Stony Point is a triangle-shaped town in Rockland County, New York, United States. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. The town is located north of the town of Haverstraw, east and south of Orange County, New York, and west of the Hudson River and Westchester County. The population was 15,059 at the 2010 census. The name of the town is derived from a prominent projection into the Hudson River.
The town is in the northeast part of the county. U.S. Route 9W, U.S. Route 202, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway are major north-south routes through the town. Stony Point is included in the North Rockland Central School District. It is the most rural out of the 5 towns in Rockland County.
History
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During the American Revolution, the King's Ferry in Stony Point linked New York and the southern colonies with New England; it was used many times by George Washington's Continental Army, and in 1781 Washington's French allies used it on their way to the Battle of Yorktown.
The Stony Point Battlefield, just north of Stony Point, marks the July 16, 1779Battle of Stony Point in which General "Mad" Anthony Wayne led 1,350 Continental Army troops in a surprise attack just before midnight on July 15 against the 544-man British garrison at Stony Point. The Americans were unable to hold the fort for more than a few days. This may or may not have contributed to Anthony Wayne earning his nickname of "Mad" Anthony Wayne.
The economy of the town improved upon the rediscovery of limestone deposits in the 19th century. The town of Stony Point was founded in 1865 from the northern part of the town of Haverstraw.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.6 square miles (81.8Â km2), of which 27.6 square miles (71.5Â km2) is land and 4.0 square miles (10.3Â km2), or 12.58%, is water.
The western town line is the border of Orange County, New York, and the eastern town line is defined by the Hudson River with Westchester County on the opposite shore.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,245 people, 4,832 households, and 3,802 families residing in the town. The population density was 511.7 people per square mile (197.5/km²). There were 4,951 housing units at an average density of 177.9 per square mile (68.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.33% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.66% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.84% of the population.
There were 4,832 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.33. In the town, the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $71,940, and according to CNN Money the median income for a family was $97,633. Males had a median income of $55,727 versus $36,424 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,244. In comparison, the average salary in 2010 for a full-time Stony Point police officer was $126,895. About 1.9% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in the Town of Stony Point
- Bear Mountain â€" A hamlet named after a peak in the Bear Mountain State Park. The community is in the northern part of the town.
- Bulsontown â€" A hamlet in the northwest part of the town.
- Cedar Flats â€" A hamlet northwest of Stony Point hamlet.
- Doodletown â€" A hamlet in the northern corner of the town, in Bear Mountain State Park, abandoned since 1965.
- Grassy Point â€" A hamlet.
- Grassy Point â€" short peninsula into the Hudson River in the southeast part of the town. William Denning Sr., a wealthy New York lawyer sold 10 acres (40,000 m2) at the south end of the property to another New York lawyer, William Smith who built Rosa Villa, his country estate. William's brother, Doctor Thomas Smith, was the owner of the “treason house†in West Haverstraw, New York that was occupied by his other brother, Joshua Hett Smith, at the time that Benedict Arnold and Major John André planned their conspiracies during the American Revolution.
- Jones Point â€" A hamlet by the Hudson River. It is the easternmost community in the town.
- Stony Point â€" The hamlet and CDP of Stony Point is in the eastern part of the town.
- Tomkins Cove - A hamlet by the Hudson River, just north of the Town of Stony Point.
- Willow Grove â€" A hamlet on the south town line. Willow Grove includes Jessup Valley, a small community surrounding Jessup Lake, just west of the Palisades Interstate Parkway.
Transportation
The ex-New York Central's River Subdivision follows the west bank of the Hudson River through Stony Point. The line is now operated by CSX Transportation, the fourth railroad to operate the line. The only company served by CSX in the town is the Mirant Lovett Generating Station which receives trainloads of coal about once a week. The power station owns and operates its own railroad to bring the coal from the siding at milepost (MP) 38 into the plant. A talking defect detector, which scans the axles of passing trains for problems, is located in Stony Point. On average, between 20â€"25 trains pass through Stony Point per day. CSX runs six container stack trains a day. Once a week a garbage train from the Bronx brings trash up north to burn for power. On a normal day on the River Line one will see mostly manifest freight trains and tankers. The Auto Rack express brings cars to its owner in either New Jersey or northern New York. CSX trains run 5 to 15 minutes apart. The longest wait is mostly an hour. There are only two trestles in Stony Point.
The Palisades Interstate Parkway runs through the town.
Tourism
Historical markers
- Buckberg Mountain, 112 Buckberg Mountain Road
- Site of King's Ferry, Route 9W & Park Road â€" at Stony Point, just north of Stony Point Battlefield. An important river crossing for American troops and supplies during the Revolution, as it was a link between New England and the states to the south; thus the importance of capturing Stony Point from the British in 1779.
- Site of Springsteel Farm House 1779, 16A Franck Road
- Washington Wayne Lookout
- Wilson H. Young Memorial Bridge, East Main Street
- Site of Springsteel Farm House 1779, 16A Franck Road
- Stony Point Battlefield, Route 9W & Park Road
- The First Road, 117 W. Main Street
Landmarks and places of interest
- Gilmor Sloane House â€" 17 Crickettown Rd. An 1856 Victorian mansion with no televisions or telephones. An 1888 Barn Playhouse (Penguin Repertory) on grounds.
- Harriman State Park â€" A large state park partly in the western part of the town.
- Iona Island and Marsh â€" Between Jones Point and Bear Mountain. It was previously called "Weyants Island".
- Patriot Hills Golf Club â€" Ranked 20th Best Public Golf Course in New York 2010 by Golf Magazine
- Pyngyp School - (NRHP)
- Stony Point Battlefield â€" A state historic site, off Route 9W, Stony Point â€" Occupied by the British in 1779. (NRHP)
- Stony Point Light â€" Lighthouse built in 1828 to guide ships through the narrow part of the Hudson River. (NRHP)
- William H. Rose House (NRHP)
Notable people
- John Cage (1912â€"1992), composer, lived in Stony Point during the 1950s and 60s
- Stephanie Courtney (1970â€"), actress and comedian who was born in Stony Point
- James Farley (1888â€"1976), Postmaster General
- Richard Humann (1961â€"), conceptual artist, born and raised in Stony Point until age 18
- Jasper Johns (1930â€"), artist, lived in Stony Point during the 1980s and 1990s
- Danielle McEwan (1991â€"), ten-pin bowler and PWBA title holder
- Mitch Miller (1911â€"2010), musician and record producer; owned a house in Stony Point now inhabited by his daughter
- Roy Pea (1952â€"), learning scientist, technology innovator, and Stanford University professor
- Stan Vanderbeek (1927â€"1984), independent filmmaker; built his Movie Drome theater in Stony Point
- General "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745â€"1796), United States Army officer, statesmen, member of United States House of Representatives, earned his nickname "Mad" at the Battle of Stony Point during the Revolutionary War
References
External links
- Stony Point travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Official website
- Stony Point Fire Department
- Stony Point Police Department
- Greater Haverstraw Chamber of Commerce, serving Stony Point
