Goshen to Goshen

There are over 20 places named Goshen in the United States — but what locals assert may be the first in the country is located just under 100 miles from Goshen, Connecticut, in Orange County, NY. While both areas were settled in the early 18^th Century, Goshen, CT (2026 population 3,325) was incorporated in 1739, decades earlier than its NY namesake.

The Village of Goshen was incorporated in 1809, though the area has roots dating back to the 1700s, explained Goshen Independent Editor Wendy Bynum-Wade. Some sources cite the arrival of early settlers in 1714. The population of Goshen, New York, was 14,571 as of the 2020 census. The Village of Goshen, which is part of the town, has a population of 5,766 in 2026.

Known as the Goshen Indy, the newspaper, which typically ranges from 16 to 20 pages, is published weekly on Wednesday afternoons. It is billed as America’s oldest weekly newspaper, tracing back to the early 1800s. 

Bynum-Wade described a “great influx of population” to Goshen over the last few decades: “It’s an extremely caring town,” she said, describing the ways the community supports its residents. “People look out for each other here.” For Goshen, CT residents, that statement has a familiar ring.

Bynum-Wade said that one of the goals of the newspaper is to support those efforts by giving its readers opportunities to help their fellow community members through fundraisers and programming. One local effort is the Goshen $5 Generosity Challenge, which, for the past 11 years, has been collected to be distributed to people facing an acute challenge, including the loss of a job or an illness, Bynum-Wade explained.

Goshen CT residents support a Good Neighbor Fund that provides short-term financial assistance to Goshen individuals/families experiencing an emergency situation due to illness, job loss or catastrophic event. It was formed in 1977.

Bynum-Wade, who has freelanced for the Indy over the years and has been editor since June 2020, first worked at the paper in high school. She described showing up at the newspaper’s office, climbing a set of “notorious steep stairs,” and saying, “I want to work” to the then-publisher, who asked what she could do. She said she could write, take photos — and that she’d even sweep floors. Her first task, Bynum-Wade recalled, was to sweep the floors of the three-room office after the publisher tossed her a broom and told her he was on his way out to cover a story, so she could sweep and come back the next day to talk.

“It was a phenomenal experience,” Bynum-Wade described of the job. “I worked that whole summer.” The lessons and life experiences she garnered at the paper, she said, helped her throughout her career in radio, TV, and sales consulting. Bynum-Wade said she knew since she was 8 years old that she wanted to settle and stay in Goshen. 

Having lived through decades of Goshen’s history, Bynum-Wade said she has a responsibility to give readers the “full picture of any issue that becomes a concern in our community” and “present all sides of these issues,” adding her job is to be the “community conscience.” Bynum-Wade said: “My other job is to be the community’s biggest cheerleader. I want anybody to read our paper to say, ‘Wow, they have a lot going on here.’”

Leading several of the area events is the Goshen Chamber of Commerce — an organization Managing Director Lisa Clancy described as “at the heart of our vibrant and historic community.”

“I have had the honor and privilege to be part of the Goshen Chamber community since September 2018,” Clancy said. “Known for its beautiful downtown, strong sense of community, and deep-rooted heritage, Goshen blends small-town warmth with a dynamic and growing local economy. The village is famously home to one of the oldest harness racing tracks in the country and continues to celebrate its equestrian legacy alongside modern development.”

Clancy echoed the sentiment of the sense of community in Goshen, noting that when one person is in need, “we all step up, which is amazing.”

The Chamber plays a “vital role” in supporting and promoting local businesses, nonprofits, and community initiatives, Clancy added: “Our mission is to foster economic growth, encourage collaboration, and enhance the overall quality of life in Goshen and the surrounding region.” The organization recently celebrated its 130th year, Clancy said, and provides members with “valuable resources, networking opportunities, marketing support, and community engagement” through events, promotions, and partnerships.

“Throughout the year, the Chamber hosts a variety of signature events that bring the community together and support our local economy,” Clancy said.

These events include the Great American Weekend — described by Clancy as “one of the region’s most well-attended events” — as well as the Goshen Chamber Farmers Market, monthly networking breakfasts and mixers, and ribbon cuttings for new businesses, expansions, and “milestones within our community.”

This year's Great American Weekend will take place on July 4 and 5, with more than 150 vendors, food trucks, and family activities. For 44 years, the event has been a Goshen tradition. Originally designed to increase attendance at the Goshen Historic Track, established in 1838, after betting was eliminated, it has since grown to “one of the county’s most prestigious events,” according to the Chamber, attended by 20,000 people each day. 

For those more familiar with Goshen, CT, the idea of a big holiday weekend event that draws large crowds is immediately associated with The Goshen Fair, which runs on Labor Day weekend and draws over 30,000 annual visitors. Organized by the Goshen Agricultural Society, the Fair has operated since 1910.

Additional events take place at Goshen (NY) Public Library & Historical Society. The library relocated in 2019 after Goshen voted for a new, larger space in 2015. The new space includes study and meeting rooms, a “Just For Kids” section, teen room, book store area for the Friends of the Library, and more. 

“Now it’s one of the hottest places in town,” Bynum-Wade said. “A lot of times you can’t get a parking space — I love it. People bring their families. They have so many activities.”