Hebron, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Hebron, New York
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
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pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of New York
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Washington
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 146.1
area_land_km2 = 145.7
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_total_sq_mi = 56.4
area_land_sq_mi = 56.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1773
population_density_km2 = 12.2
population_density_sq_mi = 31.5

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 242
elevation_ft = 794
latd = 43 |latm = 17 |lats = 16 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 20 |longs = 3 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 12832
area_code = 518
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-33040
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979059
website =
footnotes =

Hebron is a town in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,773 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.4 square miles (146.1 km²), of which, 56.2 square miles (145.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (0.32%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,773 people, 687 households, and 489 families residing in the town. The population density was 31.5 people per square mile (12.2/km²). There were 906 housing units at an average density of 16.1/sq mi (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.18% White, 0.45% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.

There were 687 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,639, and the median income for a family was $41,680. Males had a median income of $28,150 versus $22,315 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,113. About 7.0% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

The Hamlets of Hebron

There are 6 hamlets in the Town of Hebron. Porter, Hebron, East Hebron, West Hebron, North Hebron, and Belcher. The Town Clerk's office is located in West Hebron on County Route 30 as is the Hebron Volunteer Fire Company FireHall and Station One. Station Two is located on State Route 22 south of the intersection of Sheldon Rd, Chamberlain Mill Road and State Route 22. Hebron has no school buildings or town center. In 2008 there was only country store located at Bedlam Corners in the hamlet of West Hebron.

History

The Town of Hebron was formed 23 March 1786 and takes its name from Hebron, Connecticut. Hebron was first known as the district of Black Creek. Parcels of land, called patents, given by the King of England who to soldiers who served in the French War. Few soldiers actually settled in the area, and most of the land came into possession of land speculators who sold parcels to New England and Scotch-Irish settlers for farming. Some of the patents that form the town are Blundell and Sheriff. Originals of these patents are in the National Archives.

State Route 22 is the main road on the east side. State Route 22 began as The Great Northern Turnpike, chartered in 1799. There are two mileposts markers remaining in the town, one at 7047 State Route 22, the second just north of Chamberlin Mills Road. A third is just south of the town line with Salem, New York. The east side of the Town of Hebron is the New York/Vermont Border. Hebron is located near the center of the two states north south border.

A peddlers wagon belonging to L. L. Brown (Lorenzo Levi) is in the wagon collection of the Museum of Long Island at Stony Brook.

Hebron Volunteer Fire Company

The West Hebron Volunteer Fire Company was formed in 1947. Willard Bain, a charter member, died in February 2008. The first fire truck, BRUSH 356 was put into service in 1947 and was retired in 2008 after the purchase of a CAFS truck ATTACK 356 in March of 2008. in 1968 the East Hebron Fire Company was formed after the homes of Nelson Greene and Alfred "Pug" Getty burned down. Pug donated the land and Nelson lead the group of volunteers that built Station Two. The two companies later merged to form the Hebron Volunteer Fire Company.

The Hebron Volunteer Fire Company First Response Team provides emergency medical services to the town. These firefighters/ EMT's respond to medical and trauma related calls. All first responders are currently licensed as EMT's by the State of New York.

The fire company holds monthly dinners, provides tent and chair rentals, pool fills and has an annual action as fund raisers.

Hebron Preservation Society

The Hebron Preservation Society was charted by the State of New York in 1975. The Society maintains a museum that consists of two buildings located on the east side of Route 22 in the hamlet of East Hebron. One, a one room school house built in 1845 was acquired from the Salem School District and the other, a small tenant farm house built in the early 1800s was purchased in 1990. The Society published "HEBRON: A Century In Review" in 1988 with a second edition in 2006. The museum houses a display of school house memorabilia, varied articles, ledgers, books, and family genealogies pertaining to the residents, businesses and organizations in Hebron.

The mailing address is:Hebron Preservation Society,PO Box 328,Salem, NY 12865.

Beauty of Hebron Potato

The Beauty of Hebron Potato variety was promoted by a local seedsman, Edward L. Coy (E.L. Coy). Both Mr. Coy and Mrs. Rachel Campbell of Old Castle Green Road in Hebron took credit for the discovery. The Beauty of Hebron was as the result a naturally fertilized seedling of Garnet Chili. The earliest published reference to the introduction of the Beauty of Hebron is 1876 at an Annual Agricultural Society Meeting in Marblehead, MA. The Beauty of Hebron Potato was introduced by the USDA (Department of Agriculture) to growers in 26 states for tests in 1877. Various major seed companies of the time claimed credit for its commercial introduction. These were J. M. Thornburn of New York City, JJH Gregory of Marblehead, MA, and Peter Henderson of New Jersey.

In 1879 Mr. Coy shipped "Hebron Beauties" to London. The Beauty of Hebron was one of the varieties that restocked the British Isles after the Irish Potato Famine. It spread through out the British Empire to localities such as New Zealand and New Caledonia. It also was a favorite of market and home gardeners in the United States at the turn of the century. In 1946, the USDA was unaware of any commercial production in the United States, however the 1959 Potato Variety Handbook of the American Potato Association lists and describes the Beauty of Hebron. It is believed that most current tissue culture stocks and tubers came from Elmer Hansen of Alberta whom in 1988 provided seed to Will Bownall and Seedsavers.org.

The Beauty of Hebron is listed on the RAFT list of Threatened American Foods [ [http://www.environment.nau.edu/raft/ Renewing America's Food Traditions - RAFT, Center for Sustainable Environments ] ] . The Beauty of Hebron is maintained at the Canadian Potato Research Center in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, The University of North Dakota Potato Breeding Program, and with a commercial breeder. At the date of this article, 2008, it is unknown if the Beauty of Hebron is in commercial production. Thanks to the efforts of Sally Brillion of the Hebron Preservation Society, the Beauty of Hebron Potato began to be grown by Amateur gardeners in 2006.

Edward L. Coy

Edward L. Coy was born on April 4, 1831, and was for 18 years a breeder of Ayrshire cattle; and for 13 years paid attention to the Holstein-Friesian breed; he also originated 18 varieties of the potato, all of which became standard in some section.

He raised more than a half million pounds of cucumber seed, and for two years the Department of Agriculture employed him to establish the type of the 250 varieties of the cucumber that were tested. His farm was on Route 31 in Hebron.

Mr. E. L. Coy initiated the seed industry in Hebron in the 1850s. The 1875 Census notes that he raised 500 pounds of garden seed. He played a major role in the development of the Golden Bantam sweet corn variety. This was the first major yellow sweet corn variety; prior to the Golden Bantam, yellow corn was felt to be livestock feed. White corn was considered the be the corn for human consumption.

References

External links

* [http://www.CambridgePhoto.com Richard Clayton Photography] Historic Hebron, New York and area photos
* [http://www.washingtoncounty.org/hebron/town.htm Town of Hebron] Official County Website
* [http://www.hebronfireco.com Hebron Volunteer Fire Company Website]