Webb is the northernmost
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an o ...
in
Herkimer County
Herkimer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,139. Its county seat is Herkimer. The county was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. It is named af ...
,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, United States. As of the
2010 census it had a population of 1,807.
It is named after
William Seward Webb
William Seward Webb (January 31, 1851 – October 29, 1926) was a businessman, and inspector general of the Vermont militia with the rank of colonel. He was a founder and former president of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Early life
Webb wa ...
, president of the Raquette Lake Transportation Company, the Fulton Chain Railway Company, Fulton Navigation Company, and the
Mohawk and Malone Railway
The Mohawk and Malone Railway was a railroad that ran from the New York Central Railroad's main line at Herkimer north to Malone, crossing the northern Adirondacks at Tupper Lake Junction, just north of Tupper Lake. The road's founder, Dr. Willi ...
. The railroads in Webb were instrumental in opening the
Adirondacks
The Adirondack Mountains (; a-də-RÄN-dak) form a massif in northeastern New York with boundaries that correspond roughly to those of Adirondack Park. They cover about 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2). The mountains form a roughly circular d ...
to the tourism rush of the mid-to-late 19th century. The
Adirondack Railroad
The Adirondack Railroad (formerly the Adirondack Scenic Railroad) is a tourist railway serving the Adirondack Park, which plans to operate over trackage of the former New York Central Railroad between Utica and Tupper Lake. The railroad is ...
will resume tourist passenger service through the town in 2022: 41 years since the last train ran beyond Big Moose, NY.
History
Attempts were made to settle Webb ''circa'' 1800 and 1811, but both efforts failed. The first permanent settlers arrived in approximately 1837.
In 1836, the town of
Wilmurt was formed from parts of the towns of
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
and
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...
. 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. Webb's Mohawk and Malone Railway reached the town in 1892, it precipitated twenty years of prosperity from lumbering and tourism.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...
, the town has a total area of , of which are land and , 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
The Adirondack Park is a part of New York's Forest Preserve in northeastern New York, United States. The park was established in 1892 for “the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure”, and for watershed protection. The park ...
. One end of the
Fulton Chain Lakes
The Fulton Chain of Lakes is a string of eight lakes located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, United States. The chain is the dammed-up Moose River (New York), Moose River, and the dam which creates the chain holds back nearly of wate ...
is located in the town.
New York State Route 28
New York State Route 28 (NY 28) is a state highway extending for in the shape of a "C" between the Hudson Valley city of Kingston and southern Warren County in the U.S. state of New York. Along the way, it intersects several major ...
crosses the southern part of the town from west to east, passing through the communities of
Old Forge and
Thendara.
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 2000, there were 1,912 people, 845 households, and 534 families residing in the town. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
was 4.2 people per square mile (1.6/km
2). There were 3,833 housing units at an average density of 8.5 per square mile (3.3/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.96%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 0.68%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.26%
Native American, 0.26%
Asian, 0.16% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 0.68% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or
Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 845 households, out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,541, and the median income for a family was $43,516. Males had a median income of $30,906 versus $20,398 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $19,910. About 4.5% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Settlements and geographical features
Settlements
*
Big Moose – A
hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
on County Route 1 west of
Big Moose Lake
Big Moose Lake, at the head of the Moose River, is a large lake about north of Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks in upstate New York. The lake is within both Herkimer and Hamilton counties, and covers portions of the towns of Webb and Long La ...
.
*
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
New York’s 28th congressional district is an obsolete congressional district for the United States House of Representatives. Before becoming obsolete in 2013, the district was based in Rochester, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, and included part ...
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
Minnehaha is a Native American woman documented in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epic poem ''The Song of Hiawatha''. She is the lover of the titular protagonist Hiawatha and comes to a tragic end. The name, often said to mean "laughing wat ...
– 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
*
Bald Mountain – An elevation located northeast of Old Forge.
*
Bear Lake – A lake located east of Otter Lake.
*
Bear Pond – A lake north of Stillwater Reservoir.
*
Beaver Dam Pond – A lake located east of Witchhopple Lake.
*
Big Otter Lake – A lake located west of
Old Forge on the border of Lewis County.
*
Bisby Lodge – A bench located northeast of Trusty Mountain.
*
Bottle Mountain – An elevation located northeast of Old Forge.
*
Bubb Lake – A lake located west of Eagle Bay.
*
Cage Lake – A lake located on the northern town border.
*
Clear Lake – A lake located north of Witchhopple Lake.
*
Evergreen Lake – A lake located northeast of Stillwater.
*
Fernow Mountain
Fernow Mountain is a summit located in Central New York Region of New York (state), New York located in the Town of Webb, New York, Webb in Herkimer County, New York, Herkimer County, east of Old Forge, New York, Old Forge.
References
{{M ...
– An elevation located east of Old Forge.
*
Flatrock Mountain – An elevation located northeast of Minnehaha.
