Keene, New York
Encyclopedia
Keene is a town in central Essex County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 1,063 at the 2000 census. Keene is the home of Mount Marcy
, the highest mountain in New York state, as well as the Great Range
and 15 of the 46 High Peaks, and the Ausable Lakes, the source of the Ausable River. Trailheads for many of the High Peaks are located within the town, along with the Johns Brook Lodge of the Adirondack Mountain Club
. All of the town is in the Adirondack Park, the largest state park in the nation.
The Town has completed a grassroots project to bring broadband service to more than 90% of the homes in Keene, and installing the service in every home with a student in the Town's award winning public school. The deep reach of this network into rural areas makes it unique in the Adirondack Park.
and Elizabethtown
on March 19, 1808. This originally included current North Elba
, but that was split in 1848 from the original Keene. The area had been made up of a mountainous and rocky surface, with a low population due to the unstable soil in the region. A nearby highway was extended to Keene Center via the towns of Lewis and Jay, but it was deemed unusable due to the structure of the area. The area had been a stronghold with the lumber and iron industries. However, exporting the items made by these industries was hard, because there was a lack of transportation in the area. Business began to grow around 1820, when the town then had sawmills, forges and gristmills being built. The riverbed region of Keene soon became the location of the first community, and the town began to grow, with Keene Flats becoming a community by 1840. The area continued to grow for several more decades after. In 1882, when the Adirondack Park was created as a protected area in the state, a privately tolled and maintained road to lower Ausable Lake was constructed.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 156.6 square miles (405.6 km²), of which 156.1 square miles (404.3 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (0.37%) is water.
Many of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Park are in or near the town, including Mount Marcy, the highest elevation in New York. The Garden, one of the most popular trail heads in the Adirondacks, is located in the hamlet of Keene Valley, and is the eastern end of the Johns Brook Trail, leading to Johns Brook Lodge, Mount Marcy
, and the heart of the High Peaks Region.
The East Branch of the Ausable River passes through the hamlets of Keene and Keene Valley, and Hull Falls near Keene is an attractive view.
New York State Route 9N
changes from north-south to east-west south of Keene hamlet. New York State Route 73
changes from east-west to north-south in the same place.
of 2000, there were 1,063 people, 443 households, and 279 families residing in the town. The population density
was 6.8 people per square mile (2.6/km²). There were 984 housing units at an average density of 6.3 per square mile (2.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.68% White, 0.09% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.09% from other races
, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
There were 443 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,226, and the median income for a family was $44,250. Males had a median income of $35,417 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,037. About 1.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,063 at the 2000 census. Keene is the home of Mount Marcy
Mount Marcy
Mount Marcy is the highest point in New York State, with an elevation of . It is a popular destination for hikers due to its stature and great views, and the peak can get very crowded in the summer months...
, the highest mountain in New York state, as well as the Great Range
Great Range
The Great Range is a mountain range in the Adirondack Mountains, near Keene Valley, New York, USA. It rises in the heart of the High Peaks region between Ausable Lakes to the southeast and the Johns Brook Valley to the northwest....
and 15 of the 46 High Peaks, and the Ausable Lakes, the source of the Ausable River. Trailheads for many of the High Peaks are located within the town, along with the Johns Brook Lodge of the Adirondack Mountain Club
Adirondack Mountain Club
The Adirondack Mountain Club is a nonprofit organization founded in 1922. It has approximately 35,000 members. The ADK is dedicated to the protection and responsible recreational use of the New York State Forest Preserve, parks, wild lands, and waters; it conducts extensive conservation, and...
. All of the town is in the Adirondack Park, the largest state park in the nation.
The Town has completed a grassroots project to bring broadband service to more than 90% of the homes in Keene, and installing the service in every home with a student in the Town's award winning public school. The deep reach of this network into rural areas makes it unique in the Adirondack Park.
