New York State Route 94
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 94 (NY 94) is a state highway
entirely within Orange County
in southern New York. The western terminus is at the New York-New Jersey state line, where it continues as NJ 94 for another 46 miles (74 km) to Columbia, New Jersey
. Its eastern terminus is located at U.S. Route 9W in New Windsor
. From Warwick
to Florida
, NY 94 is concurrent
with NY 17A
. The entirety of NY 94 is known as the 94th Infantry Division Memorial Highway.
NY 94 was originally designated as NY 45 in 1930. It was renumbered to NY 94 in the late 1940s. The portion of the route between Warwick and Florida was part of NY 55 during the late 1920s.
From the state line, NY 94 continues in the same direction into the picturesque village of Warwick
, picking up 17A shortly after its entry. The concurrency
forms the busy main street, centerpiece of the village's historic district
.
At the northern boundary, the highway begins to climb through largely undeveloped woods and fields. The crest of this ascent offers, in addition to the local scenery, stunning views on clear days to the northwest, of the Shawangunk Ridge
and Catskill Mountains
. These continue as it descends into Florida
, where, again, the joined roads are the main street.
17A continues to the north near the village's northern corner, where 94 forks in the more northeasterly heading it will retain for the rest of its route, passing some open fields and hilly vistas until it reaches its interchange with NY 17
(the future Interstate 86
) and US 6
at Chester
. Here the main street section is less lengthy as many of the local businesses have moved to the roads adjacent to 17, and after a residential section the highway is once again a rural two-lane, with views of nearby Sugar Loaf and Goosepond Mountain State Park from the south over the open fields.
Several miles later, 94 crosses Moodna Creek
, which runs parallel to the road for much of the next several miles, and reaches its next settlement, Washingtonville
. Here it passes both the Washingtonville High School
and Washingtonville Middle School, then intersects NY 208. Once again the main street gives way to a residential neighborhood and then countryside.
This next section passes just north of the hamlet of Salisbury Mills
. Houses are more frequent here and farmland a little less so, although the southern side of the road continues to offer impressive vistas, this time of Schunemunk Mountain
and the Moodna Viaduct
. The railway's active use by Metro North
, and its impact on local development is attested to by the train station
off the highway just before it crosses under the New York State Thruway
(Interstate 87). 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) to the east lies the busy five-way junction known as Vails Gate
, with gas stations, supermarket
s and many other businesses. 94 crosses NY 32
as NY 300
runs off to the northwest.
From hereon in the road is surrounded by developed areas of the Town of New Windsor, finally reaching its eastern end at a junction with U.S. 9W
in the small historical center of New Windsor.
and Florida
was originally designated as part of NY 55 in the late 1920s. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 55 was renumbered to NY 17A
west of Greenwood Lake
. The Warwick–Florida portion of the route also became part of NY 45, a new route extending from the New Jersey
state line to Vails Gate
via Warwick, Florida, and Washingtonville
. At Vails Gate (NY 32
), the road changed designations to NY 307 and continued northeast to Newburgh
. NY 307 became part of an extended NY 45 by the following year. In the early 1940s, NY 94 was assigned to Chestnut Ridge Road and Main Street in Rockland County
. The NY 45 and NY 94 designations were swapped in the late 1940s, placing both routes on their modern alignments.
Both NY 94 and most of New Jersey's Route 94 have been dedicated in honor of the 94th Infantry Division
from World War II
. In New York, the road is known as the "94th Infantry Division Memorial Highway"; in New Jersey, it is named the "W.W. II 94th Infantry Division Highway".
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
entirely within 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...
in southern New York. The western terminus is at the New York-New Jersey state line, where it continues as NJ 94 for another 46 miles (74 km) to Columbia, New Jersey
Columbia, New Jersey
Columbia is a census-designated place within Knowlton Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 07832.As of the United States 2010 Census, the population for Columbia was 229....
. Its eastern terminus is located at U.S. Route 9W in New Windsor
New Windsor, New York
New Windsor is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was estimated at 25,244 in 2010 by the US Census.The Town of New Windsor is in the eastern part of the county, bordering the Town of Newburgh and the City of Newburgh....
