Watkins Glen, New York

Watkins Glen, New York
CDP
Franklin Street in Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen Location within the state of New York Watkins Glen Watkins Glen (the United States)
Coordinates:42°22′52″N76°52′16″W
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Schuyler
Settled	1791(1791)
Named	1842(1842) as Jefferson
Named	1852(1852) as Watkins Glen
Government
• Mayor	Laurie DeNardo
Area
• Total	1.94 sq mi (5.03 km2)
• Land	1.56 sq mi (4.04 km2)
• Water	0.38 sq mi (0.99 km2)
Elevation	463 ft (141 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	1,863
• Density	1,194.23/sq mi (461.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP code	14891
Area code	607
FIPS code	36-78696
GNISfeature ID	0974082
Website	www.watkinsglen.us

Watkins Glenis a village andcensus-designated placein and thecounty seatofSchuyler County,New York,United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,829. Watkins Glen lies between the towns ofDixandReading.To the southwest of the village is theWatkins Glen Internationalrace track, which hosts annualNASCAR Cup SeriesandWeatherTech SportsCar Championshipraces, and formerly hosted theFormula OneUnited States Grand Prixand variousIndyCarraces.

The village was the recipient of the ten-million-dollar Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant in July 2017 to revitalize the Mixed Use Village Center (VC). Former governor of New YorkAndrew M. Cuomoawarded fourteen projects in hopes that they would be catalysts for increased private investment in the village. This grant was largely secured by the work of local government officials and the Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development (SCOPED). As of December 2023, the majority of the awarded projects have been completed.

History

The settlement of the village began in 1791. First named "Jefferson" in 1842, the village was later renamed in 1852 to honor Dr. Samuel Watkins.Watkins' older brother John purchased property around the gorge in 1794 and constructed mills. After his brother's death, Samuel Watkins inherited the property and spent four decades building up the area with roads, shops, and a hotel.The newspaperWatkins Glen Review & Expresshas served the area since 1854.

Geography

Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen is located at42°22′52″N76°52′16″W(42.380984, -76.871079).

According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the village has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²) of the village is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) (17.41%) is water.

New York State Route 14joinsNew York State Route 79andNew York State Route 414by Watkins Glen. NY-14 is one of the principal streets in Watkins Glen.New York State Route 329andNew York State Route 409lead into Watkins Glen from the west.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	2,039		—
1880	2,716		33.2%
1890	2,604		−4.1%
1900	2,943		13.0%
1910	2,817		−4.3%
1920	2,785		−1.1%
1930	2,956		6.1%
1940	2,913		−1.5%
1950	3,052		4.8%
1960	2,813		−7.8%
1970	2,716		−3.4%
1980	2,440		−10.2%
1990	2,207		−9.5%
2000	2,149		−2.6%
2010	1,859		−13.5%
2020	1,829		−1.6%
2022 (est.)	2,228		21.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of thecensusof 2010, there were 1,859 people, 873 households, and 442 families residing in the village. The population density was 845 inhabitants per square mile (326/km²). There were 977 housing units at an average density of 444 per square mile (171/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 96.2%White,0.50%African American,0.40%Native American,0.50%Asian,0.70% fromother races,and 1.70% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 873 households, out of which 22.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.70% weremarried couplesliving together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.40% were non-families. 42.40% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the village, the age distribution of the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 20, 5.40% from 20 to 24, 31.80% from 25 to 50, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.20 years old. The Village of Watkins Glen had 866 male and 993 female residents.

The median income for a household in the village was $34,969 and the median income for a family was $55,357. Males had a median income of $37,885 versus $29,000 for females. Theper capita incomefor the village was $24,116. 5.0% of the population and 1.70% of families lived below thepoverty line.3.6% of those under 18 and 6.80% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Notable events and attractions

Seneca Lake from Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen State Park

Main article:Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Parkis a 778-acre park with a 400-foot-deep (120 m)narrow gorge featuring 19 waterfalls throughout less than two miles. It is considered a "flagship" park by the State of New York.

