About Us

The Town of Bethel is located 90 miles northwest of New York City, southwest of Albany and southeast of Binghamton in Sullivan County New York. Site of the original 1969 Woodstock Festival.  The Town of Bethel includes the hamlets of White Lake, Kauneonga Lake, Smallwood, Bethel, parts of Swan Lake, Mongaup Valley and Briscoe.  Our main industries are tourism, (visit the Sullivan County Visitor's Association and the Bethel Business Association websites) and agriculture (Bethel Farming Community) .

The Town of Bethel was incorporated in 1809 from the Town of Lumberland by an act of the New York State Legislature.  Hamlets that the town serves are Bethel, Kauneonga Lake, Smallwood, White Lake, parts  of Mongaup Valley and Swan Lake covering 93.51 square miles. There are  over 147 miles of Town Roads. The population according to the 2010 Census is 4,205.
 

In 1969, Bethel hosted the original Woodstock Music and Art Festival that is now the site of Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center and the Bethel Woods Museum. The Pavilion Stage amphitheater  opened in 2006 and can accommodate 15,000 both under cover and on a  natural sloping lawn, while offering unique backdrops including the original festival site and the majesty of the surrounding Sullivan  County countryside. The Museum opened in 2008.  It is dedicated to the study and exhibition of the social, political and cultural events of the 1960s, including the Woodstock  festival. The award-winning museum provides a focus for deeper issues  and lessons of the decade. Features include a permanent exhibit space, Special Exhibit Gallery, Corridor Exhibit Gallery, Museum Theater, an intimate 440-seat Event Gallery, Woodstock Monument, retail store and  Muse Cafe.
 

White Lake is well-known for its bass and trout fishing and motor boating.  We have a boat launch in the hamlet of Kauneonga Lake  that is owned and maintained by the State of New York to access White Lake.  Lake Superior State Park is a non-motorized lake with row and  paddle boat rentals, daily fee required. 
 

There are many restaurants located in downtown Kauneonga Lake,  White Lake, Smallwood and along Route 17B. 
 

We have a year-round Parks and Recreation Department that  sponsors summer and winter events including a day camp, coach bus trips  to amusement parks and New York City.  They also sponsor many fitness  programs for all ages.

Our seniors are very active with monthly meetings, playdays,  luncheons, holiday parties, cards and games, and coach bus trips.  Visit  our community calendar for the next playday!  For more information  check out the Senior Resource Page.
 

There are many community organizations to volunteer with such as 4-H Bethelites, Bethel Business Association, Bethel First, Bethel Lions, Sustainable Bethel, Bethel Healthy Community,  Veterans, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Smallwood Civic Association, The Club at Smallwood, and other grass-roots organizations.   See our Community Resource page for more information on Post Offices, Libraries, County, State  and Federal Government, Fire District and more.