Stony Point, New York

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Stony Point is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States. 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Transportation 5 Communities and locations in Stony Point 6 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 81.7 km² (31.5 mi²). 72.1 km² (27.8 mi²) of it is land and 9.6 km² (3.7 mi²) 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.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 14,244 people, 4,832 households, and 3,802 families residing in the town. The population density was 197.5/km² (511.7/mi²). There were 4,951 housing units at an average density of 68.7/km² (177.9/mi²). 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Communities and locations in Stony Point

• Bear Mountain -- A hamlet named after a peak int the Bear Mountain Park. The community is in the northern part of the town.
• Bear Mountain State Park -- A state park in the north 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.
• Harriman State Park -- A large state park partly in the western part of the town.
• Iona Island -- An Island in the Hudson River in the norther part of the town. It was previously called "Weyants Island."
• 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.
• Stony Point Battlefield -- A state site of significant history north of Stony Point.
• Tomkins Cove -- A hamlet north of Stony Point.
• Willow Grove -- A hamlet on the south town line.

[edit] External links

• Stony Point, NY
• Stony Point Historic Site
• Rockland Magazine
• The Journal News, the local newspaper
• Stony Point Fire Department
• Stony Point Town Court information