Auto racing at Watkins Glen

The Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International

Watkins Glen is noted for its role inauto racing,being the home of a street course used inroad racing,a famous racetrack,Watkins Glen International,one of the premier automobile road racing tracks in the United States, which has hosted theNASCAR Cup SeriesGo Bowling at The Glen,IndyCar SeriesGrand Prix at The Glen,and theIMSA SportsCar Championship6 Hours of Watkins Glen.The first Watkins Glen Sports Car Grand Prix was held in 1948 on public streets in and near the village. Organized by residentCameron Argetsinger,it was the first post-WWIIroad race held in the United States and it marked the revival of American road racing.

The original course ran for 6.6 miles (10.6 km) and passed through the center of the village. The streets used for the original course remain intact today and a checkered flag marks the original start-finish line on the village's main street. During the 1952 race, driver Fred Wacker struck onlookers sitting on a curb on a corner coming down West 4th St. (State Route 409), killing a 7-year-old boy and injuring 10 others. The tragedy caused the end of street racing at the Glen and elsewhere in the United States.

A permanent racing facility, the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course opened in 1956. It has hosted nearly every type of road racing, from the Sahlen's6 Hours of Watkins Glen(1948-current), theFormula OneUnited States Grand Prix(1961–1980), and theI Love New York 355 at The Glen(1957-current), which was one of the few races on theMonster Energy NASCAR Cup Seriesschedule not conducted on an oval speedway, the other beingSonoma Racewayuntil NASCAR added more road courses to the Cup Series schedule.

International Motor Racing Research Center

International Motor Racing Research Center

The International Motor Racing Research Center, a professional archive of motorsports history, opened in June 1999 in an annex of theWatkins Glen Public Library.The mission of the center is to preserve and share the history of motorsports around the world.

Personal Watercraft racing at Watkins Glen

Since 2014, Watkins Glen has hosted a weekend of IJSBA (International Jet Sports Boating Association) closed course racing, and has become one of the largest race venues in the sport today. Originally promoted in Region 8 by NEWA (North East Watercraft Alliance), until 2016 when East Coast Watercross purchased the series, racing has been in Seneca Lake, near Clute Memorial Park and Campground and is typically the last weekend in August. The event has always been free to spectators and features both closed course racing and freestyle competition using standup, sit-down, and sport class machines.

1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen Rock Festival

The racetrack was also the scene of the July 28, 1973,Summer Jam at Watkins Glenrock festivalattended by an estimated 600,000 people, one-and-a-half times the crowd at 1969's historicWoodstock Festivaland a world record for the largest number of people at a pop music festival. The concert featuredThe Allman Brothers Band,Grateful Dead,andThe Band.The music started at noon on Saturday and continued long into Sunday.

Phish festivals

On July 1–3 of 2011, the bandPhishhosted Superball IX, a three-day music festival on the same grounds as the Summer Jam of '73. On August 21–23 2015, Phish hosted their 10th festival, Magnaball, on the grounds. Phish planned to return to Watkins Glen for their 11th festival, Curveball, on August 17–19, 2018 but was forced to cancel when their permit was revoked due to floods contaminating the local water supply.

True Loveschooner

Watkins Glen is the home port forTrue Love,a schooner built in 1926 that was featured inHigh Society(1956).

Farm animal protection movement

Farm Sanctuary's headquarters in Watkins Glen

Schuyler County Courthouse in Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen is the home ofFarm Sanctuary,a national farm animal protection organization co-founded by activistGene Baurin 1986. In 1991, the organization opened a shelter in Watkins Glen that has since provided lifelong care for thousands of animals rescued from abuse; hosted numerous public events; and welcomed thousands of visitors from all over the world, sharing with them views of militant vegetarianism.

See also

• Century House (publisher)

External links

• Village of Watkins Glen
• Watkins Glen State Park
• Book excerpt on the 1973 Summer Jam Rock Festival from "AQUARIUS RISING" by Robert Santelli
• 1884 Guidebook to Watkins Glen with Illustrations at Internet Archive
• Google Earth overlay of original circuit