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AHistory
History · Esopus

Esopus dates to 1811, and 24% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 86% of U.S. towns · #331 of 758 in New York. What drives it

10 places in town are on the National Register, among them 2 National Historic Landmarks and a historic district with 1 buildings. Below: 11 old photos and papers, maps from 1898 on, and the census since 1820.

1811founded
10on the National Register
24%homes built before 1940
11old photos & papers
1famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Esopus’ archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Esopus began

When was Esopus founded?

1811

Esopus dates its founding to 1811 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1820.

First census: 1,513 in 18202020 census: 9,548215 years

How historic is Esopus?

A

More historic than 86% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1828.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Esopus’ History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Esopus is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #331 of 758 in New York. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its share of homes from before 1940 ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.

A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Esopus’ overall grade.
Founding era1811, from Wikipedia: founded 1776–1849, an older era than 75% of U.S. townsA−Homes built before 194023.9% of homes (±7.3) · typical NY town 26.6% · U.S. 8.4%A−National Register10 listings, 21 historic buildings, 22.0 per 10,000 residents · typical NY town 12.3 · U.S. 2.4B+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 86%
NewerOlder
New York towns of 2,500+ (758)Ahead of 56%

New York towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New York town has 12.3 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Esopus’ 22.0 sits near the middle of its state (57% of New York towns have fewer) while its 21 historic buildings outnumber those of 80% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.3 points). Two sources give 1811.

Founding year: Wikipedia (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Esopus’ past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

Lost villages4 post offices opened and closed inside today’s Esopus, and 12 old place names are still on the map.A National Historic Landmark10 places on the National Register, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks.On the map since 18984 editions of the USGS map, 1898 to 1980. Watch Esopus change.Deep rootsEstablished in 1811: 215 years of Esopus.
★ What stands out · Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners, places now gone and burying grounds

Esopus’s post office has been open since 1828. Four other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.

Esopus
1828–today
Amesville
1847–1865
Arnoldton
1850–1858
Port Ewen
1857–today
Rifton Glen
1861–1901
Ulster Park
1865–today
West Park
1884–today
Saint Remy
1888–1954
Connelly
1889–today
Rifton
1901–today
18201920today
Hamlets and corners on the map
ConnellyConnelly Village Mobile Home ParkDashvilleDutcher Mobile Home ParkNew SalemPort EwenRiftonSaint RemySleightsburgUlster ParkUnion CenterWest Park
Gone or out of use
Eddyville SchoolschoolEsppus District School Number 6schoolRock SchoolschoolSaint Remy SchoolschoolSchool Number 10school
3cemeteries and burying grounds inside Esopus
Ascension ChurchBeaverRiverview

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

On the National Register

10 historic places in Esopus

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. 2 are National Historic Landmarks, the highest tier. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.

places listed
10
National Historic Landmarks
2
Slabsides (John Burroughs Cabin)
historic buildings protected
21
each building in a district counts
first listed
1968
Slabsides (John Burroughs Cabin)
Perrine's BridgeEsopus Meadows Lighthouse, built 1839Poppletown Farmhouse, built 1800Holy Cross MonasteryReformed Protestant Dutch Church of Klyne EsopusColonel Oliver Hazard Payne EstateCumming-Parker HouseAlton B. Parker EstateSlabsides (John Burroughs Cabin)★Burroughs, John, Riverby Study★
BuildingsDistrictsStructures★ landmark

Architectural styles listings

Early Republic2
Federal2
Mid-19th Century2
Stick Style1
Craftsman1
Rustic1
★ Landmark
Slabsides (John Burroughs Cabin)Building
Perrine's BridgeStructure
Esopus Meadows LighthouseSecond Empire · Built 1839
Poppletown FarmhouseColonial · Built 1800
Holy Cross MonasteryTudor Revival
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Klyne EsopusEarly Republic
Colonel Oliver Hazard Payne EstateLate 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals
All 10 listings
Burroughs, John, Riverby StudyBuilding · listed 1968Cumming-Parker HouseBuilding · listed 2010Alton B. Parker EstateBuilding · listed 2016

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

On the map

Esopus on the map, 1898 to 1980

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Esopus. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Esopus on the 1898 USGS mapEsopus on the 1934 USGS mapEsopus on the 1963 USGS mapEsopus on the 1980 USGS map1898Rhinebeck sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Esopus.

