Bethel, New York
| Bethel, New York | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Motto: Home of the 1969 Original Woodstock Festival | |
 U.S. Census Map |
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| Coordinates: 41°41′27″N 74°50′30″W / 41.69083°N 74.84167°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Sullivan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 90.0 sq mi (233.2 km2) |
| • Land | 85.4 sq mi (221.2 km2) |
| • Water | 4.6 sq mi (12.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,322 ft (403 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 4,255 |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 12720 |
| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-06310 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978730 |
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population was estimated at 4,255 in 2010.
The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 , which was originally planned for Wallkill, NY, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.
The first settlers arrived around 1795 near the present communities of Bethel and White Lake. The Town of Bethel was established in 1809 from the Town of Lumberland.
By the middle of the 19th century, a tourist industry began to grow. Bethel was home to numerous hotels that were part of the "Borscht Belt" and numerous sleepaway camps for most of the 20th century, including Camp Ma-Ho-Ge, Camp Chipinaw, and Camp Ranger – all on Silver Lake. In 1961, legendary Son of Sam mass murderer David Berkowitz was a camper at a now defunct summer camp in Bethel. Berkowitz left the camp after a suspicious fire occurred in his cabin.
The Town of Bethel was brought to the world's attention in 1969 when nearly 500,000 people gathered at Max Yasgur's Farm for "Three Days of Peace and Music". made about released in 1970 showed interviews with numerous Bethel residents, including Art Vassmer, co-owner of Vassmers General Store in Kauneonga Lake. A movie called was released in August 2009 based on the book of the same title by Elliot Tiber, whose parents owned the nearby El Monaco Motel in White Lake and played a pivotal role in bringing the Woodstock nation to Bethel.
In 2006, Bethel Woods opened on the original Woodstock site as a state-of-the-art performing arts venue. In early 2008, a multi-media Woodstock "interpretive" museum opened near the old Yasgur's Farm to complement the concert space, which hosted the New York Philharmonic, Wynton Marsalis, Diane Reeves, Chris Botti, the Goo Goo Dolls, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young in its inaugural season. Highlights of the Center's 2007 season were performances by Lynyrd Skynyrd/Marshall Tucker Band, Bob Dylan, Richie Havens/Arlo Guthrie, Earth, Wind & Fire, and repeat performances of the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Pops Orchestra. 2008's season featured The New York Philharmonic, the Boston Pops Orchestra, Steely Dan, the Allman Brothers, and sold-out performances by the Jonas Brothers and the last concert of the season, featuring Heart, Journey, and Cheap Trick. The 2009 season was headlined by Brad Paisley and his band "The Drama Kings".
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