This blog post is about the history of Conklin NY. It focuses on the changes in population, politics, and historical events in Conklin throughout time.
The town of Conklin was first settled by Elijah Smith in 1807. The original settlement was small and consist of a few families from New England. Who had come to purchase land from Smith’s uncle, who owned most of Chenango Valley at the time. After Conklin was settle, it attract immigrants from other places, such as New York and Pennsylvania. In 1826 the village of Conklin was incorporate into the town of Conklin.
At this time, there were approximately 150 settlers in Conklin and less than 50 buildings. The city gained an increased population when various businesses started to emerge in the town. Such as a cotton mill, a dairy farm, stores and taverns that sold fur goods and jewellery, or those that sold liquor. Not only did this increase the population of Conklin Ny. But also the influx of people from other places such as Pennsylvania and New York. The town of Conklin was primarily agricultural until the early 20th century. Only a few small stores were open in the city.
History
In 1901 when a fire destroyed half of the city in less than an hour, it shocked the entire nation. Fire Trucks were unknown then, so many people had to use animal-drawn wagons to escape the burning buildings and stores. The fire was very destructive to the city due to its size and the fact that a lightning spark started it. Despite being so dangerous, no one died in the fire. After that time, there were many new rules and regulations for buildings, so many of them had to be change. The businesses were also reorganize, and stores began selling groceries instead of liquor. Because more women were present in the area now. A movie theatre and bowling lanes were also add during this time.
After World War two, the area suffered hard times because it was close to the manufacturing plants.
The population of Conklin Ny has gone up and down since 1807. However, the population that has lived here the longest is approximately 1,200. Over time there have been more and more people moving to this area. Over the last few years, the population of Conklin has reached about 1,500 residents. The most significant changes in the town have concerned the growing population, politics and natural disasters.
The first change in numbers was when it was incorporate into a town instead of a village in 1826. It gained more population when immigrants started to move into the city, and farming became a new source of income.
The politics of Conklin have been very intricate. Since it was first settled due to people disagreeing. Over which areas were going to be use for farming and residential purposes. At first, men in the town had an advantage over women. Because they could vote at this time. But after the 19th amendment was pass in 1920, everyone could vote regardless of sex. The politics in Conklin have changed throughout the years, but it is still similar concerning voting and money. At first, the county had a lot of power and could decide what happened in Conklin, but since then, many changes have occurred, such as the government trying to do whatever it could to keep money coming into town.
Calamities-Conklin NY
There have been many natural disasters that have affected Conklin. The first one happened on June 6, 1866, when a storm hit the area and created a flood that destroyed many of the homes and stores in the town. This event resulted in Conklin realizing that they needed to invest more money into their water system. Many floods took place over time, such as March 12, 1878, when there were thunderstorms and high winds, which caused a minor flood on Main Street.
Another flood occurred on June 14, 1880, when a few inches of rain fell in just a few hours, causing most wooden buildings to collapse. By the end of this flood, two people had died, and thousands were left homeless. There have also been many fires in Conklin over time, such as one on December 1, 1893, when 600 acres of forest were burn. Another fire happened on February 12, 1898, which destroyed the entire north half of Conklin, including the library and most of Main street.
The evacuation of Conklin has always been a complex process. In 1846 the town was force to settle in Watertown because a fire hit the area, causing some people to be evacuate from their homes. The bad economy in the early part of the 20th century also contribute to evacuations as people were left with no place to go when there was an evacuation. Many people had to leave at night because they could not afford any other means of transportation than walking.
There have been many evacuations since Conklin was first settled. The reason they are evacuations is because of natural disasters and other events that occurred in the town. In 1867, an earthquake in Lake Placid destroyed most of the churches and schools there and left it uninhabitable for about four years. There were two major fires that occurred in the town that led to evacuations.
Conclusion-
Conklin was the first town in the county to be incorporate into a city instead of a village through its town council. The town’s growth stemmed from several factors, including an agricultural population, immigration and industrial development. There were many changes that took place over time, such as the incorporation of Conklin into a city, the devastation caused by a flood, fire and many policies like voting rights for women.
The residents of Conklin have always been religious, but it has changed over time. The first church was build in 1824 and was call the “First Methodist Church in Watertown.” It did not have a lot of members initially because only one family live there, yet when it was finish, it became more popular to attend. There are no records about this church today, but researchers believe there might be some left since the structure was still standing as of 2009.
The building they used became a place where people could gather and discuss anything from religion to politics. During this time, many religious buildings were being build all over town, where many families would go on Sundays and listen to sermons.
