Editing Kirkwood, New York (section)

== History ==

{{circa|1781}}, Jonathan Fitch built a water-powered [[gristmill]] at what is present-day Fivemile Point, becoming the first settler to live in the area. Many others arrived in the years following and settled on the [[Susquehanna River]], enabling the area (which was then a part of the larger town of [[Conklin, New York|Conklin]]) to develop into a location more suitable for an agrarian lifestyle. Evidence of pre-colonial history can be found in the form of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] artifacts along the river, many of which can still be found today.<ref name="HistKirkwood">{{cite web
| title = The History of the Town of Kirkwood | url = http://www.townofkirkwood.org/town-history.aspx | website = www.townofkirkwood.org | date =  | access-date = 10 July 2024 }}</ref>

Prior to the separation of the two communities, modern day Kirkwood was a part of Conklin, New York. However, the two areas were separated by the Susquehanna River, and this made carrying out government duties very difficult. The onset of inclement weather during a large part of the year only exacerbated the issue (In spite of advances in infrastructure during the 19th century, including the eventual construction of a [[bridge]] between both communities),  and as a result, it was decided that Kirkwood would be established as an independent community in November of 1859. The town of Conklin, however, would maintain its existence on the southern side of the Susquehanna as a separate entity.<ref name="HistKirkwood"/>

In June 2006 and September 2011, parts of the town, including hundreds of homes, were damaged when the Susquehanna River overflowed its banks.<ref>{{cite web| title = Susquehanna River at Conklin | url = https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/CKLN6 | website = water.noaa.gov | date = | access-date = 4 August 2024}}</ref>