Settlers began arriving after 1735. The town was part of the Great Nine Partners Patent of 1697. The town was formed in 1821 from part of the town of Clinton.[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.1 square miles (85.8 km2), of which 32.6 square miles (84.4 km2) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.5 km2), or 1.7%, is water.[4]
A section of U.S. Route 44 goes through the town in a southwestern-northeastern direction. It intersects with the Taconic State Parkway, a north–south highway, in the northern part of the town.
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 9,066 people, 3,467 households, and 2,485 families residing in the town. The population density was 275.4 inhabitants per square mile (106.3/km2). There were 3,614 housing units at an average density of 109.8 per square mile (42.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.46% white, 1.93% blackorAfrican American, .12% Native American, .64% Asian, .02% Pacific Islander, .83% from other races, and 1% from two or more races. HispanicorLatino of any race were 2.65% of the population.
There were 3,467 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,578, and the median income for a family was $62,264. Males had a median income of $47,647 versus $31,496 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,942. About 3.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
The Pleasant Valley Free Library was founded in 1903, and originally operated under State Charter and was governed by five trustees.[7] The library has moved locations twice, the first time after it burned in 1913, and the second in 1974, where it remains currently.[8] The library offers adult, young adult, and children's materials in the form of books, audiobooks, music CDs, and DVDs. There are eight public computers available for use, as well as two public computers in the young adult area. Additionally, the library offers services such as printing, faxing, photocopying, and tech help.[9] Digital services offered by the library include Overdrive, Inc., Hoopla, and NovelNY, among others.[10]
The library's programming includes book discussion groups, children's storytimes, in-depth tech help, and yoga.
On November 6, 2018, an electrical fire started in the basement of the library and spread through the walls to the upper floor.[11] It was estimated that the library lost about 52,000 items in the collection, primarily due to smoke damage, though in the year after the fire, the library acquired 30,000 items mostly through donations.[12] The historic building, built in the 1870s, required about $3 million dollars to rebuild and expand, and finally reopened in early February 2022.[13]
The Pleasant Valley Free Library Board of Trustees currently has 12 members, though it can have up to 13, and the Board meets on the third Thursday of each month.[14]
President: Joy Dyson
Vice President: Julie Kessler
Treasurer: Steve MacNish
Secretary: Gail Rau
Dorothy Denny
Pauline Herr
Dave Kruger
Kathy Kruger
Michael Rifenburgh
Don Sagliano
Kim Sears
Anna Wei
Communities and locations in Pleasant Valley[edit]
Bloomvale – a former mill hamlet north of Washington Hollow, at Route 82 and Clinton Corners Road.
Clark Heights – a location southwest of Pleasant Valley hamlet on Route 44.
Gretna – a location in the western part of the town.
