Elizabethtown, NY

According to H.P. Smith's History of Essex County, written in 1885, Elizabethtown was created by the Clinton County Government on the 12th day of February, 1798. Before that date it was a part of Crown Point. The Town's boundaries were changed in 1808 when Moriah and Keene were created, and again in 1815 when Westport came into being.

The town, which received its nickname "Pleasant Valley" from earlier travelers from Panton, Vermont, lies slightly northeast of the center of the county. The Boquet River flows northeasterly across the center of the town and the Black River forms a part of its boundary with Westport. The soil is a sandy loam, generally light except in the valleys, where it is fertile. Extensive deposits of iron ore existed in the town.

The Kelloggs were among the first settlers of the town and their descendants were prominent in town and state government until the 1900's. Early settlement began near what is now New Russia and then moved closer to the current center of town. There was a gristmill and farms. David Brainard built a forge on Black Creek in 1817; Joshua Daniels built a second one the same year. Iron ore mining provided occupations for the first half of the 19th century but had largely petered out by 1885.



Early shopkeepers provided many goods. The Nobles ran a general store, a harness shop, a tannery and manufactured shoes. Periodically, floods ripped through town, taking lives, destroying businesses and homes.


In the nineteenth century, Elizabethtown became a resort community. Large hotels graced the center of town where city tourists would stay for the summer months. There was tennis, golf, horseback riding, walking and plenty of evening entertainment.



Area: 82 square miles

High point: Rocky Peak Ridge, 4,000 feet

Principle waterway: Boquet River

Settled: 1792

Formed: 1798

Boundary changes: 1808, 1815, 1844, 1854

Town Hall: P.O. Box 265, Elizabethtown NY 12932 (518)873-6555

Population: 1850: 1,635, 2000: 1,315

Major industry: government, law, surveying, light industry, and tourism.

Named for: Elizabeth, the given name of William Gilliland's wife and daughter. Another daughter, Charlotte who married Stephen Cuyler, lent her name to Charlotte, Vt.