km2) dairy farm in Bethel, New York for the Woodstock Music & Art Festival in August 1969. Yasgur said that his "consultations with his father" played a crucial role in the concert coming to Bethel. He grew up on his father's farm, and was a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Chicago Law School.
The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is an amphitheatre, performing arts center and museum located at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair in Bethel, New York. Located approximately 90 miles (140 km) from New York City, the 800-acre (3.2 km2) site includes a 15,000-seat outdoor concert venue, a 1,000-seat outdoor terrace stage, an intimate 440-seat indoor hall, and the Museum at Bethel Woods. Concerts run June through September and feature many types of music genres.
White Lake is a hamlet in the town of Bethel, Sullivan County, New York, United States, on the southeastern shore of a lake of the same name. It was the closest community to the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969.
Saugerties is a town in the northeastern corner of Ulster County, New York. The population was 19,038 at the time of the 2020 Census, a decline from 19,482 in 2010. The village of the same name is located entirely within the town.
Woodstock is a town in Ulster County, New York, United States, in the northern part of the county, northwest of Kingston. It lies within the borders of the Catskill Park. The population was 6,287 at the 2020 census, up from 5,884 in 2010.