Dover, New York
Encyclopedia
Dover is a town
in Dutchess County
, New York
, United States. The population was 8,565 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Dover
in England, the home town of an early settler.
The Town of Dover is located on the eastern boundary of the county; North of Pawling
, South of Amenia
, West of the State of Connecticut
.
The town was formed in 1807 from part of the Town of Pawling
.
The first town meeting took place in the home of John Preston, an early settler. The home, built circa 1730, is now an inn and restaurant known as Old Drovers Inn.http://www.olddroversinn.com
The Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center (1924–1994) was a major source of employment for Wingdale and the surrounding areas. When the Center was closed in 1994, many businesses in the area were hit hard. The brick & marble building on the grounds still stand, but many are dilapidated and in need to be torn down. (Demolition is slated to begin on 10/15/10 according to a sign on the property). The property and buildings were purchased in the 2003 by the Benjamin Development Corporation and currently is in the SEQRA process before the Town Board as Lead Agency for its redevelopment into a transit oriented town center known as Dover Knolls.
, the town has a total area of 56.3 square miles (145.8 km²), of which, 55.7 square miles (144.3 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.14%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Connecticut
.
The Appalachian Trail
passes through the town.
The Zoning Board of Appeals interprets zoning laws and considers variance requests, which are requests for relief from zoning law.
The Planning Board considers site plans, subdivision proposals and special use permits. The Planning Board also reports on the adoption of official maps and amendments to zoning ordinance.
The Architectural and Community Appearance Review Board reviews all proposals for all construction in excess of 1000 square feet (92.9 m²) of gross floor area and all signs to be erected on reviewed structures. Single-family residence proposals, two-family residence proposals and residence accessory structure proposals are normally not reviewed, except in special circumstances.
Office of the Supervisor is run by Supervisor Ryan Courtien includes the offices of the Supervisor, Human Resources/Civil Service Management and Finance.
Office of the Town Clerk is another department headed by an independent elected official Caroline Reichenberg. The Town Clerk is responsible for the collection and release of vital records of both the citizens (such as birth certificates, etc.) and the government (Town Board Meeting Minutes). The keeping of records of Local Laws and statistics and issuing of licenses and permits is handled by this department.
The Assessor Department deal with tax-exemption and assessment related grievances.
The Building Department deals with building permits and code enforcement. This department can utilize inspections for enforcement.
The Highway Department is led by the Highway Superintendent who is one of the independent elected officials in the Government of Dover. This department deals with road maintenance, road construction and road closures.
Recreation is headed by the Recreation Director who coordinates the public recreational services provided by or through the town such as Town Basketball, the public pool and the town day camp for children entering grades Pre-K to Sixth that is run at the public pool facility.
Tax Collector is responsible for collection of town and county property taxes and is an independent elected official also called the "Receiver of Taxes."
The Justice Court is the local court for the Town of Dover which handles local issues such as traffic violations. Both Town Justices are elected officials.
Ambulances (36-71, 36-72). BLS
EMS calls are handled by NDP EMS
whom are contracted to provide the town one ambulance to provide 12 hours a day, 7 days a week ambulance service from 5am to 5pm. The department does have some of the better response times in Eastern Dutchess County, as it is one of the more active departments on the Route 22 corridor in Dutchess County.
of 2000, there were 8,565 people, 3,034 households, and 2,157 families residing in the town. The population density
was 153.8 people per square mile (59.4/km²). There were 3,266 housing units at an average density of 58.6 per square mile (22.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.71% White, 5.50% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races
, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.65% of the population.
There were 3,034 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,361, and the median income for a family was $57,979. Males had a median income of $40,885 versus $28,542 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,250. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
The population in 1890 was 1,863.
crosses from the Pawling town line to the Amenia town line. Route 343
goes through town as well.
Harlem Line runs through Dover with two rail commuter rail stations in town, with service to New York City
via the Harlem Line, with the Harlem Valley – Wingdale at the former State Hospital & Route 22, and the Dover Plains
right in the town center. Trains leave every two hours in each direction during middays, evenings and weekends. In rush hours, service in the peak direction operates about every 30 minutes.
(Wingdale, New York
) is located on Lake Ellis.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Dutchess County
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States. The population was 8,565 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
in England, the home town of an early settler.
The Town of Dover is located on the eastern boundary of the county; North of Pawling
Pawling (town), New York
Pawling is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 7,521 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Catherine Pauling, the daughter of Henry Beekman, who held the second largest land patent in the county. A misprint caused the U to change to a W and the name...
