Delaware County

Images of America: New York

by Tim Duerden, Ray LaFever

Delaware County is located in New York's Catskill Mountains, a region well known as a vacation spot for urbanites. Early settlers farmed the hillsides and valleys, while others sought the raw materials in the forests. By 1797, the population had increased, so the region officially became known as Delaware County. By the 1880s, the county comprised 19 towns, the same number as today. It was around that time when dairy farming became the mainstay of the local economy. However, during the last half century, traditional dairying has declined, and a great deal of agricultural land has been bought up by those seeking an escape from the city. New York City residents' need for fresh water has resulted in the construction of two 20th-century reservoirs within Delaware County's borders and the inundation of several communities. Meanwhile, the waters and the forests have remained, continuing to enrich the county by providing sustenance and comfort.

128 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2016

Reviews

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional series continues with this recent volume. Drawn from the archives of local historical archives, loaded with rare photos and informative text. This particular volume covers a still rural upstate NY county, to this day having no more than 40,00 residents and no major highways linking its towns and villages to help increase its population.
As a born and raised resident, I don't deny being prejudicial about the region and am pleased so much care was given to assembling this book.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primarily a photographic history of the home of my ancestors in Delaware County, New York. Each photo includes an in-depth description and includes the history of the area from the 18th to 20th century. I was thrilled when I came upon a photo (taken about 1908/1909) of my extended family including my paternal grandmother as an infant, her parents, her grandparents, and a couple of other relatives at the home of my 2x great-grandparents on Hardscrabble Road at Roxbury!