Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen, New York | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 36-78696[2] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 0974082[3] | |
Website | www |
Watkins Glen is a village and
The village was the recipient of the ten-million-dollar Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant in July 2017 to revitalize the Mixed Use Village Center (VC). Former governor of New York Andrew M. Cuomo awarded fourteen projects in hopes that they would be catalysts for increased private investment in the village. This grant was largely secured by the work of local government officials and the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED). As of December 2023, the majority of the awarded projects have been completed.
History
The settlement of the village began in 1791. First named "Jefferson" in 1842, the village was later renamed in 1852 to honor Dr. Samuel Watkins.[5] Watkins' older brother John purchased property around the gorge in 1794 and constructed mills. After his brother's death, Samuel Watkins inherited the property and spent four decades building up the area with roads, shops, and a hotel.[6] The newspaper Watkins Glen Review & Express has served the area since 1854.
Geography
Watkins Glen is located at 42°22′52″N 76°52′16″W / 42.38111°N 76.87111°W (42.380984, -76.871079).[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) of the village is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (17.41%) is water.
New York State Route 14 joins New York State Route 79 and New York State Route 414 by Watkins Glen. NY-14 is one of the principal streets in Watkins Glen. New York State Route 329 and New York State Route 409 lead into Watkins Glen from the west.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 2,039 | — | |
1880 | 2,716 | 33.2% | |
1890 | 2,604 | −4.1% | |
1900 | 2,943 | 13.0% | |
1910 | 2,817 | −4.3% | |
1920 | 2,785 | −1.1% | |
1930 | 2,956 | 6.1% | |
1940 | 2,913 | −1.5% | |
1950 | 3,052 | 4.8% | |
1960 | 2,813 | −7.8% | |
1970 | 2,716 | −3.4% | |
1980 | 2,440 | −10.2% | |
1990 | 2,207 | −9.5% | |
2000 | 2,149 | −2.6% | |
2010 | 1,859 | −13.5% | |
2020 | 1,829 | −1.6% | |
2022 (est.) | 2,228 | [8] | 21.8% |
U.S. Decennial Census[9] |
As of the
There were 873 households, out of which 22.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.70% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.40% were non-families. 42.40% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the village, the age distribution of the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 20, 5.40% from 20 to 24, 31.80% from 25 to 50, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.20 years old. The Village of Watkins Glen had 866 male and 993 female residents.
The median income for a household in the village was $34,969 and the median income for a family was $55,357. Males had a median income of $37,885 versus $29,000 for females. The
Notable events and attractions
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park is a 778-acre park with a 400-foot-deep (120 m)[10] narrow gorge featuring 19 waterfalls throughout less than two miles. It is considered a "flagship" park by the State of New York.[11]
Auto racing at Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen is noted for its role in
The original course ran for 6.6 miles (10.6 km) and passed through the center of the village. The streets used for the original course remain intact today and a checkered flag marks the original start-finish line on the village's main street. During the 1952 race, driver Fred Wacker struck onlookers sitting on a curb, killing a 7-year-old boy and injuring 10 others. The tragedy caused the end of street racing at the Glen and elsewhere in the United States.[12]
A permanent racing facility, the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course opened in 1956. It has hosted nearly every type of road racing, from the Sahlen's
International Motor Racing Research Center
The International Motor Racing Research Center, a professional archive of motorsports history, opened in June 1999 in an annex of the Watkins Glen Public Library.[13] The mission of the center is to preserve and share the history of motorsports around the world.[14]
Personal Watercraft racing at Watkins Glen
Since 2014, Watkins Glen has hosted a weekend of IJSBA (International Jet Sports Boating Association) closed course racing, and has become one of the largest race venues in the sport today. Originally promoted in Region 8 by NEWA (North East Watercraft Alliance), until 2016 when East Coast Watercross purchased the series, racing has been at Clute Memorial Park and Campground and is typically the last weekend in August. The event has always been free to spectators and features both closed course racing and freestyle competition using standup, sit-down, and sport class machines.
1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen Rock Festival
The racetrack was also the scene of the July 28, 1973,
Phish festivals
On July 1–3 of 2011, the band Phish hosted Superball IX, a three-day music festival on the same grounds as the Summer Jam of '73. On August 21–23 2015, Phish hosted their 10th festival, Magnaball, on the grounds. Phish planned to return to Watkins Glen for their 11th festival, Curveball, on August 17–19, 2018 but was forced to cancel when their permit was revoked due to floods contaminating the local water supply.[15]
True Love schooner
Watkins Glen is the home port for True Love, a schooner built in 1926 that was featured in High Society (1956).[16]
Farm animal protection movement
Watkins Glen is the home of Farm Sanctuary, a national farm animal protection organization co-founded by activist Gene Baur in 1986. In 1991, the organization opened a shelter in Watkins Glen that has since provided lifelong care for thousands of animals rescued from abuse; hosted numerous public events; and welcomed thousands of visitors from all over the world, sharing with them views of militant vegetarianism.
References
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ "Watkins Glen". Britanica.
- ^ Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce. "Watkins Glen State Park – the untold story…". Wordpress. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Section O: Environmental Conservation and Recreation, Table O-9". 2014 New York State Statistical Yearbook (PDF). The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. 2014. p. 674. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
- ^ "Watkins Glen State Park History". Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- ISBN 0-929758-17-X.
- ^ "Our History". IMRRC. International Motor Racing Research Center. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- ^ "Collecting, Preserving and Sharing History". IMRRC. International Motor Racing Research Center. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
- ^ "Curveball Forced to Cancel".
- ^ Johnson, Shane (May 8, 2014). "True Love Schooner". WSKG. Retrieved May 2, 2019.