, South of Amenia
Amenia (town), New York
Amenia is a town in Dutchess County, United States. New York, United States. The population was 4,048 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Latin word, amoena, which means "pleasant to the eye."...
, West of the State of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
History
In 1637 the Pequots having been driven from their former homes in Connecticut settled in what is now Dover. They were led by Gideon Mauwee for part of their time in this location.The town was formed in 1807 from part of the Town of Pawling
Pawling (town), New York
Pawling is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 7,521 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Catherine Pauling, the daughter of Henry Beekman, who held the second largest land patent in the county. A misprint caused the U to change to a W and the name...
.
The first town meeting took place in the home of John Preston, an early settler. The home, built circa 1730, is now an inn and restaurant known as Old Drovers Inn.http://www.olddroversinn.com
The Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center (1924–1994) was a major source of employment for Wingdale and the surrounding areas. When the Center was closed in 1994, many businesses in the area were hit hard. The brick & marble building on the grounds still stand, but many are dilapidated and in need to be torn down. (Demolition is slated to begin on 10/15/10 according to a sign on the property). The property and buildings were purchased in the 2003 by the Benjamin Development Corporation and currently is in the SEQRA process before the Town Board as Lead Agency for its redevelopment into a transit oriented town center known as Dover Knolls.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 56.3 square miles (145.8 km²), of which, 55.7 square miles (144.3 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (1.14%) is water.
The east town line is the border of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
passes through the town.
Government and emergency services
The Legislature and Executive of the Government of Dover, New York are invested in the Town Board, consisting of the Town Supervisor, currently the Honorable Ryan Courtien elected to a two-year term, and four Council members, currently the Honorable Christopher Galayda, the Honorable Catherine Frame, the Honorable Katie Palmer-House & the Honorable Richard Hawthorne, each elected to four-year terms. The Town Board is accountable for the health, safety and welfare of all citizens. The body is responsible for adopting and amending the Town Comprehensive or Master Plan, and can adopt zoning and land use regulations or issue other permits in addition to performing various administrative functions.Town Comprehensive or Master Plan
The Master Plan directs the general action of the Government and serves a similar function as the US Constitution. The Plan contains nine chapters. Ch. 1: Community Values; Ch. 2: Historic Preservation; Ch. 3: Natural Resources; Ch. 4: Population and Economic Base; Ch. 5: Housing; Ch. 6: Community Facilities; Ch. 7: Transportation; Ch. 8: Existing Land Use; Ch. 9: Two-Part Summary of the Master Plan.Volunteer boards
The Government also includes a series of volunteer boards.The Zoning Board of Appeals interprets zoning laws and considers variance requests, which are requests for relief from zoning law.
The Planning Board considers site plans, subdivision proposals and special use permits. The Planning Board also reports on the adoption of official maps and amendments to zoning ordinance.
The Architectural and Community Appearance Review Board reviews all proposals for all construction in excess of 1000 square feet (92.9 m²) of gross floor area and all signs to be erected on reviewed structures. Single-family residence proposals, two-family residence proposals and residence accessory structure proposals are normally not reviewed, except in special circumstances.
Departments
Much of the Function of the Government occurs in Town Departments.Office of the Supervisor is run by Supervisor Ryan Courtien includes the offices of the Supervisor, Human Resources/Civil Service Management and Finance.
Office of the Town Clerk is another department headed by an independent elected official Caroline Reichenberg. The Town Clerk is responsible for the collection and release of vital records of both the citizens (such as birth certificates, etc.) and the government (Town Board Meeting Minutes). The keeping of records of Local Laws and statistics and issuing of licenses and permits is handled by this department.
The Assessor Department deal with tax-exemption and assessment related grievances.
The Building Department deals with building permits and code enforcement. This department can utilize inspections for enforcement.
The Highway Department is led by the Highway Superintendent who is one of the independent elected officials in the Government of Dover. This department deals with road maintenance, road construction and road closures.
Recreation is headed by the Recreation Director who coordinates the public recreational services provided by or through the town such as Town Basketball, the public pool and the town day camp for children entering grades Pre-K to Sixth that is run at the public pool facility.
Tax Collector is responsible for collection of town and county property taxes and is an independent elected official also called the "Receiver of Taxes."
The Justice Court is the local court for the Town of Dover which handles local issues such as traffic violations. Both Town Justices are elected officials.
