Highlands, New York
Encyclopedia
Highlands is a town
in Orange County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 12,484 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Highlands is on the eastern border of the county.
The West Point
CDP, including the United States Military Academy
(West Point), is located alongside the Hudson River
here, and the military reservation occupies a large part of the town.
During the American Revolution
, colonial forces constructed Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton to obstruct enemy progress on the river.
The Town of Highlands was created from the Town of Cornwall
in 1872, making it one of the last towns formed in the county.
, the town has a total area of 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²), of which, 30.9 square miles (80 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it (7.73%) is water.
Part of the south town line is the border of Rockland County, New York
. The east town line is the border of Putnam County, New York
, marked by the Hudson River.
US-9W and NY-218
are important north-south highways. NY-293
intersects them west of the military academy.
of 2000, there were 12,484 people, 3,230 households, and 2,322 families residing in the town. The population density
was 404.0 people per square mile (156.0/km²). There were 3,418 housing units at an average density of 110.6 per square mile (42.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 82.18% White, 9.16% African American, 0.49% Native American, 2.68% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races
, and 3.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.71% of the population.
There were 3,230 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.32.
The age distribution is 22.8% under the age of 18, 32.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 12.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 147.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 162.2 males. These statistics are consistent with the presence of the West Point military base in general, and the Academy in particular.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,816, and the median income for a family was $59,345. Males had a median income of $23,491 versus $27,406 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,830. About 2.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
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Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 12,484 at the 2000 census.
The Town of Highlands is on the eastern border of the county.
The West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
CDP, including the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
(West Point), is located alongside the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
here, and the military reservation occupies a large part of the town.
History
The town was first settled around 1725 by John Moore, a patentee for this territory.During the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, colonial forces constructed Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton to obstruct enemy progress on the river.
The Town of Highlands was created from the Town of Cornwall
Cornwall, New York
Cornwall is a town in Orange County, New York, USA. It is located about 50 miles north of New York City on the western shore of the Hudson River. The estimated population in 2007 was 12,827....
in 1872, making it one of the last towns formed in the county.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 33.5 square miles (86.8 km²), of which, 30.9 square miles (80 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it (7.73%) is water.
Part of the south town line is the border of Rockland County, New York
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
. The east town line is the border of Putnam County, New York
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
, marked by the Hudson River.
US-9W and NY-218
New York State Route 218
New York State Route 218 is a state highway located within Orange County, New York, in the United States. It loops off U.S. Route 9W to run closer to the Hudson River between Highland Falls and Cornwall-on-Hudson. North of Highland Falls, it is briefly concurrent with...
are important north-south highways. NY-293
New York State Route 293
New York State Route 293 is a state highway located entirely within eastern Orange County, New York, in the United States. The highway starts at U.S. Route 6 in Woodbury, and heads to the northeast, ending at an intersection with US 9W and NY 218 in the community of Highlands...
intersects them west of the military academy.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 12,484 people, 3,230 households, and 2,322 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 404.0 people per square mile (156.0/km²). There were 3,418 housing units at an average density of 110.6 per square mile (42.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 82.18% White, 9.16% African American, 0.49% Native American, 2.68% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.71% of the population.
There were 3,230 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.32.
The age distribution is 22.8% under the age of 18, 32.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 12.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 147.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 162.2 males. These statistics are consistent with the presence of the West Point military base in general, and the Academy in particular.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,816, and the median income for a family was $59,345. Males had a median income of $23,491 versus $27,406 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,830. About 2.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities and locations in Highlands
- Bear Mountain State ParkBear Mountain State ParkBear Mountain State Park is located on the west side of the Hudson River in Orange and Rockland counties of New York. The park offers biking, hiking, boating, picnicking, swimming, cross-country skiing, cross-country running, sledding and ice skating...
– Part of the state parkState parkState parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
is on the south border of the town. - Crows Nest – An elevated location near the north town line.
- Fort MontgomeryFort Montgomery, New YorkFort Montgomery is a hamlet in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census...
– A hamlet on the bank of the Hudson River. - Gees Point – A projection into the Hudson River by West Point village.
- Highland FallsHighland Falls, New YorkHighland Falls, formerly named Buttermilk Falls, is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,678 at the 2000 census. The village was founded in 1906...
– The Village of Highland Falls in the eastern part of the town on the Hudson River. - Palisades Interstate Park – Part of the park is by the south town line.
- West Point – A hamlet on the Hudson River north of West PointWest Point, New YorkWest Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, the military academy.
Government in Highlands
Highlands is represented in the Orange County Legislature by Roxanne DonneryRoxanne Donnery
Roxanne Donnery is a member of the Orange County legislature in Orange County, New York. She represents the 14th District as a member of the Democratic Party, which includes the town of Highlands and most of the town of Woodbury, both located in Orange County...
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