According to the United States Census Bureau, the Town has a total area of, of which, of it is land and of it is water. The town is the westernmost town in Ulster County, deep in the Catskill Mountains. It sits north of the town of Denning. A 1907 work described Hardenburgh as having "some of the most rugged and austere natural features" in the county, with a rocky, stony topography ill-suited for agriculture. The landscape is characterized by mountain crags with occasional valley and forestland, and various lakes, streams, and glens. Among the Catskill High Peaks within the town's limits are Graham Mountain, Balsam Mountain, and Eagle Mountain. Because of the mountains, the only direct route from Hardenburgh to the rest of the county are hiking trails over them. Any vehicular traffic must go through either Sullivan or Delaware counties. One of those lesser mountains, Dry Brook Ridge, effectively divides the town as well. The portion north of it, in the Dry Brook valley, uses the ZIP code and telephone exchange of the nearby Delaware County hamlet of Arkville. The portion to the south, containing the headwaters of the famous Beaver Killtrout stream, is likewise oriented to the Sullivan County hamlet of Lew Beach to its south, although it contains a few of its own unique toponyms such as Turnwood, its only real road junction. Alder Lake, a 45-acre impoundment made in the 1900s, is also located in the town.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 208 people, 95 households, and 57 families residing in the town. The population density was 2.6 people per square mile. There were 275 housing units at an average density of 3.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 96.15% White, 0.48% African American, 2.40% Asian, 0.96% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population. There were 95 households, out of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.70. In the town, the population was spread out, with 15.4% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.5 males. The median income for a household in the town was $35,278, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $21,389 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,184. About 12.3% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 14.9% of those 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Hardenburgh
Beaver Kill - A stream in the south part of the town.
Belle Ayre - A hamlet located in the northwest part of the town.
Hardenburgh - A hamlet located in the south part of the town next to Beaver Kill.
Mapledale - A hamlet in the northwest part of the town.
Seager - A hamlet located in the southeast part of the town.
Turnwood - A hamlet located in the western end of the town, located on Beaver Kill and Route 54.