History
The town of Keene was created from splitting parts of the towns of JayJay, New York
Jay is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 2,306 at the 2000 census. The town is named after John Jay, governor of New York when the town was formed....
and Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown, New York
Elizabethtown is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,315 at the 2000 census. The county seat of Essex County is a hamlet also called Elizabethtown. The name is derived from Elizabeth Gilliland, the wife of an early settler....
on March 19, 1808. This originally included current North Elba
North Elba, New York
North Elba is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the island of Elba.North Elba is on the western edge of the county...
, but that was split in 1848 from the original Keene. The area had been made up of a mountainous and rocky surface, with a low population due to the unstable soil in the region. A nearby highway was extended to Keene Center via the towns of Lewis and Jay, but it was deemed unusable due to the structure of the area. The area had been a stronghold with the lumber and iron industries. However, exporting the items made by these industries was hard, because there was a lack of transportation in the area. Business began to grow around 1820, when the town then had sawmills, forges and gristmills being built. The riverbed region of Keene soon became the location of the first community, and the town began to grow, with Keene Flats becoming a community by 1840. The area continued to grow for several more decades after. In 1882, when the Adirondack Park was created as a protected area in the state, a privately tolled and maintained road to lower Ausable Lake was constructed.
Geography
United 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 156.6 square miles (405.6 km²), of which 156.1 square miles (404.3 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (0.37%) is water.
Many of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Park are in or near the town, including Mount Marcy, the highest elevation in New York. The Garden, one of the most popular trail heads in the Adirondacks, is located in the hamlet of Keene Valley, and is the eastern end of the Johns Brook Trail, leading to Johns Brook Lodge, Mount Marcy
Mount Marcy
Mount Marcy is the highest point in New York State, with an elevation of . It is a popular destination for hikers due to its stature and great views, and the peak can get very crowded in the summer months...
, and the heart of the High Peaks Region.
The East Branch of the Ausable River passes through the hamlets of Keene and Keene Valley, and Hull Falls near Keene is an attractive view.
New York State Route 9N
New York State Route 9N
New York State Route 9N is a north–south state highway in northeastern New York, United States. It extends from an intersection with U.S. Route 9 , NY 29, and NY 50 in the city of Saratoga Springs to a junction with US 9 and NY 22 in the Clinton County village of...
changes from north-south to east-west south of Keene hamlet. New York State Route 73
New York State Route 73
New York State Route 73 is a state highway located entirely within Essex County, New York, United States. The highway begins at an intersection with NY 86 in the village of Lake Placid and ends at a junction with U.S. Route 9 north of the hamlet of Underwood in the extreme...
changes from east-west to north-south in the same place.
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 1,063 people, 443 households, and 279 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 6.8 people per square mile (2.6/km²). There were 984 housing units at an average density of 6.3 per square mile (2.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.68% White, 0.09% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.09% 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 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.38% of the population.
There were 443 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% 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, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,226, and the median income for a family was $44,250. Males had a median income of $35,417 versus $22,083 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 $17,037. About 1.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Keene
- Cascade — A former community in the western part of Keene.
- Glenmore — A former hamlet east of Keene hamlet, located on County Road 13.
- The Great RangeGreat RangeThe Great Range is a mountain range in the Adirondack Mountains, near Keene Valley, New York, USA. It rises in the heart of the High Peaks region between Ausable Lakes to the southeast and the Johns Brook Valley to the northwest....
— A ten-mile long mountain range that includes seven of the forty-six Adirondack High Peaks. - Keene (formerly "Keene Center") — A hamlet in the north-central part of the town on Routes NY-73 and NY-9N.
- Keene Valley (formerly "Keene Flats") — A hamlet south of Keene hamlet on NY-73. It has long been principally a vacation area.
- Lower Ausable Lake — A lake in the southwest part of Keene.
- Mount Marcy — The highest peak in the state is in the western part of the town, southwest of Keene Valley and St. Huberts.
- St. Huberts — A hamlet in the south part of the town on NY-73.
- Upper Ausable Lake — A lake partly in the town at the south town line.