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Dryden, NY

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Dryden, NY

Dryden is a town in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 14,435 at the 2010 census. The town administers an area that includes two villages, one also named Dryden and one named Freeville, as well as several hamlets. The town is on the county's eastern border, east of Ithaca, in the Finger Lakes region.

The region was part of the Central New York Military Tract, land given as compensation to soldiers of the American Revolution. Robert Harpur, a Clerk in the office of the New York State Surveyor General who named numerous New York townships in 1790 based on his classical studies, named Dryden for John Dryden (1631–1700), the English poet and a translator of the classics (including the works of Virgil, with the town of Virgil being the next town east of Dryden). Dryden was also the translator of Plutarch's work Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans, which Harpur likely sourced for many of the names in the Military Tract.

The first settlers arrived around 1797. The town of Dryden was established in 1803 from the town of Ulysses. In 1856, some areas in the far southwest part of Dryden were ceded to the growing village of Caroline, New York, created from the Town of Spencer in 1811. 

In 2009, Dryden's Southworth Library sold an original manuscript of an Abraham Lincoln speech that had been delivered at the White House after his re-election. The document had been in the library's possession since 1926. It sold for $3.44 million, a record-high selling price for an American historical document at an auction. The Dryden District School No. 5 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, as was the Ellis Methodist Episcopal Church in 1993.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 94.2 square miles (243.9 km²), of which, 93.9 square miles (243.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²) of it (0.31%) is water. 

The east town line is the border of Cortland County, where it borders Virgil, New York, and Harford, New York. Continuing clockwise, bordering towns are Caroline, New York, Danby, New York, Ithaca (town), New York, Lansing (town), New York, and Groton (town), New York. New York State Route 13 intersects New York State Route 38 at Dryden village. 

New York State Route 79 crosses the southwest part of the town, and New York State Route 366 crosses the central part and intersects NY-38 in Freeville. A small part of New York State Route 34B crosses the northwest corner of Dryden. Cascadilla Creek flows out the west side of Dryden, as does Fall Creek and, in the far southwest corner of the town, Six Mile Creek. Virgil Creek is a major tributary of Fall Creek, entering it in Freeville after passing through the village of Dryden.

Dryden, NY provides numerous opportunities for health and wellness enthusiasts to engage in various activities and projects. Cayuga Primary Care in Dryden, provides comprehensive healthcare services for individuals and families, emphasizing preventive care, wellness promotion, and personalized treatment plans. Dryden Fitness Center provides a fully equipped gym with personal training services and group fitness classes to help residents achieve their fitness goals. Siya Healing Spa offers a tranquil environment with massages, facials, and holistic therapies aimed at promoting relaxation and rejuvenation. Finger Lakes Physical Therapy offers physical therapy services and a fitness center to support both rehabilitation and general fitness. Anytime Fitness in nearby Cortland provides 24/7 access to state-of-the-art equipment and personalized training programs. Finger Lakes Spine & Body Works focuses on spinal health, pain relief, and overall wellness with a variety of chiropractic services. These diverse facilities and activities make Dryden a hub for wellness and active living, enriching the lives of its residents.

Top sites in Dryden, NY are Dryden Lake Multiple Use Area, Dryden Town Historical Society, The Second Knob Gifts & Antiques, and Dryden Lake Park.

Population: 1,863 (2023). ZIP code: 13053. Area code(s): 607. Elevation: 1703 ft (519 m). Area: 94.33 sq mi (244.31 km²).

FAQs

What is Dryden, NY known for?

The state identified Dryden as one of the original components of Tompkins County, created in 1817. Dryden contains, in addition to the Village of Dryden, the village of Freeville, the hamlet of Etna, and is home to an orchid nursery, specialty farming, and several horse farms. There are also state forests, Dryden Lake Park, and Sapsucker Woods within the Town and an Eight Square Schoolhouse. The population is 13,532.

Why is Dryden, NY called the village of the damned?

In the 1990s, Dryden had a reputation for being the “Village of the Damned.” That unpleasant moniker was received about fifteen years ago when the town was afflicted with heinous, blood-chilling crimes. It's like something Stephen King would have conjured up as if Dryden was just down the road from Castle Rock.
 

What are the demographics of Dryden, NY?

Dryden, NY is home to a population of 1.84k people, of which 98.4% are citizens. As of 2022, 4.41% of Dryden, NY residents were born outside of the country (81 people). In 2022, there were 39 times more White (non-Hispanic) residents (1.64k people) in Dryden, NY than any other race or ethnicity.

Sources

Wikipedia

Town of Dryden

Healthgrades

The Ithaca Voice

Cayuga Health

Tompkins County

Cornell Cooperative Extension

Data USA

Town of Dryden

Dryden Lake Multiple Use Area

Dryden Town Historical Society

Dryden Lake Park

Dryden Fitness Center

Siya Healing Spa 

Finger Lakes Physical Therapy

Anytime Fitness

Finger Lakes Spine & Body Works

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