Cobleskill
Town
Location in Schoharie County and the state of New York.
Location in Schoharie County and the state of New York.
Coordinates (seat of town government): 42°40′49″N 74°25′03″W / 42.68028°N 74.41750°W / 42.68028; -74.41750
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountySchoharie
Settledc. 1750
Established1795
Government
 • BodyTown board
 • SupervisorLeo T. McAllister[1] (Republican Party)
Area
[2]
 • Total30.78 sq mi (79.73 km2)
 • Land30.61 sq mi (79.27 km2)
 • Water0.18 sq mi (0.46 km2)
Elevation
[3]
886 ft (270 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total6,086
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code518
FIPS code36-16639
GNIS feature ID0978843
WebsiteTown website

Cobleskill is a town in Schoharie County, New York, United States. The population was 6,086 at the 2020 census.[5][6] The town contains a village, also named Cobleskill, as well as the State University of New York at Cobleskill.

The town is in the northern part of the county and is southwest of Amsterdam.

History

The town was first settled around 1712.[7] The town was founded at the same time as the county, 1795, but its boundaries were not established until 1801. There are more historical notes on the pages of the village of Cobleskill and Schoharie County.

The town was named after mill owner Jacob Kobell, and the word "kil", which is Dutch for stream.[8][9] Cobleskill was incorporated in 1868.

Battle of Cobleskill

The Battle of Cobleskill (the Cobleskill massacre) was an American Revolutionary War raid on the frontier settlement of Cobleskill on May 30, 1778. The Cobleskill militia, along with a few Continentals, were having a meeting at George Warner's house when the lookout spotted a party of Native Americans walking past. The soldiers pursued the Indians for a couple of miles when an army of 300-400 Indians, led by Joseph Brant, opened fire on the rebels. Of the 40 or so rebels, only about 11 got away without any major injuries.[10]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.8 square miles (80 km2), of which 30.6 square miles (79 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.49%) is water.

Cobleskill Creek flows eastward through the town. Interstate 88 passes across the town. New York State Route 145 is an east–west highway, which runs conjointly with New York State Route 10 near Cobleskill village. Both the Interstate and NY-10 follow a route similar to Cobleskill Creek.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18202,440—
18302,98822.5%
18403,58319.9%
18502,229−37.8%
18602,3575.7%
18702,84720.8%
18803,37018.4%
18903,4432.2%
19003,97315.4%
19103,579−9.9%
19203,7986.1%
19303,9804.8%
19404,0050.6%
19504,70917.6%
19604,9645.4%
19706,01721.2%
19807,04817.1%
19907,2703.1%
20006,407−11.9%
20106,6253.4%
20206,086−8.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 2020[6]

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,407 people, 2,270 households, and 1,287 families residing in the town. The population density was 209.3 inhabitants per square mile (80.8/km2). There were 2,509 housing units at an average density of 81.9 per square mile (31.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.76% White, 3.62% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.01% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.[4]

There were 2,270 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.90.[4]

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 24.9% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.[4]

The median income for a household in the town was $32,764, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $32,708 versus $24,864 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,246. About 9.2% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[4]

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

Two annual festivals held in Cobleskill are the Schoharie County Maple Festival and the Sunshine Fair.[12][13]

Tourism

Two cavern complexes are located just outside Cobleskill and are open to tourists: Howe Caverns and Secret Caverns. Both are north of I-88 and Howes Cave. The Secret Caverns is located just outside Cobleskill, and was formed during the last Ice Age. The caverns were discovered in 1928, and include a 100-foot underground waterfall.[14][15] Howe Caverns is 156 feet below ground.[16]

Media

Notable people

Communities and locations in the Town of Cobleskill

  • Barnerville – A hamlet in the eastern part of the town, west of Bramanville on County Road 8.
  • Bramanville – A hamlet in the eastern section of the town, west of Howes Cave on County Road 8. The Bramanville Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[19]
  • Cobleskill – A village located at the junction of NY-10 and NY-145 in the western part of the town.
  • Cobleskill Reservoir – A reservoir east of Mineral Springs.
  • East Cobleskill – A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town at the town line on NY-145.
  • Greenbush – A location south of Mineral Springs.
  • Howe's Cave – A hamlet near the eastern town line on County Road 8. The name is taken from that of from early settler Lester Howe.
  • Lawyersville – A hamlet northwest of Cobleskill village, located on NY-145. The village is named after some early settlers.
  • Mineral Springs – A hamlet south of Cobleskill village. It was originally called "Frances Corners."
  • Russell Lake – A small lake at the northwestern corner of Cobleskill.
  • Sagendorf Corners – A location north of Howes Cave.
  • Shutts Corners – A location northeast of Cobleskill village.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Town of Cobleskill Home Page". Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  2. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Town of Cobleskill". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ "United States Census Bureau". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  6. 1 2 US Census Bureau, 2020 Census Report Cobleskill, New York QuickFacts https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/cobleskilltownschohariecountynewyork Accessed, January 3, 2023
  7. ↑ "Hotels and Motels in Cobleskill, New York". USA Today. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Profile for Cobleskill, New York, NY". ePodunk. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  9. ↑ "How Cobleskill Got it name". Town of Cobleskill Historical Society. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Horton's Historical Articles". Horton's Historical Articles. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "SCHOHARIE COUNTY MAPLE FESTIVAL". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ "FAIRS AND FESTIVALS". Upstatevacation.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Things to Do Near Cobleskill, New York". USA Today. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Secret Caverns". Secret Caverns. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Howe Caverns". Trip Advisor. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Durand, George Harman, (1838 - 1903)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  18. ↑ Putnam, James Osborne (1868). Biographical Sketch of the Late Hon. Harvey Putnam. Haas & Kelley. p. 5.
  19. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
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