*
Fourth Lake – A large lake shared with
Hamilton County. Fourth Lake is actually the last part of a larger lake with each section having an ordinal designation. This system is the
Fulton Chain Lakes
The Fulton Chain of Lakes is a string of eight lakes located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, United States. The chain is the dammed-up Moose River (New York), Moose River, and the dam which creates the chain holds back nearly of wate ...
.
*
Gull Lake – A lake located south of McKeever on the southern town line. The lake is partially in the town of
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
.
*Gull Lake – A lake located north-northeast of Little Rapids.
*Gull Lake – A lake located southwest of Minnehaha.
*
Independence Lake – A lake located west of Carter Station.
*
Jones Mountain – An elevation located east of Minnehaha.
*
Lake Rondaxe – A lake located east of Carter Station.
*
Little Moose Lake – A lake located southeast of Old Forge.
*
Little Moose Mountain – A mountain located southeast of Old Forge.
*
Little Roundtop
Little Roundtop is a summit located in Central New York Region of New York located in the Town of Webb in Herkimer County
Herkimer County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 60,139. Its co ...
– An elevation located east of Jones Mountain.
*
Little Safford Lake – A lake located southeast of Carter Station.
*
McCauley Mountain – A mountain located south of Old Forge.
*
Middle Branch Lake
Middle Branch Lake is a lake located west of Webb, New York#Communities and locations in Webb, Thendara, New York. The outlet is Middle Branch. Fish species present in the lake are Centrarchidae, sunfish, brook trout, and white sucker. There trail ...
– A lake west of the hamlet of Thendara near the western town border.
*
Middle Settlement Lake – A lake west of the hamlet of Thendara, south of Middle Branch Lake.
*
Moose River Mountain – An elevation located northeast of Minnehaha.
*
Moshier Reservoir
Moshier Reservoir is a reservoir located southeast of Webb, New York#Communities and locations in Webb, Moshier Falls, New York. Fish species present in the lake are rock bass, yellow perch, tiger muskie, white sucker, and black bullhead. There is ...
– A Reservoir west of Stillwater Reservoir.
*
Moss Lake – A small lake located northwest of Eagle Bay.
*
Moulin Mountain – An elevation located north of Old Forge.
*
Neejer Hill – An elevation located south of Minnehaha.
*
Nelson Lake – A lake located south of the hamlet of Minnehaha.
*
Nicks Lake – A lake located south of Old Forge.
*
Odor Pond – A small pond located north of Salmon Lake.
*
Old Forge Pond
Old Forge Pond is located by Old Forge, New York. Fish species present in the lake are white sucker, black bullhead, rainbow trout, yellow perch, and rock bass. Carry down off NY-28
New York’s 28th congressional district is an obsolete con ...
– A small lake located by Old Forge.
*
Panther Mountain – An elevation located southeast of Old Forge. Partially in the Town of
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
.
*
Panther Mountain – An elevation located north of Stillwater Reservoir.
*
Peaked Mountain Lake – A lake north of Stillwater Reservoir.
*
Rose Mountain – An elevation located east-southeast of Minnehaha.
*
Salmon Lake – A lake located north of Stillwater Reservoir.
*
Sitz Mountain – An elevation north of Stillwater Reservoir.
*
Slide Off Mountain – A mountain located northeast of Old Forge.
*
Sis Lake – A small lake west of Eagle Bay.
*
South Pond – A lake located east of Twitchell Lake.
*
Stillwater Mountain – A mountain located south of Stillwater Reservoir.
*
Stillwater Reservoir
Stillwater Reservoir is a man-made lake located by Beaver River, New York within the Western Adirondacks. The lake has a large amount of recreational uses including camping, canoeing, boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and cross-country s ...
– A large
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
in the northern part of the town.
*
Sugarloaf Mountain
Sugarloaf Mountain ( pt, Pão de Açúcar, ) is a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising above the harbor, the peak is named for its resemblance to ...
– An elevation located northeast of Old Forge.
*
Tooker Mountain – An elevation located southeast of Minnehaha.
*
Trusty Mountain
Trusty Mountain is a summit located in Central New York Region of New York located in the Town of Webb in Herkimer County, east-southeast of Minnehaha
Minnehaha is a Native American woman documented in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 epi ...
– An elevation located east-southeast of Minnehaha.
*
Twitchell Lake – A lake located northeast of
Big Moose.
*
West Pond – A lake located east of Big Moose.
*
Witchhopple Lake – A lake located north of Stillwater Reservoir.
*
Wolf Pond – A lake located northeast of Stillwater.
*
Woodhull Mountain – An elevation located east-southeast of Minnehaha.
References
External links
Hamlet of Old Forge/Town of WebbTown of Webb governmentAdirondack Scenic RailroadAdirondack Woodcraft Camps Town of Webb historyHerkimer County Historical Society
{{authority control
Utica–Rome metropolitan area
Adirondacks
Towns in Herkimer County, New York