Editing Shawangunk, New York

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
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[[Image:Shawangunk Town Hall.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Town hall, in [[Wallkill, Ulster County, New York|Wallkill]].]]
'''Shawangunk''' is a [[Administrative divisions of New York#Town|town]] in southwestern [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster County]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States. The population was 13,563 at the 2020 census. The town takes its name from its largest stream, the Shawangunk Kill. The name Shawangunk is from the language of the Lenape people. Kill is an abbreviation of the Dutch word for creek, ''Killitje.'' It is pronounced Shuh-Whan-Gung {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʃ|ɑː|w|ə|ŋ|ɡ|ʌ|ŋ|k}}{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

== History==
Shawangunk was first settled by Europeans during the 1680s.  The region was first designated a precinct about 1710, and became the township of Shawangunk in 1788.  The town's name comes from the Dutch transliteration of the Munsee Lenape name or phrase. The approximate Lenape pronunciation was "Sha-WAN-gunk," {{citation needed|date=January 2022}} probably meaning "in the smoky air."  The name first appears in the 1682 Indian deed to Gertrude Bruyn. It is uncertain if this was the Indians' actual proper name for their nearby village and "New Fort," destroyed by the Dutch on September 5, 1663, during the Second Esopus War, or if the name was merely a phrase invented by the Indians in connection with the Bruyn land purchase, possibly describing some temporary feature of the landscape. Suggestions as to whether the name may have referred to smoky conditions on the day of Bruyn's first tour of the land with the Indians in the 1670s, or to the smoky ruins of the destroyed Indian village during the preceding decade, are purely speculative.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Use of the name to designate the creek on which Bruyn settled (Shawangunk Kill), and the mountain range, came somewhat later. Locals pronounce the name "SHONG-gum,"{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} an obvious{{according to whom|date=January 2022}} corruption or contraction of the original name, but one on record at least as far back as 1777 (Marc B. Fried, "Shawangunk Place-names" pp. ix-xi, 3-12, 96-97). Present-day citizens of Shawangunk often refer to themselves as living in particular hamlets such as Wallkill or Walker Valley rather than the town as a whole;{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} this is due to the fact{{according to whom|date=January 2022}} that many residents of the western part of the town are in the school district of Pine Bush (nearby across the county line) and have Pine Bush mailing addresses, also doing much of their shopping in that Orange County hamlet.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|56.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|56.2|sqmi|km2}}  is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}}  (0.55%) is water.

The southern town line and half of the eastern town boundary is the border of [[Orange County, New York|Orange County]], [[New York (state)|New York]].

The northeastward-flowing [[Wallkill River]] passes through the eastern half of town and lends its name to the hamlet, which lies along its east bank. The western part of the town, including Walker Valley, climbs the lower slopes of the eponymous mountains. The Shawangunk Kill, a major tributary of the Wallkill, divides the town approximately in half.

==Government==
The town of Shawangunk is led by a supervisor and a board of four council members. The current supervisor is John Valk, Jr., in office since 1998.

