Orangetown, New York
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Orangetown is a
town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
in Rockland County, New York, United States, located in the southeastern part of the county. It is northwest of
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, north of
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, east of the town of Ramapo, south of the town of Clarkstown, and west of the
Hudson River The Hudson River, historically the North River, is a river that flows from north to south largely through eastern New York (state), New York state. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains at Henderson Lake (New York), Henderson Lake in the ...
. The population was 48,655 at the 2020 census.


History

Orangetown was first settled around 1680. The first settlers were Dutch men who purchased a tract of land from the Tappan Indians in 1686; their patent of the same year called the place Orange, but it was also known as Orangetown and Tappan (after the first village). When the state's first twelve counties were established in 1683, the territory that would become Orangetown lay within Orange County. It became part of Rockland County when that county was created in 1798. Historical material from the Gazetteer of New York, 1860 & 1861:
ORANGETOWN—was formed March 7, 1788, and was named from Orange co., of which it then formed a part. It lies upon the Hudson, in the S. angle of the co. Its surface is broken by abrupt and rocky hills in the E. ; but in the center and W. it spreads out into a rolling or moderately hilly region. The Nyack Hills, extending along the river, are 300 to 500 feet high, with steep, rocky declivities upon the E., but more gradual slopes upon the W. Their summits are rocky and covered with a light growth of forest trees. Snake Hill, in the N.E. corner, upon the line of Clarks- town, is one of the principal peaks. The principal stream is Hackensack River, flowing S. through the W. part. Pascack Creek flows through the extreme W. angle, and Spar Kil is a tributary of the Hudson. Near the N. line are several bog or peat meadows, generally well drained and under cultivation. The red sandstone which crops out on the E. declivities of the hills, within a few rods of the river, between Piermont and Nyack, is extensively quarried and exported for building stone. The soil is a reddish, sandy loam intermixed with clay. Fruit growing and furnishing milk for the New York market have become leading pursuits. Nyack, (p.v.,) upon the Hudson, in the N.E. corner of the town, contains 5 churches, 5 shoe manufactories, a steam tub and pail factory, the Rockland Female Institute, and a private academy. Pop. 1,458. Piermont, (p.v.,) upon the Hudson, in the S. part, was incorp. May 21, 1850. It is the E. terminus of the Piermont Branch of the N. Y. & Erie R. R.,—the one over which the freight is carried. Nearly the whole business of the place is connected with the R.R. establishment. A pier 1 mi. long has been built into the river, where the freight is transferred to and from the cars and barges in the river. Upon each end of the pier are extensive offices for the transaction of the busi- ness of the road. At this place the R.R. co. also have a large iron foundery and extensive repair shops. Pop. 2,204. Tappantown, (p.v.,) near the N. J. line, contains 2 churches and 30 dwellings. This place was the scene of the trial of Andre, and for a time in 1780 was the head- quarters of Gen. Washington. Rockland, (Palisades p.o.,) upon the Hudson, in the S. part of the town, contains 3 churches and 40 dwellings. Orange Mills, Middletown, and Blauveltville, (p. o.,) a station on the N. Y. & E. R. R., are hamlets. The first settlement is supposed to have been made by the Dutch, as early as 1680. The first church (Ref. Prot. D.) was formed Oct. 24, 1694; and the first preacher was Rev. Guilllam Bartholf. The first church edifice was erected in 1716. There are 16 churches in town.
The Orangetown Resolutions, a protest of the imposition of duties and the closing of the port of
Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
by the British Parliament, were passed in Tappan on July 4, 1774, a precursor of the
American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...
.


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 22.92%, is water. The eastern border is defined by the
Hudson River The Hudson River, historically the North River, is a river that flows from north to south largely through eastern New York (state), New York state. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains at Henderson Lake (New York), Henderson Lake in the ...
, and the southern border is
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
. The town is bordered to the north by the town of Clarkstown and to the northwest by the town of Ramapo.


Demographics

As of the
census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 47,711 people, 17,330 households, and 11,940 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 17,827 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 83.97%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 5.88%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.11% Native American, 6.42% Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 1.66% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 6.02% of the population. There were 17,330 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.18. In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males. The median income for a household in the town was $70,477, and the median income for a family was $87,341 (these figures had risen to $91,497 and $111,742 respectively as of a 2007 estimate. Males had a median income of $53,596 versus $39,886 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the town was $33,170. About 2.4% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2020 Census, there were 48,655 people residing in the Town of Orangetown.


Education

Education in the city is provided by the South Orangetown Central School District.


Elected representation

Orangetown has a Town Supervisor, presently Teresa Kenny (R). Orangetown is represented by the council-form of government, with four councilmen elected alternating years for four year terms. Presently the Orangetown Town Council consists of Gerald "Jerry" Bottari (D), Paul Valentine (R), Thomas F. Diviny (R), and Brian Donohue (R). Orangetown is part of New York's 17th Congressional District represented in the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
by Mike Lawler. In state government, it is represented by Senator
Bill Weber William Weber (May 8, 1957 – December 13, 2024) was an American television sports commentator best known for his work on TNT and NBC NASCAR broadcasts. Weber was also the lead announcer for Champ Car World Series events and other auto ra ...
and Assemblyman Aron Wieder.


Communities and locations


Incorporated villages

* Grand View-on-Hudson * Nyack * Piermont


Unincorporated hamlets

* Blauvelt – A hamlet in the central part of the town. * Nauraushaun – A hamlet east of Pearl River. * Orangeburg – A hamlet in the southern part of the town. * Pearl River – A hamlet in the western part of the town. * Palisades – A hamlet in the southeastern corner of the town. * South Nyack – A hamlet south of the village of Nyack. Was formerly incorporated from 1878 until 2022 * Sparkill – A hamlet southwest of the village of Piermont. * Tappan – A hamlet in the southeastern corner of the town. *Upper Grandview – A hamlet south of the village of South Nyack.


Other notable locations

* Blauvelt State Park – A state park northeast of Blauvelt. * Dederer Stone House-Stonehurst - (NRHP) * Lake Tappan – A
reservoir A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation. Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...
running north to south, roughly bisecting the town, and entering New Jersey at the southern town line. * Tallman Mountain State Park – A
state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "Federated state, state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on accou ...
in Palisades, south of the village of Piermont.


Former Unincorporated hamlets

* Sickletown – A hamlet. * Middletown – A hamlet.


Transportation

Pearl River station in Pearl River gives commuter rail service from Spring Valley south to Hoboken Terminal, on New Jersey Transit's Pascack Valley Line. The New York Thruway carries I-87 through the town. The highway continues to the east, on the Tappan Zee Bridge, over the Hudson River, to Westchester County.


Notable people

*
Bill Murray William James Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an American actor and comedian, known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies to independent dramas. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Bill Murra ...
* George Worth, born Gyorgy Woittitz (1915–2006), a Hungarian-born American Olympic medalist fencer, served as captain of the South Orangetown Ambulance Corps


References


External links


Town of Orangetown official website
{{authority control Towns in Rockland County, New York Towns in New York (state) Populated places established in 1680 1680 establishments in the Province of New York New York (state) populated places on the Hudson River