The story

How Esopus came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Esopus.

Read it all →

The town was founded in 1811 from territory taken from Kingston, New York, which also was called "Esopus" at one time. It was officially formed on April 5, 1811. In 1818, a part of it was set off to Kingston, and a portion of Hurley was annexed. On April 12, 1842, a portion of New Paltz was annexed, making up what is mostly present-day Esopus.

The first known European to settle in the area was a trapper by the name of Christoffel "Kit" Davits, who bartered with the Esopus people, a branch of the Lenape. Around 1652 or 1653 many settlers moved south from the Manor of Rensselaerswyck where they had worked the patroon's land.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Esopus, 1880–1907

Passages that mention Esopus, cut from the printed page as they were published.

“Resolved, That there be assessed and levied upon the town a tax of S100 for the purpose of assisting in erecting an engine-house for Lafayette Fire Engine Company, No. 1, in South Rondout, in the said town of Esopus, — a. company formed and organized under the statute laws of tho State of New York…
History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers1880Read the page →
Read the text

“Resolved, That there be assessed and levied upon the town a tax of S100 for the purpose of assisting in erecting an engine-house for Lafayette Fire Engine Company, No. 1, in South Rondout, in the said town of Esopus, — a. company formed and organized under the statute laws of tho State of New York in and for said town of Esopus.”

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The territory now included in the town of Esopus was originally known as Cline Esopus, to distinguish it from the larger tract called Esopus, north and west of the llondout and the Wallkill. A few' families settled upon this tract before 1700. The records of deeds in the county clerk s ofiice and t…
History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers1880Read the page →
Read the text

The territory now included in the town of Esopus was originally known as Cline Esopus, to distinguish it from the larger tract called Esopus, north and west of the llondout and the Wallkill. A few' families settled upon this tract before 1700. The records of deeds in the county clerk s ofiice and tbe general annals of Kingston give some clue to the names and location of these settlers. The southern portion of this town was a part of the New Faltz patent,

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The Friends’ Church at Butterville, in the town of New Paltz, was established in 1807, and in 1812 Friends’ meetings were organized at Rosendale Plains in the present town of Rosendale, and at Esopus, and in 1813 the Friends’ churches at Rosendale Plains and Esopus were erected.
The history of Ulster County, New York1907 · page 479Read the page →
Read the text

The Friends’ Church at Butterville, in the town of New Paltz, was established in 1807, and in 1812 Friends’ meetings were organized at Rosendale Plains in the present town of Rosendale, and at Esopus, and in 1813 the Friends’ churches at Rosendale Plains and Esopus were erected.

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
That portion of the original town of Hurley which was on the east side of the Wallkill, and the east side of the Rondout below the mouth of the Wallkill, is in the present town of Esopus. The road list for this section, dated March 28, 1781, gives the following names, which were probably all the ma…
The history of Ulster County, New York1907 · page 247Read the page →
Read the text

That portion of the original town of Hurley which was on the east side of the Wallkill, and the east side of the Rondout below the mouth of the Wallkill, is in the present town of Esopus. The road list for this section, dated March 28, 1781, gives the following names, which were probably all the male adults living there at that time: Johannis Hardenbergh, Timothy Telsey, John Winfield,

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Esopus, 1755 to 1968

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1755Born hereRichard Furman is born here
  3. 1760In the archiveA view in Hudson's river of Pakepsey of the Catts-Kille mountains from Sopos Island in Hu…
  4. 1778In the archiveThe closet - Bute invt. ; Germaine ext. ; Mansfield sculpt
  5. 19th century
  6. 1800BuiltPoppletown Farmhouse is built
  7. 1811
    FoundingEsopus is established
  8. 1828Post officeThe Esopus post office opens
  9. 1839BuiltEsopus Meadows Lighthouse is built
  10. 1847Post officeThe Amesville post office opens
  11. 1850Post officeThe Arnoldton post office opens
  12. 1858Post officeThe Arnoldton post office closes
  13. 1865Post officeThe Amesville post office closes
  14. 1875In the archiveBeers Ulster County Atlas Page091
  15. 1890In the archiveNew York - the proposed new state prison and its site in the town of
  16. 1898On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  17. 20th century
  18. 1904In the archiveJudge Parker's House, "Rosemount", at
  19. 1968LandmarkSlabsides (John Burroughs Cabin) named a National Historic Landmark
  20. 1968LandmarkBurroughs, John, Riverby Study named a National Historic Landmark
By decade