List of supervisors of Shawangunk:<ref>{{cite book |title=Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of Ulster County |date=1923 |publisher=Freeman Publishing Company |location=Kingston, New York |pages=447–448 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Supervisors of Shawangunk and Their Genealogies |url=https://www.ourfamtree.org/tag/town-supervisor/61229 |website=ourfamtree.org |publisher=Ray Gurganus |access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years Served !! Notes
|- 
| Jacobus Bruyn III || 1744–1747 || 
|-
| Cornelius Bruyn || 1748–1749 || Brother of Jacobus
|-
| Benjamin Van Keuren || 1750 ||
|-
| Isaac Hasbrouck || 1751–1752 || Member of [[Hasbrouck family]]
|-
| Jacobus Sammon || 1753 ||
|-
| Johannis Jansen || 1754–1760 ||
|-
| Benjamin Van Keuren || 1761 ||
|-
| Johannis Jansen || 1762 ||
|-
| Benjamin Van Keuren || 1763–1764 ||
|-
| Johannis Jansen || 1765–1768 ||
|-
| Benjamin Van Keuren || 1769 ||
|-
| Johannes Hardenbergh Jr. || 1770 ||
|-
| Johannis Jansen || 1771–1772 ||
|-
| Johannes Hardenbergh Jr. || 1773–1775 ||
|-
| [[Cornelius C. Schoonmaker]] || 1776–1777 || Served as New York State Assemblyman (1777–1790) following term
|-
| Thomas Jansen Jr. || 1778–1779 || Brother of Johannis
|-
| James Hunter || 1780–1781 ||
|-
| Cornelius C. Schoonmaker || 1782–1783 || Served as United States Congressman (1791–1793) years after this term
|-
| Thomas Jansen Jr. || 1784 ||
|-
| James Hunter || 1785 ||
|- 
| Cornelius Bruyn || 1786–1793 || Son of Jacobus III; nephew of Cornelius
|-
| Justus Banks || 1794–1796 ||
|-
| Joseph Isaac Hasbrouck || 1797–1799 || Son of Isaac, member of [[Hasbrouck family]]
|-
| James Kain || 1800–1803 ||
|-
| Abraham Bruyn || 1804–1805 || Son of Cornelius; nephew of Jacobus III; first cousin of Cornelius
|-
| Stephen Rea || 1806 ||
|-
| Albert Roosa || 1807 ||
|-
| Stephen Rea || 1808–1812 ||
|-
| Joseph Isaac Hasbrouck || 1813–1814 ||
|-
| Beverly Kain || 1815–1816 || Brother of James
|-
| Joseph Isaac Hasbrouck || 1817 ||
|-
| Abraham J. Hardenbergh || 1818–1821 || Relative of Johannes Jr.; previously served as [[New Paltz, New York|New Paltz]] Town Supervisor
|-
| Johannes "John" Jansen || 1822–1826 || Son of Thomas Jr., nephew of Johannis 
|-
| George G. Graham || 1827–1835 ||
|-
| Hezekiah Watkins || 1836–1841 ||
|-
| Cornelius A. Bruyn || 1842–1844 || Son of Abraham, grandson of Cornelius; great-nephew of Jacobus III; cousin of Cornelius
|-
| Eli Van Keuren || 1845 ||
|-
| James N. Mitchell || 1846 ||
|-
| Samuel Dill || 1847 ||
|-
| Eli Van Keuren || 1848–1851 ||
|-
| Hector S. Webb || 1852–1855 ||
|-
| Matthew Jansen || 1856 || Son of Johannes, grandson of Thomas Jr., great-nephew of Johannis
|-
| Egbert N. Brink || 1857–1858 ||
|-
| Edmund Bruyn || 1859–1860 || Great-grandson of Jacobus III; relative of Abraham, Cornelius, Cornelius, and Cornelius A. Bruyn
|-
| Cornelius Abram Jansen Hardenbergh || 1861–1867 || Great-nephew of Abraham J. Hardenbergh; relative of Johannes Hardenberg Jr.; cousin of Johannis, Thomas Jr., Johannes and Matthew Jansen
|-
| Eli Van Keuren || 1868–1869 ||
|-
| Abram N. Deyoe || 1870–1872 ||
|-
| Thomas Fulton || 1873 ||
|-
| Samuel Dill Jr. || 1874–1875 || Son of Samuel
|-
| Cornelius Abram Jansen Hardenbergh || 1876–1882 || Served as New York State Assemblyman shortly after this term (1885 to 1886)
|-
| Elias Mulford || 1883–1884 ||
|-
| Walstein Childs || 1885–1892 ||
|-
| Benjamin F. Dickinson || 1893–1895 ||
|-
| D. Barclay DuBois || 1896–1897 ||
|-
| Benjamin F. Dickinson || 1898–1901 ||
|-
| George J. Alsdorf || 1902–1907 ||
|-
| William W. McElhone || 1908–1917 ||
|-
| Robert H. Terwilliger || 1918–1919 ||
|-
| Frank J. Wilkin || 1920–1921 ||
|-
| Joseph F. Scott || 1922–1927 ||
|-
| George E. Halliday || 1928–1929 || Died in office
|-
| Lester C. Terwilliger || 1935 || Relative of Robert
|-
| Edward E. Murray || 1936–1946 ||
|-
| Jesse McHugh || 1951–1965 ||
|-
| Charles E. Penney || 1965–1969 || C.E. Penney Drive in Wallkill named for him
|-
| M.J. Oscar Smith || 1969–1972 ||
|-
| Francis V. Garrison || 1972–1975 ||
|-
| Charles Flynn || 1979 ||
|-
| John Scott || 1987–1988 ||
|-
| John Valk Jr. || 1998–Present || Re-elected in 2021
|}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 2128
|1820= 3372
|1830= 3681
|1840= 3886
|1850= 4036
|1860= 2870
|1870= 2823
|1880= 2910
|1890= 2456
|1900= 2406
|1910= 2548
|1920= 2087
|1930= 2127
|1940= 3117
|1950= 3561
|1960= 4604
|1970= 5749
|1980= 8186
|1990= 10081
|2000= 12022
|2010= 14332
|2020= 13563
|estyear= 
|estimate= 
|estref= 
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of 2009, there were 12,652 people, 4,333 households, and 2,557 families residing in the town.  The [[population density]] was 225 people per square mile .  There were 3,754 housing units at an average density of {{convert|66.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 83% [[white (U.S. Census)|White]], 7.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], .2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], .9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], .01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.86% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.32% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6.96% of the population.<ref>Onboard Informatics. (n.d.). Shawangunk, new york. Retrieved from Citydata.org</ref>

