Minisink, New York

Minisink, New York
FIPS code		36-47713
GNIS feature ID	0979226

Minisink is a

.

History

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Historically, the name Minisink, which dates to the mid 17th century, has applied to a much larger area than the current town, running as far north as

Minisink Patent

, granted in 1704, was a somewhat smaller area, but still far larger than the present town, which was given its present boundaries in 1800. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the New York - New Jersey border was previously seven or eight miles north of its present location: Minisink was once in New Jersey.

First settled by Europeans around 1725, the jurisdiction was organized by Americans as a town in 1788 following the Revolutionary War. In the following decades, the Town of Minisink lost territory to newer towns: Deerpark (1798), Wawayanda (1849), and Greenville (1853). In 1871, the community of Unionville set itself off from the town by incorporating as a village.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.2 square miles (60 km²), of which 23.1 square miles (60 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.39%) is water.

The southern town line is the border of New Jersey (Sussex County).

NY-284 is a north–south highway in Minisink.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	5,053		—
1830	4,979		−1.5%
1840	5,093		2.3%
1850	4,972		−2.4%
1860	1,266		−74.5%
1870	1,443		14.0%
1880	1,360		−5.8%
1890	1,269		−6.7%
1900	1,505		18.6%
1910	1,304		−13.4%
1920	1,252		−4.0%
1930	1,360		8.6%
1940	1,343		−1.2%
1950	1,367		1.8%
1960	1,433		4.8%
1970	1,942		35.5%
1980	2,488		28.1%
1990	2,981		19.8%
2000	3,585		20.3%
2010	4,490		25.2%
2020	4,621		2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[2]

As of the

of any race were 10.60% of the population.

There were 1,182 households, out of which 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.3% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.39.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,561, and the median income for a family was $58,906. Males had a median income of $36,912 versus $28,750 for females. The

, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Since January 1, 1980, the town is governed by a town board consisting of four councilmen, elected for staggered four-year terms, and a town supervisor, elected every two years. Prior to 1980, the town justices also served on the board, alongside two councilmen, and the supervisor. Minisink is governed under New York town law, by which the board holds executive and legislative powers. The day-to-day operations of the town are administered by the supervisor. The town voters also elect a town clerk, two town justices, a tax collector and a highway superintendent. Town elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd-numbered calendar years. Elected officials take office the following January 1. Prior to the 1980s, Minisink also elected three assessors. Those functions are now performed by a sole assessor appointed by the town board.

Federal, state, and county representation

The town of Minisink lies in the 18th Congressional district, the 42nd State Senate district, the 98th State Assembly district, and the 3rd Orange County legislative district.

Education

• Minisink Valley Central School District

Communities and locations in Minisink

• Johnson – a hamlet near the northern town line on NY-284.
• Laurel Hill – an elevation in the eastern part of Minisink.
• Millsburg – a location near the northern town line.
• Unionville – village near the New Jersey border on highway NY-284.
• Waterloo Mills – a hamlet northwest of Westtown.
• Westtown – a hamlet north of Unionville on NY-284 on County Road 1.

References

External links

• Official site
• Minisink Valley Historical Society
• Rutgers Ladies Auxiliary
• Johnson Fire Department
• Unionville Fire Department