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Webb, New York

Coordinates: 43°46′4″N 74°56′41″W / 43.76778°N 74.94472°W / 43.76778; -74.94472
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Webb, New York
Town
Location within Herkimer County
Location within Herkimer County
Webb is located in New York
Webb
Webb
Webb is located in the United States
Webb
Webb
Coordinates: 43°46′4″N 74°56′41″W / 43.76778°N 74.94472°W / 43.76778; -74.94472
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyHerkimer
Government
 • TypeTown Council
 • Town SupervisorBonnie Baker
 • Town CouncilMichael Ross, Kyle Lindsay, Ben Hannah, and Tom Greco
Area
[1]
 • Total484.36 sq mi (1,254.45 km2)
 • Land452.34 sq mi (1,171.56 km2)
 • Water32.00 sq mi (82.89 km2)
Elevation
1,732 ft (528 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total1,797
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code36-043-78927
GNIS feature ID0979613[2]
Websitehttps://townwebb.digitaltowpath.org/

Webb (sometimes referred to as Webb Town)[4]is the northernmost town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 Census it had a population of 1,797.[5]

It is named after William Seward Webb, president of the Raquette Lake Transportation Company, the Fulton Chain Railway Company, Fulton Navigation Company, and the Mohawk and Malone Railway. The railroads in Webb were instrumental in opening the Adirondacks to the tourism rush of the mid-to-late 19th century. The Adirondack Railroad resumed tourist passenger service through the town in 2022.[6]

History

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Attempts were made to settle Webb circa 1800 and 1811, but both efforts failed due to extreme climate, harsh weather and poor land for farming. The first permanent settlers, Otis Arnold and family, arrived in approximately 1837 and began their try at the land. The Arnolds ultimately succeeded in cultivating and selling hay feed, vegetables, milk and fruit. Eventually, map makers and guidebooks made note of the settlement. The Arnolds opened their house as a hotel of sorts, and the area became known for its beautiful rivers, lakes and mountains.[7]

In 1836, the town of Wilmurt was formed from parts of the towns of Ohio and Russia. Only the south part of Wilmurt was heavily settled. Webb was formed from the northern part of the now-defunct town of Wilmurt in 1896. Part of Wilmurt was returned to the town of Ohio.

When Dr. William Seward Webb's Mohawk and Malone Railway reached the town in 1892, it precipitated twenty years of prosperity from lumbering and tourism.

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 484.3 square miles (1,254.3 km2), of which 452.3 square miles (1,171.4 km2) are land and 32.0 square miles (82.9 km2), or 6.61%, are water. Webb has the most land area of any town in New York State, although Brookhaven covers a larger area when including water.

Webb is in the Adirondack Park. One end of the Fulton Chain Lakes is located in the town. New York State Route 28 crosses the southern part of the town from west to east, passing through the communities of Old Forge and Thendara.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1900920—
19101,25035.9%
19201,3578.6%
19301,78531.5%
19401,373−23.1%
19501,308−4.7%
19601,56219.4%
19701,6163.5%
19801,7015.3%
19901,637−3.8%
20001,91216.8%
20101,807−5.5%
20201,797−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

All data in this section is from the 2020 United States Census. As of 2020, there were 1,797 people, 685 households, and 659 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 94.37% White, 0.38% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

There were 685 households, out of which 12% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.3% were married couples living together, and 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present. The average family size was 2.27.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 10.01% under the age of 18, 1.5% from 18 to 24, 22.59% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 33.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56.5 years.

The median income for a household in the town was $102,873, and the median income for a family was $105,227. About 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line.

Settlements and geographical features

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Settlements

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  • Big Moose – A hamlet on County Route 1 west of Big Moose Lake.
  • Bisby Lodge – A historic location.
  • Brandreth – A location near the eastern town border.
  • Beaver River – A location the south side of Stillwater Reservoir.
  • Camp Rondaxe – A location near the junction of Routes NY-28 and 93.
  • Carter Station – A historic location.
  • Eagle Bay – A hamlet on the northern side of Fourth Lake at the junction of Routes 1 and 28.
  • Keepawa – A hamlet by the eastern town line.
  • Little Rapids – A location at the eastern end of the Stillwater Reservoir.
  • McKeever – A hamlet on Route 28 at the western town border.
  • Minnehaha – A hamlet near the western side of the town, east of McKeever on Route 28.
  • Moshier Falls – A hamlet on the western border of the town with Lewis County.
  • Mountain Lodge – A location on Route 118 southeast of Old Forge.
  • Old Forge – A hamlet on Route 28. Old Forge often records the lowest winter temperatures in New York. Old Forge is the principal community in the region, and, along with the adjacent community Thendara, forms an extensive business district.
  • Stillwater – A hamlet by Stillwater Reservoir.
  • Thendara – A hamlet on Route 28 immediately to the west of Old Forge.
  • Woods Lake – A hamlet in the northeastern part of the town.

Geographical features

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Departments

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Webb has many public service departments including the Webb Police Department, the Department of Public Works, and the Highway Department.[9]

Webb Police Department

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The Webb Police Department provides law enforcement services for Town of Webb and is headed by Chief Ron Johnston.[10] Upon a look into the public perception of the department in February of 2021, the Town of Webb government concluded that residents, overall, were "very pleased" and "highly complimentary of the members of the police departments and their performance and professionalism".[11]

References

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  1. ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  4. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "Our History". Adirondack Railroad. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Early History of the Town of Webb Region". www.webbhistory.org. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "Town of Webb: Departments". Town of Webb Official Website.
  10. ^ "Webb Police Department". 211midyork.org. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "New York state police reform and reinvention collaborative plan certification form" (PDF). policereform.ny.gov.
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