. From Warwick
Warwick (village), New York
Warwick is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 6,412 at the 2000 census. The 2010 census population was 6,731...
to Florida
Florida, Orange County, New York
Florida is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 2,757 at the 2007 census estimates. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
, NY 94 is concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with NY 17A
New York State Route 17A
New York State Route 17A is a state highway in southern New York, United States, entirely within Orange County. Its western terminus is located at Goshen at a junction with NY 17, and its eastern terminus is at another intersection with NY 17 located in Southfields. It runs...
. The entirety of NY 94 is known as the 94th Infantry Division Memorial Highway.
NY 94 was originally designated as NY 45 in 1930. It was renumbered to NY 94 in the late 1940s. The portion of the route between Warwick and Florida was part of NY 55 during the late 1920s.
Route description
Warwick (village), New York
Warwick is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 6,412 at the 2000 census. The 2010 census population was 6,731...
, picking up 17A shortly after its entry. The concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
forms the busy main street, centerpiece of the village's historic district
Warwick Village Historic District
The Warwick Village Historic District is located in the center of the village of Warwick in the U.S. state of New York. It takes up an irregularly-shaped 130 acres of residential and commercial neighborhoods centered around NY 94 and 17A)....
.
At the northern boundary, the highway begins to climb through largely undeveloped woods and fields. The crest of this ascent offers, in addition to the local scenery, stunning views on clear days to the northwest, of the Shawangunk Ridge
Shawangunk Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge , also known as the Shawangunk Mountains or The Gunks, is a ridge of bedrock in Ulster County, Sullivan County and Orange County in the state of New York, extending from the northernmost point of New Jersey to the Catskill Mountains.The ridgetop, which widens considerably at...
and Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
. These continue as it descends into Florida
Florida, Orange County, New York
Florida is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 2,757 at the 2007 census estimates. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
, where, again, the joined roads are the main street.
17A continues to the north near the village's northern corner, where 94 forks in the more northeasterly heading it will retain for the rest of its route, passing some open fields and hilly vistas until it reaches its interchange with NY 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
(the future Interstate 86
Interstate 86 (east)
Interstate 86 is an Interstate Highway that extends for through northwestern Pennsylvania and southern New York in the United States...
) and US 6
U.S. Route 6 in New York
U.S. Route 6 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Bishop, California, to Provincetown, Massachusetts. In New York, US 6 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster...
at Chester
Chester (village), New York
Chester is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,445 at the 2000 census. It was named after the City of Chester in England...
. Here the main street section is less lengthy as many of the local businesses have moved to the roads adjacent to 17, and after a residential section the highway is once again a rural two-lane, with views of nearby Sugar Loaf and Goosepond Mountain State Park from the south over the open fields.
Moodna Creek
Moodna Creek is a small tributary of the Hudson River that drains eastern Orange County, New York. At 15.5 miles in length from its source at the confluence of Cromline Creek and Otter Kill west of Washingtonville, it is the longest stream located entirely within the county.Despite its small...
, which runs parallel to the road for much of the next several miles, and reaches its next settlement, Washingtonville
Washingtonville, New York
Washingtonville is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 5,851 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
. Here it passes both the Washingtonville High School
Washingtonville High School
Washingtonville Senior High School is located on NY 94 in the village of Washingtonville, New York. It is the high school for the Washingtonville Central School District.The adjacent middle school was once the high school....
and Washingtonville Middle School, then intersects NY 208. Once again the main street gives way to a residential neighborhood and then countryside.
This next section passes just north of the hamlet of Salisbury Mills
Beaverdam Lake-Salisbury Mills, New York
Beaverdam Lake-Salisbury Mills is a census-designated place in Orange County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 2,779...
