Where You Live In Putnam County Is No Easy Answer

PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- In Putnam County, the question, "Where am I?" does not always have the easiest response.

Lake Carmel is located in the Town of Kent, not the Town of Carmel. Above, The Town of Kent held its annual fireworks display over Lake Carmel July 3.
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Putnam County's map can be confusing with its various municipalities and communities.
Photo Credit: *Hudson River Valley Heritage*

07/27/2015 7:00 a.m.

While Putnam officially has nine municipalities, the county is a mix of towns, villages, hamlets and census designated places.

Everyone in New York State lives in a city, town or Indian reservation. Putnam County has no cities.

A city has a mayor and is incorporated as a city within its charter. There are no villages in cities.

Towns are governed by supervisors and villages are located within towns. Towns also are eligible to set up taxing districts within the town.

Villages are municipalities provide services to their residents.

Carmel is a town in Putnam County, which features the hamlets of Carmel and Mahopac. Lake Carmel is a hamlet in the Town of Kent.

Philipstown features two villages, the Village of Cold Spring and Village of Nelsonville. Nelsonville has a population of only 628, making it smaller than many hamlets in Putnam.

Southeast is a town while Brewster is a village within Southeast that has its own government, court and public works department. Southeast also includes Brewster Hill, a hamlet.

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