Stony Point, New York

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Stony Point, New York
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
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pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of New York
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New York
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Rockland
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 81.7
area_land_km2 = 72.1
area_water_km2 = 9.6
area_total_sq_mi = 31.5
area_land_sq_mi = 27.8
area_water_sq_mi = 3.7

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 14244
population_density_km2 = 197.6
population_density_sq_mi = 511.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 86
elevation_ft = 282
latd = 41 |latm = 14 |lats = 14 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 0 |longs = 4 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 10980
area_code = 845
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 36-71674
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0979532
website =
footnotes =

Stony Point, shaped like a triangle, is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States located north of the Town of Haverstraw east and South of Orange County, New York and west of the Hudson River. The population was 14,244 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from a prominent projection into the Hudson River.

The Town of Stony Point is in the northeast part of the county. US Route 9W, US Route 202, and the Palisades Interstate Parkway are major north-south routes through the town. It is the most rural town of Rockland County. Stony Point is included in the North Rockland Central School District.

History

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 1779 Battle of Stony Point in which General "Mad" Anthony Wayne earned his nickname leading 1,350 Continental Army troops in a surprise attack against the 544-man British garrison at Stony Point. The Americans were unable to hold the fort for more than a few days.

The economy of the town increased 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 and was the last town created in the county.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.5 square miles (81.7 km²), of which, 27.8 square miles (72.1 km²) of it is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) of it (11.76%) 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, New York on the opposite shore.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 14,244 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/sq mi (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 the median income for a family was $83,238. Males had a median income of $55,727 versus $36,424 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,244. 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 - A hamlet named after a peak in the Bear Mountain State Park. The community is in the northern part of the town.
*Bulsontown - A hamlet in the northwest part of the town.
*Cedar Flats - A hamlet northwest of Stony Point village.
*Doodletown - A hamlet in the northern corner of the town, in Bear Mountain State Park, abandoned since 1965.
*Grassy Point - A short peninsula into the Hudson river in the southeast part of the town. It is here that William Denning Sr., a wealthy New York lawyer erected one of the most beautiful of country homes - Rosa Villa Estate, which he later sold ten acres at the south end of the property to another New York lawyer, Willaim Smith. Willaim's brother, Doctor Thomas Smith, was the owner of the “treason house” in West Haverstraw, New York that was being 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 - A hamlet by the Hudson River. It is the easternmost community in the town.
*Stony Point - The hamlet of Stony Point is in the eastern part of the town.
*Tomkins Cove - A hamlet north of Stony Point.
*Willow Grove - A hamlet on the south town line.

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 in 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 20-25 trains pass through Stony Point per day.

The Palisades Interstate Parkway runs through the town, creating some work for the local court from speeders and other traffic matters.

Tourism

Historical Markers

*Buckberg Mountain,112 Buckberg Mountain Road
*James A. Farley Memorial Bridge, Route 9W
*King’s Ferry, Route 9W & Park Road - Stony Point, site just north of Stony Point Battlefield - An important river crossing for American troops and supplies during the Revolution. and link between New England and the states to the south,- thus. the importance of capturing Stony Point from the British in 1779.
*Reserve Fleet (Anchor Monument)
*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 - 17 Crickettown Rd., Stony Point, NY 10980 • 786-5674 An 1856 Victorian mansion with no televisions or telephones. An 1888 Barn Playhouse (Penguin Repertory) on grounds.
*Harriman State Park - A large state park partly in the western part of the town.
*Iona Island and Marsh - Between Jones Point & Bear Mountain. It was previously called Weyants Island.
*Stony Point Battlefield - A State historic site, off Route 9W, Stony Point - Occupied by the British in 1779.
*Stony Point Light - Built in 1828 to guide ships through the narrow part of the Hudson River
*William H. Rose House

Famous inhabitants

*James A. Farley (1888-1976)
*Mitch Miller (1911-) - Owns a house in Stony Point. Now inhabited by his daughter.
*John Cage (1912-1992) - Composer lived in Stony Point during the 1950s and 60s.
*John Barrows (1913-1974) - French horn player with the New York City Opera and Ballet, lived in Stony Point in the 1950s.
*Stephanie Courtney (1970) - Actress was born in Stony Point.

References

External links

* [http://www.stonypointny.org/html/communities.html Stony Point Official website]