Fire
Dover has a fire protection district and contracts with the J. H. Ketcham Hose Company for fire and ambulance service. The fire company operates two stations: Station One is on Rt 22 in Dover Plains and Station Two is on Rt 55 in Wingdale. The department is capable of handling fires, rescues, extrications, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents and natural disasters. JHK operates a varied fire apparatus fleet based out of two stations, consisting of four engines (36-11, 36-12, 36-13, 36-14), one aerial (36-45), two utility / brush trucks (36-61, 36-62) and two BLSBasic life support
Basic life support is the level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until the patient can be given full medical care at a hospital. It can be provided by trained medical personnel, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and by...
Ambulances (36-71, 36-72). BLS
Basic life support
Basic life support is the level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until the patient can be given full medical care at a hospital. It can be provided by trained medical personnel, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and by...
EMS calls are handled by NDP EMS
Northern Dutchess Paramedics
Northern Dutchess Paramedics provides advanced life support and basic life support ambulance transportation services in the Hudson Valley region of New York, USA. NDP operates ambulances staffed by emergency medical technicians and paramedics. NDP holds emergency response 911 contracts in...
whom are contracted to provide the town one ambulance to provide 12 hours a day, 7 days a week ambulance service from 5am to 5pm. The department does have some of the better response times in Eastern Dutchess County, as it is one of the more active departments on the Route 22 corridor in Dutchess County.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,565 people, 3,034 households, and 2,157 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 153.8 people per square mile (59.4/km²). There were 3,266 housing units at an average density of 58.6 per square mile (22.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.71% White, 5.50% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.65% of the population.
There were 3,034 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,361, and the median income for a family was $57,979. Males had a median income of $40,885 versus $28,542 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $21,250. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
The population in 1890 was 1,863.
Road
Although Dover has no major highways, it does have 2 major thoroughfares. Route 22New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
crosses from the Pawling town line to the Amenia town line. Route 343
New York State Route 343
New York State Route 343 is a state highway located entirely within central Dutchess County, in the Hudson Valley region of the U.S. state of New York. It runs east–west from the intersection of NY 82 in the village of Millbrook to the Connecticut state line in the town of Amenia, where...
goes through town as well.
Rail
Metro-North Railroad'sMetro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
Harlem Line runs through Dover with two rail commuter rail stations in town, with service to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
via the Harlem Line, with the Harlem Valley – Wingdale at the former State Hospital & Route 22, and the Dover Plains
Dover Plains (Metro-North station)
The Dover Plains Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Dover Plains, New York via the Harlem Line. Trains leave for New York City every two hours, and about every 30 minutes during rush hour...
right in the town center. Trains leave every two hours in each direction during middays, evenings and weekends. In rush hours, service in the peak direction operates about every 30 minutes.
Communities and locations in Dover
- Bains Corner : A hamletHamlet (place)A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
east of Dover Plains. - Chestnut Ridge : A hamlet at the town line in the northwest part of the town.
- Dogtail Corners : A hamlet by the east town line.
- Dover Furnace : A hamlet in the south part of the town, south of Dover Plains on Route 22.
- Dover PlainsDover Plains, New YorkDover Plains is a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 1,996 at the 2000 census...
: A hamlet in the northeast part of the town. - Ellis Pond : A small lakeLakeA lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the southeast part of the town. - Lake Weil : A small lake in the southeast part of the town.
- OniontownOniontown, New YorkOniontown is an unincorporated settlement in Dutchess County, New York, located 1.5 miles south of the hamlet of Dover Plains. It was briefly the subject of world-wide media attention in 2008, when a derisive video about the area published on YouTube led to visiting outsiders being...
: A section of town off Route 22New York State Route 22New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and... - South Dover : A hamlet in the eastern part of the town.
- Webatuck : A hamlet in the southeastern part of the town on Route 55.
- Wingdale : A hamlet in the south part of the town on Route 22, home of Camp Ramah in the BerkshiresCamp Ramah in the BerkshiresCamp Ramah in the Berkshires in Wingdale, New York, is one of nine overnight summer camps and three day camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement of Judaism and the National Ramah Commission. It is accredited by the American Camp Association...
.
Camp
Camp Ramah in the BerkshiresCamp Ramah in the Berkshires
Camp Ramah in the Berkshires in Wingdale, New York, is one of nine overnight summer camps and three day camps affiliated with the Conservative Movement of Judaism and the National Ramah Commission. It is accredited by the American Camp Association...
(Wingdale, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) is located on Lake Ellis.