Esopus, decade by decade

5 decades in the archive, from the 1760s to the 1900s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1760s–1770s3 items
A view in Hudson's river of Pakepsey of the Catts-Kille mountains from Sopos Island in Hudson's riverc. 1760A view in Hudson's river of Pakepsey of the Catts-Kil…DocumentA view in Hudson's river of Pakepsey of the Catts-Kille mountains from Sopos Island in Hudson's riverc. 1760A view in Hudson's river of Pakepsey of the Catts-Kil…DocumentThe closet - Bute invt. ; Germaine ext. ; Mansfield sculpt1778The closet - Bute invt. ; Germaine ext. ; Mansfield s…Document
1870s–1900s7 items
Beers Ulster County Atlas Page0911875Beers Ulster County Atlas Page091MapBeers Ulster County Atlas Page092-0931875Beers Ulster County Atlas Page092-093MapBeers Ulster County Atlas Page1041875Beers Ulster County Atlas Page104MapNew York - the proposed new state prison and its site in the town of1890New York - the proposed new state prison and its site…Judge Parker's House, "Rosemount", at1904Judge Parker's House, "Rosemount", atPost office, Esopus, NY - August 1904 (exterior view)1904Post office, Esopus, NY - August 1904 (exterior view)Esopus landing, Hudson River, N.Y1906Esopus landing, Hudson River, N.Y
1910s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Date unknown1 to date
Guesthouse holycrossDate?Guesthouse holycross
Today14 recent
PoppletownHse2019PoppletownHseEsopusNY PoppletownFarmhouse2019EsopusNY PoppletownFarmhouseSTruthWalkFreedom2018STruthWalkFreedomSTruthSturgP2018STruthSturgPSTruth2017STruthBurroughsSlabsides2017BurroughsSlabsidesAscensionChurchEsopus2017AscensionChurchEsopusHudson River and valley from Shaupeneak Ridge2016Hudson River and valley from Shaupeneak RidgeEsopus, NY, town hall2016Esopus, NY, town hallEsopus Island from Mills-Norrie State Park marina2016Esopus Island from Mills-Norrie State Park marinaUnionTRAININGfacility highland NY2012UnionTRAININGfacility highland NYShaupeneakRidge Overlook2011ShaupeneakRidge OverlookHusseyHill CompositeFromPortEwen2011HusseyHill CompositeFromPortEwen2011 Speedboat on the Hudson in20112011 Speedboat on the Hudson in
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

New York - the proposed new state prison and its site in the town of
Retake this viewNew York - the proposed new state prison and its site in the town of, 1890

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Esopus’ page.

Retake this view · +15
People over time

Esopus, census by census

02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00018501900195020009,548

Grew from 1,513 people in 1820 to 9,548 in 2020, 6 times over.

21 censuses, 1820–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Esopus’ Wikipedia page.

Help out

Finish Esopus’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Date a photo1 archive item has no date. Guess the decade.+2Retake an old viewNew York - the proposed new state priso…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Rosendale4 historic placesA+Hyde Park25 historic placesA−Port EwenIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townUlster1 historic placeC+Kingston48 historic placesA+Rhinebeck42 historic placesA+Lloyd3 historic placesA−New Paltz7 historic placesA

Questions about Esopus’ history

What year was Esopus founded?

In 1811, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Esopus’ post office opened in 1828, and the census of 1820 counted 1,513 people here.

How does Esopus rank for history?

Esopus is more historic than 86% of U.S. towns, #331 of 758 in New York. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Esopus?

10 listings, 2 of them National Historic Landmarks: 7 buildings, among them the Slabsides (John Burroughs Cabin) (a National Historic Landmark since 1968), 1 historic district, the Colonel Oliver Hazard Payne Estate, with 1 contributing buildings, and 2 structures. 21 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Esopus?

24% of Esopus’ homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.3 points), against a typical 27% for a New York town; the median home was built in 1969.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (24), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (2), the National Register of Historic Places (10), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.