Monsey, New York
Encyclopedia
Monsey is a hamlet in the Town of Ramapo
, Rockland County
, New York
, United States
located north of the state of New Jersey
; east of Suffern
; south of Airmont
and west of Nanuet
. The 2010 census listed the population at 18,412.
The hamlet has a large and influential community of Orthodox
Jews, consisting predominantly of Chasidim
, Hareidim
and other Orthodox groups, as well as the Vizhnitz-Monsey
hasidim
who reside mostly in the Village of Kaser
.
band of Lenape
Native Americans
, or Delaware Indian, of the Algonquian languages
. Monsey Glen, an Indian encampment, is located west of the intersection of NY 59
and NY 306
. Numerous artifacts have been found there and some rock shelters are still visible. The Monsey railroad station, which received its name from Munsee, a Lenape chief, was built when the New York & Erie Railroad
passed through the glen in 1841.
In the 1950s, Monsey was a one stoplight town with a single yeshiva
. By 1997, Monsey had 112 synagogues and 45 yeshivas.
Located near Monsey is the Houser-Conklin House
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2010.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.8 km2), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (0.90%) is water.
Monsey, compared to the more tightly-knit Village of New Square
, had more variety in its stores, a wider selection of yeshivot
, more diversity of opinions, and less neighborly connections.
of 2000, there were 14,504 people, 2,981 households, and 2,596 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 6,554.3 per square mile (2,533.9/km2). There were 3,098 housing units at an average density of 1,400.0/sq mi (541.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.82% White, 4.32% African American, 0.03% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.86% of the population. 43.98% speak English
at home, 41.48% Yiddish
, 6.88% Hebrew
, 2.69% French
or a French creole
, 1.85% Spanish
, and 1.24% Russian
.
There were 2,981 households out of which 58.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.0% were married couples
living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.9% were non-families. 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.74 and the average family size was 5.16. In the CDP the population was spread out with 48.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 18.2% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19 years. For every 100 females there were 106.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,194, and the median income for a family was $45,911. Males had a median income of $41,606 versus $33,576 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $14,000. About 25.4% of families and 30.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Ramapo, New York
Ramapo , formerly known as New Hempstead and then Hampstead, is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States located north of New Jersey; southeast of Orange County, New York; south of the Town of Haverstraw and west of the Town of Clarkstown and the Town of Orangetown...
, Rockland County
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...
, 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...
located north of the state of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
; east of Suffern
Suffern, New York
Suffern is a village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the State of New Jersey; east of Hillburn; south of Montebello and west of Airmont...
; south of Airmont
Airmont, New York
Airmont is a village in the town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the state of New Jersey; east of Suffern; south of Montebello and west of Chestnut Ridge. The population was 7,799 at the 2000 census....
and west of Nanuet
Nanuet, New York
Nanuet is a hamlet , in the Town of Clarkstown Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Pearl River; south of New City; east of Spring Valley and west of West Nyack. It is 19 miles north of Manhattan, and 2 miles north of the New Jersey border...
. The 2010 census listed the population at 18,412.
The hamlet has a large and influential community of Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Jews, consisting predominantly of Chasidim
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
, Hareidim
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
and other Orthodox groups, as well as the Vizhnitz-Monsey
Vizhnitz (Hasidic dynasty)
Vizhnitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager. Vizhnitz is the Yiddish name of Vyzhnytsia, a village in present-day Ukraine.Followers of the rebbes of Vizhnitz are called Vizhnitzer chasidim....
hasidim
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
who reside mostly in the Village of Kaser
Kaser, New York
Kaser is a village in the Town of Ramapo Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Monsey; east of Airmont; south of Viola and west of Spring Valley. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 3,316....
.
History
Rockland County was inhabited by the MunseeChristian Munsee
The Christian Munsee were a group of Lenape native American Indians, primarily Munsee-speaking, who converted to Christianity, following the teachings of the Moravian missionaries...
band of Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, or Delaware Indian, of the Algonquian languages
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
. Monsey Glen, an Indian encampment, is located west of the intersection of NY 59
New York State Route 59
New York State Route 59 is an east–west state highway in southern Rockland County, New York, in the United States. The route extends for from NY 17 in Hillburn to U.S. Route 9W in Nyack. In Suffern, it has a concurrency with US 202 for . NY 59 runs parallel to the New...
and NY 306
New York State Route 306
New York State Route 306 is a north–south state highway in western Rockland County, New York in the United States. NY 306 runs from NY 59 in the hamlet of Monsey to U.S. Route 202 in Ladentown, on the western boundary of the village of Pomona...
. Numerous artifacts have been found there and some rock shelters are still visible. The Monsey railroad station, which received its name from Munsee, a Lenape chief, was built when the New York & Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
passed through the glen in 1841.
In the 1950s, Monsey was a one stoplight town with a single yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
. By 1997, Monsey had 112 synagogues and 45 yeshivas.
Located near Monsey is the Houser-Conklin House
Houser-Conklin House
Houser-Conklin House is a historic home located near Monsey in Rockland County, New York. It was originally built c. 1775 as a 1 2/2-story , gable roofed sandstone dwelling, and subsequently raised to 2-stories with a frame addition dating to c. 1890-1900...
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2010.
Geography
Monsey is located at 41°7′10"N 74°3′57"W .According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 CDP has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.8 km2), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (0.90%) is water.
Culture
New Square, New York
New Square is an all-Hasidic village in the Town of Ramapo, Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Hillcrest; east of Viola; south of New Hempstead and west of New City...
, had more variety in its stores, a wider selection of yeshivot
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
, more diversity of opinions, and less neighborly connections.
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 14,504 people, 2,981 households, and 2,596 families residing in the CDP. 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 6,554.3 per square mile (2,533.9/km2). There were 3,098 housing units at an average density of 1,400.0/sq mi (541.2/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.82% White, 4.32% African American, 0.03% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.70% 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 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.86% of the population. 43.98% speak English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at home, 41.48% Yiddish
Yiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
, 6.88% Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, 2.69% French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
or a French creole
French-based creole languages
A French Creole, or French-based Creole language, is a creole language based on the French language, more specifically on a 17th century koiné French extant in Paris, the French Atlantic harbors, and the nascent French colonies...
, 1.85% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, and 1.24% Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
.
There were 2,981 households out of which 58.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.0% 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, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.9% were non-families. 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.74 and the average family size was 5.16. In the CDP the population was spread out with 48.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 18.2% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 19 years. For every 100 females there were 106.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,194, and the median income for a family was $45,911. Males had a median income of $41,606 versus $33,576 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 CDP was $14,000. About 25.4% of families and 30.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Further Reading
Botbyl, Helyne R. (1968). The Patriarch of Monsey. The Museum of Spring Valley and Countryside.See also
- The Monsey Church: New Hope Christian ChurchMonsey ChurchThe Monsey Church is the colloquial name of a historic Reformed Christian church in the hamlet of Monsey, town of Ramapo, in southern Rockland County, New York, the official name of which, since December 6, 2000, is New Hope Christian Church...
- List of people from Monsey, New York
- Ohr Somayach, MonseyOhr Somayach, MonseyOhr Somayach, Monsey, , is an accredited men's college of Judaic studies offering both full and part time programs....