Dover, New York Facts for Kids

Dover is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 8,699 at the 2010 census. The town was named after Dover in England, the home town of an early settler.

The town of Dover is located on the eastern boundary of the county, north of Pawling, south of Amenia, and west of the state of Connecticut.

History
Geography
Demographics
Transportation
- Road
- Rail
- Bus
Communities and locations in Dover
Camp
See also

History

In 1637, the Pequot people had been driven from their former homes in Connecticut and settled in what is now Dover. They were led by Gideon Mauwee for part of their time in this location.

The town was formed in 1807 from part of the town of Pawling. The first town meeting took place in the home of John Preston, an early settler. That home, built circa 1730, is now an inn and restaurant known as Old Drovers Inn.

The Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center (1924–1994) was a major source of employment for Dover and the surrounding areas. When the center was closed in 1994, many businesses in the area were hit hard. Many of the brick and marble buildings on the grounds still stand. The property and buildings were purchased in 2003 by the Benjamin Development Corporation, and the eastern portion was sold to Olivet Management in 2013.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.3 square miles (145.9 km²), of which 55.2 square miles (142.9 km²) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²), or 2.04%, is water. The town is drained by the Ten Mile River, which flows from the north through the center of town, then turns east into Connecticut and joins the Housatonic River.

The east town line is the border of Connecticut.

The Appalachian Trail passes through the town.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	2,193	—
1830	2,198	0.2%
1840	2,000	−9.0%
1850	2,146	7.3%
1860	2,805	30.7%
1870	2,279	−18.8%
1880	2,281	0.1%
1890	1,863	−18.3%
1900	1,959	5.2%
1910	2,016	2.9%
1920	1,710	−15.2%
1930	3,775	120.8%
1940	7,385	95.6%
1950	7,460	1.0%
1960	8,776	17.6%
1970	8,475	−3.4%
1980	7,261	−14.3%
1990	7,778	7.1%
2000	8,565	10.1%
2010	8,699	1.6%
2016 (est.)	8,424	−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,565 people, 3,034 households, and 2,157 families residing in the town. The population density was 153.8 people per square mile (59.4/km²). There were 3,266 housing units at an average density of 58.6 per square mile (22.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.71% white, 5.5% African American, .33% Native American, .99% Asian, .06% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.65% of the population.

There were 3,034 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,361, and the median income for a family was $57,979. Males had a median income of $40,885 versus $28,542 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,250. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Road

Although Dover has no major highways, it does have two major thoroughfares. Route 22 crosses from the Pawling town line in the south to the Amenia town line in the north. Route 343 goes through town as well. In 2006, the NYSDOT administered the repaving of Route 22 through the town. The prime contractor was Callanan Industries, Inc., an Albany, New York based contractor. In 2007, repaving continued north from the town line into Amenia, New York with other contractors - Peckham Road Corp. in Wassaic and A. Colarusso & Son Inc., a Hudson, New York based contractor for the portion north of Wassaic.

Rail

Metro-North Railroad's Harlem Line runs through Dover with two rail commuter rail stations in town, with service to New York City. The Harlem Valley – Wingdale station is at the former State Hospital and Route 22, and the Dover Plains station is right in the town center. Trains leave every two hours in each direction during middays, evenings and weekends. In rush hours, service in the peak direction operates about every 30 minutes.

Bus

Dover is served by Dutchess County Public Transit's route "D" bus.

Communities and locations in Dover

Bains Corner: An area east of Dover Plains.
Chestnut Ridge: An area in the northwest part of the town.
Dogtail Corners: An area in the southeastern part of the town.
Dover Furnace: An area in the central part of the town, south of Dover Plains, west of Route 22.
Dover Plains: A hamlet in the northeast part of the town.
Duell Hollow: An area in the southeast corner of the town.
Ellis Pond: A small lake in the southeast part of the town.
Lake Weil: A small lake in the southeast part of the town.
Oniontown: A community in the northern part of town.
South Dover: A hamlet in the eastern part of the town.
Webatuck: An area in the southeastern part of the town on Route 55.
Wingdale: A hamlet in the south part of the town on Route 22, home of Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.

Camp

Camp Ramah in the Berkshires is located in Wingdale on Lake Ellis.

Dover, New York facts for kids

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