Historically, the name Minisink, which dates to the mid 17th century, has applied to a much larger area than the current town, running as far north as Minisink Ford, twenty miles northwest of present-day Minisink, south to the Delaware Water Gap, thirty miles southwest of present-day Minisink, and from the Kittatinny Ridge to the east to the Pocono Mountains to the west. The Minisink Patent, granted in 1704, was a somewhat smaller area, but still far larger than the present town, which was given its present boundaries in 1800. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the New York - New Jersey border was previously seven or eight miles north of its present location: Minisink used to be in New Jersey. First settled by Europeans around 1725, the jurisdiction was organized by Americans as a town in 1788 following the Revolutionary War. In the following decades, the Town of Minisink lost territory to newer towns: Deer Park, Wawayanda, and Greenville. In 1871, the community of Unionville set itself off from the town by incorporating as a village.
Geography
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 south town line is the border of New Jersey. NY-284 is a north-south highway in Minisink.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,585 people, 1,182 households, and 945 families residing in the town. The population density was 155.2 people per square mile. There were 1,245 housing units at an average density of 53.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 89.00% white, 1.42% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.60% of the population. There were 1,182 households out of which 44.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.3% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.39. In the town, the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males. The median income for a household in the town was $55,561, and the median income for a family was $58,906. Males had a median income of $36,912 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,967. About 4.5% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Since January 1, 1980, the town is governed by a town board consisting of four councilmen, elected for staggered four-year terms, and a town supervisor, elected every two years. Prior to 1980, the town justices also served on the board, alongside two councilmen, and the supervisor. Minisink is governed under New York town law, by which the board holds executive and legislative powers. The day-to-day operations of the town are administered by the supervisor. The town voters also elect a town clerk, two town justices, a tax collector and a highway superintendent. Town elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd-numbered calendar years. Elected officials take office the following January 1. Prior to the 1980s, Minisink also elected three assessors. Those functions are now performed by a sole assessor appointed by the town board.