There were 3,433 households, out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 38.3% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 134.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 144.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,366, and the median income for a family was $59,975. Males had a median income of $40,967 versus $29,608 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $19,402.  About 4.4% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

===Housing===
Statistics about housing in the town:<ref>Town of Shawangunk, (n.d.). Housing statistics and demographics. Retrieved from website: http://www.shawangunk.org/about-shawangunk.html</ref>
*Total: 4,333
*Occupied: 3,877
*Owner-occupied: 3,092
*Population in owner-occupied: 8,890
*Renter-occupied: 795
*Population in renter-occupied: 1,917
*Households with individuals under 18: 1,465
*Vacant: 446
*Vacant for rent: 87
*Vacant for sale: 66

== Geology ==
The Shawangunk Mountains, primarily consisting of quartz, rise 2,000 feet above the town.<ref>Bernet, M., (2007). Diagenesis and provenance of silurian quartz arenites in south-eastern New York State. Sedimentary Geology, 201(1-2), 43–65.</ref> The mountains were created over 10,000 years ago during the last ice age when retreating glacial ice carved them out as part the surrounding Catskills,<ref>DiPietro, J. A. (2013). Chapter 23 – the appalachian orogenic belt: An example of compressional mountain building. Landscape Evolution in the United States, 375–408.</ref> drawing tourists and climbing enthusiasts from all over the world.<ref>Olson, R. (February 18, 2006). The gunks. Retrieved from http://www.mountainproject.com/v/the-gunks/105798167</ref>

== Communities and locations in Shawangunk ==
*'''Awosting''' &ndash; A hamlet in the northwestern part of the town.
*'''Bruynswick''' &ndash; A hamlet near the northern town line on County Route 7.
*'''Crawford''' &ndash; A hamlet in the northwestern section of the town, south of Awosting.
*'''Dwaarkill''' &ndash; A hamlet north of Red Mills, located on County Route 7.
*'''Galeville''' &ndash; A former hamlet in the eastern part of the town, north of Wallkill.  Galeville is on the west bank of the [[Wallkill River]]. Once home to Galeville Army Air Base, now [[Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge]].
*'''New Hurley''' &ndash; A former hamlet on Route 208.
*'''Red Mills''' &ndash; A hamlet at the southern town line and north of Pine Bush.
*''Rutsonville'''
*[[Shawangunk Kill]] &ndash; A small stream in the town.
*[[Ulsterville, New York|Ulsterville]] &ndash; Aest of Pine Bush, located on County Road 7.
*[[Watchtower, New York|Watchtower]] &ndash; A census-designated-place (CDP) that is entirely made up of the residents of Watchtower Farms, a printing facility that draws tens of thousands of visitors every year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mullermartini.com/Desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-274/28_read-1914/ |title=Muller Martini Corporates - Watchtower in Wallkill/USA: Corona/Diamant |access-date=March 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100118131851/http://www.mullermartini.com/Desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-274/28_read-1914 |archive-date=January 18, 2010 }}<blockquote>
At the request of Watchtower, Muller Martini has designed a very "tour-friendly" layout of the machinery for efficient "visitor management". Every year, the plant, which is based in Wallkill, about two hours from New York, welcomes 50,000 visitors.
</blockquote></ref> It is owned and operated by the [[Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania|Watchtower Society]] (a legal entity of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]) and has been in operation since 1963.<ref>The Watchtower, September 15, 1983, page 27</ref>
*[[Walker Valley, New York|Walker Valley]] &ndash; a hamlet in the southwest part of the town on Route 52.  Walker Valley is west of Pine Bush.
*[[Wallkill, Ulster County, New York|Wallkill]] &ndash; a hamlet at the eastern town line.
*[[Shawangunk Correctional Facility]] &ndash; a New York state prison, north of Wallkill.
*[[Wallkill Correctional Facility]] &ndash; a state prison north of Wallkill.

==References==
{{Portal|Hudson Valley|New York (state)}}
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category|Shawangunk, New York}}
* [http://www.shawangunk.org/ Town website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060104071326/http://training.fws.gov/library/pubs5/web_link/text/sha_kill.htm  Shawangunk Kill]
{{More citations needed|date=October 2007}}
{{Ulster County, New York}}
{{Hudson River}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Shawangunk, New York| ]]
[[Category:Shawangunks]]
[[Category:Wallkill River]]
[[Category:Towns in Ulster County, New York]]
[[Category:Towns in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1670]]
[[Category:1670 establishments in the Province of New York]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]