As of the census of 2010, there were 1,684 people, 684 households, and 433 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 317.7 per square mile. There were 857 housing units at an average density of 161.7/sq mi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.6% White, 1.8% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.8% of the population. There were 684 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, 6.6% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 36.7% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.97. In the CDP, the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 19, 6.1% from 20 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males. As of 2016 the median income for a household in the CDP was $41,541 and the median income for a family was $53,423. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,964. As of 2000 6.4% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over. Males had a median income of $32,008 versus $24,412 for females.
History
Colonial Era
Kerhonkson is also the site of a colonial fort that protected the early settlers from Indian attacks. The fort was located on Deyo's Hill. Before the burning of Kingston on October 12, 1777 all the important documents and government officials were moved to Kerhonkson, remaining for two weeks until they were moved to Albany making Kerhonkson the capital of New York for a short while.
Canal Era
The Delaware and Hudson Canal was completed in 1828. This opened up local industries such as coal, lumber, dairy, and hotel. Barges towed by mules transported goods along the Rondout Creek from Pennsylvania to the Hudson River.
Railroad Era
The Delaware and Oswego Railroad was constructed in 1909 along the old canal tow path and a station was constructed along main street to ship out dairy products. Then the tracks were pulled up in 1957 once products were being moved by truck upstate. This path is now a popular local hiking and biking destination referred to as the “Rail Trail”. It is 3.5 miles in length.
Peg Leg Bates opened a country club resort named “Peg Leg Bates Country Club” in 1951. He ran this, along with his wife Alice E. Bates, until 1987 after his wife’s passing. Once opened it made Bates the first black resort owner in the Catskill Mountains.A portion of Route 209 in Ulster County was named “Clayton Peg Leg Bates Memorial Highway” in his honor.
Religion
is the primary Jewish faith building in the area. It was first constructed in 1924. The community house also found on that property was constructed later in 1954. In 2013 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Federated Church of Kerhonkson is a Protestant church that is partially of the Methodist denomination and partially of the Reformed denomination. The church helps its community by having a food pantry dubbed "Christ's Cupboard", a thrift shop, and a pet food pantry.
Local sports
Kerhonkson hosts a baseball Little League, Indian Valley Little League. The league has been operating since 1953. Indian Valley won the 2017 District 16 champions defeating Rondout Valley Little League in the championship game. More recently Indian Valley was forced to remove their long time mascot, Chief Wahoo, from all signs, shirts, hats, website, and Facebook page for “racial insensitivity”. The local swim team, the Kerhonkson Barracudas, are based out of the Kerhonkson Elementary School pool and compete against other local swim teams in the summer.
Local services
The Kerhonkson Fire Department is located on Main Street near where the old railroad was located. The firehouse is home to a social hall that holds meetings of local organizations, dinners, or parties. The Kerhonkson-Accord Volunteer Ambulance Corp is located along Route 209 and provides first aid service for both Kerhonkson and Accord.
Notable inhabitants
Edward Aldwell - classical pianist
Peg Leg Bates - entertainer
Imre Beke - former Chairman and President of the American-Hungarian Federation
World records
Kerhonkson contained what was once the world's largest garden gnome, constructed in 2005; it is situated on Route 209 in front of Kelder's Farm and is named Gnome Chomsky. There are two other, larger gnomes that now hold the distinction of being the world's largest.
