Town and Village | towns-and-villages

The Town and Village

The Town of Van Etten was formed from land taken from the towns of Cayuta and Erin, and was incorporated on April 17, 1854. It was named after James B. Van Etten, who arrived in the area in 1798. He later served as a member of the New York Assembly in 1852. Van Etten was not the first white settler, however. That distinction goes to Joel Thomas, who arrived in 1795 but only stayed a short time. Thomas built his cabin near what would become the village of Van Ettenville. The village was incorporated on October 24, 1876 and its name was changed to Van Etten in 1897. The Village of Van Etten officially dissolved into the town on January 1, 2019.

Van Etten

Van Etten and Van Ettenville, 1869 On this map, the unincorporated township of Swartwood, near the town’s north west corner, is labeled Van Etten because of the post office established there in 1860. Its name changed to Swartwood in 1875.
After harvesting the trees, early settlers attempted to establish farms but the submarginal hillside land was not well-suited to agriculture.
Cayuta Creek, which winds through the Town of Van Etten, provided power for early mills.

The Town and Village

Van Etten and Van Ettenville, 1869

On this map, the unincorporated township of Swartwood, near the town’s north west corner, is labeled Van Etten because of the post office established there in 1860. Its name changed to Swartwood in 1875.

After harvesting the trees, early settlers attempted to establish farms but the submarginal hillside land was not well-suited to agriculture.

Cayuta Creek, which winds through the Town of Van Etten, provided power for early mills.