Kent Town of Kent Distance to NYC: 65 miles Area: 42 square miles Originally formed as the town of Frederick, this Putnam County town changed its name to Kent in 1817. It is situated about 65 miles north of New York City. Much of the beauty of this township is due to its unusual number of crystal clear lakes and ponds and the thousands of acres of protected forests belonging to the county and state. Its two large reservoirs surrounded by city watershed property, enhance its Adirondack quality. Kent residents enjoy the au naturale beauty of nature's finest gifts. Boyds Dam was the first of thirteen structures built in the 1860s on the Croton River to supply New York City with fresh water. Rising a spectacular 70 feet above the valley floor, and stretching 700 feet wide, the dam contains 1.7 billion gallons of water. Educational Facilities Carmel Central is made up of Kent Primary, Kent Elementary, Matthew Paterson Elementary, George Fischer Middle School and Carmel High School. It has a total enrollment of 4,805 students with a teacher to pupil ratio of 1-14. The average per-pupil expenditure is $13,306. Recreational Facilities Putnam County Park, available to all Putnam County residents, is located along Gipsy Trail Road and is a 200-acre haven with hiking trails, camp grounds and a lake for swimming and ice skating. It is also the site of musical concerts, 4-H and environmental fairs, summer day camp and art shows. Kent also has Ryan’s Field Park with ball fields, soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts. In Lake Carmel Park District is Huestis Park on Route 301 which features ball fields and basketball. The Appalachian Trail criss-crosses Kent at Fahnestock State Park. Houses of Worship There is access for most denominations within the immediate vicinity - Jewish (reform and conservative), Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian and Lutheran. They include: Church of Christ, Drew Methodist, Gilead Presbyterian, Kent and Fishkill Baptist, Mission Christian Academy, Our Lady of the Lake, St. James and Chuang Yen Monastery.