Old Forge, New York
| Old Forge | |
|---|---|
| Hamlet and CDP | |
Tourist souvenir shop in Old Forge, 1973
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| Nickname(s): the same time | |
 Old Forge
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| Coordinates: 43°42′23″N 74°58′09″W / 43.70639°N 74.96917°WCoordinates: 43°42′23″N 74°58′09″W / 43.70639°N 74.96917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Herkimer |
| Town | Webb |
| Settled | 1798 |
| Incorporated | October 1903 |
| Dissolved | March 31, 1936 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km2) |
| • Land | 1.8 sq mi (4.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.55km2 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,857 ft (566 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 756 |
| • Density | 420.0/sq mi (260.7/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP Code | 13420 |
| Area code(s) | 315 |
| FIPS code | 36-54639 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2631633 |
Old Forge is a hamlet (and census-designated place) on New York State Route 28 in the town of Webb in Herkimer County, New York. The population was 756 at the 2010 census. Old Forge was formerly a village that dissolved its incorporation in 1936, but it remains the principal community in the region. As one of the western gateway communities of Adirondack Park, Old Forge forms an extensive business district, primarily directed at tourism especially during the summer months. The local school is the Town of Webb UFSD, a K-12 institution with the Eskimo as their mascot. Old Forge often records the lowest winter temperatures in New York. On February 17, 1979, the record low temperature for New York was set in Old Forge at -52 °F (-46 °C).
In 1798 the 210,000 acres (85,000 ha) area including Old Forge came into possession of the Brown family of Rhode Island, through a transaction involving Aaron Burr. John Francis Brown built a 25 miles (40 km) wagon trail from Remsen and attempted to settle about 20 families in the area. The land was unsuitable for farming, these attempts failed, and the area was abandoned by 1803.
In 1811 John Brown's son-in-law Charles Frederick Herreshoff moved to the area and attempted to raise sheep, opened an iron mine, and built the first forge. These ventures again failed, and Herreshoff committed suicide in 1819. A few settlers remained, including Nat Foster, said to be the inspiration for James Fenimore Cooper's character of "Natty Bumppo."
The railroad was built in 1888, originally horse-drawn with wooden rails. Before the railroad was completed the plans were changed to use steam power rather than horses. A station was constructed at nearby Thendara.
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Wikipedia