. Houses are more frequent here and farmland a little less so, although the southern side of the road continues to offer impressive vistas, this time of Schunemunk Mountain
Schunemunk Mountain
Schunemunk Mountain is the highest mountain in Orange County, New York. The 1,664-foot summit is located in the town of Blooming Grove, with other portions in Cornwall and Woodbury. The community of Mountain Lodge Park is built up its western slope.The mountain is a popular recreational resource...
and the Moodna Viaduct
Moodna Viaduct
The Moodna Viaduct is an iron railroad trestle spanning Moodna Creek and its valley at the north end of Schunemunk Mountain in Cornwall, New York, near the village of Salisbury Mills. The bridge was constructed between 1904 and 1908 by the Erie Railroad as part of the Graham Line and was opened for...
. The railway's active use by Metro North
Port Jervis Line (Metro-North)
The Metro-North Railroad Port Jervis Line is a predominantly single-track commuter rail line running from Suffern, New York to Port Jervis. At Suffern, the line continues south into New Jersey as NJ Transit's Main Line....
, and its impact on local development is attested to by the train station
Salisbury Mills-Cornwall (Metro-North station)
The Salisbury Mills – Cornwall station, on the Metro-North Railroad Port Jervis Line, is in the Town of Cornwall in Orange County. Travel time from there to Hoboken Terminal, 55.4 miles away, is about one hour and 20 minutes....
off the highway just before it crosses under the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(Interstate 87). 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) to the east lies the busy five-way junction known as Vails Gate
Vails Gate, New York
Vails Gate is a hamlet in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,319 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
, with gas stations, supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
s and many other businesses. 94 crosses NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
as NY 300
New York State Route 300
New York State Route 300 is a state highway located west of the city of Newburgh in the Hudson Valley of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at a five-way intersection with NY 32 and NY 94 in the hamlet of Vails Gate...
runs off to the northwest.
From hereon in the road is surrounded by developed areas of the Town of New Windsor, finally reaching its eastern end at a junction with U.S. 9W
U.S. Route 9W
U.S. Route 9W is a north–south U.S. Highway in the states of New Jersey and New York. It begins on Fletcher Avenue in Fort Lee, New Jersey as it crosses the US 1 & 9, US 46, and the Interstate 95 approaches to the George Washington Bridge, where it heads north up the west...
in the small historical center of New Windsor.
History
The segment of modern NY 94 between WarwickWarwick (village), New York
Warwick is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 6,412 at the 2000 census. The 2010 census population was 6,731...
and Florida
Florida, Orange County, New York
Florida is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 2,757 at the 2007 census estimates. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
was originally designated as part of NY 55 in the late 1920s. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 55 was renumbered to NY 17A
New York State Route 17A
New York State Route 17A is a state highway in southern New York, United States, entirely within Orange County. Its western terminus is located at Goshen at a junction with NY 17, and its eastern terminus is at another intersection with NY 17 located in Southfields. It runs...
west of Greenwood Lake
Greenwood Lake, New York
Greenwood Lake is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 3,411. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New...
. The Warwick–Florida portion of the route also became part of NY 45, a new route extending from the 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...
state line to Vails Gate
Vails Gate, New York
Vails Gate is a hamlet in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 3,319 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
via Warwick, Florida, and Washingtonville
Washingtonville, New York
Washingtonville is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 5,851 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined...
. At Vails Gate (NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
), the road changed designations to NY 307 and continued northeast to Newburgh
Newburgh (city), New York
Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, United States, north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. Newburgh is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes all of Dutchess and Orange counties. The Newburgh area was...
. NY 307 became part of an extended NY 45 by the following year. In the early 1940s, NY 94 was assigned to Chestnut Ridge Road and Main Street in 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...
. The NY 45 and NY 94 designations were swapped in the late 1940s, placing both routes on their modern alignments.
Both NY 94 and most of New Jersey's Route 94 have been dedicated in honor of the 94th Infantry Division
U.S. 94th Infantry Division
The 94th Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War I, and of the Organized Reserve Corps in 1921 until 1942.The 94th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army in World War II, and of the United States Army Reserve from 1956 until 1963...
from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In New York, the road is known as the "94th Infantry Division Memorial Highway"; in New Jersey, it is named the "W.W. II 94th Infantry Division Highway".