Beacon, New York

Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, USA. Although the city's estimated living population is around 16,000 people, the 2000 census placed the city total population at 13,808. Beacon was so named to commemorate the historic Beacon fires which blazed forth from the summit of the Fishkill Mountains to alert the Revolutionary Armies about British troop movements.

The City of Beacon is located in the southwest corner of Dutchess County, in the fast growing Mid-Hudson Region. It sits just over an hour north of New York City, about 59 miles, in its northern suburbs. It is also located approximately 90 miles south of Albany.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Places of Interest
5 Transportation
6 Notable People
- 6.1 Born and Raised
- 6.2 Residents At One Time
7 Famous Movies
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] History

Beacon was originally settled as the Villages of Matteawan and Fishkill Landing in 1709, making them among one of the first communities in the state. The City of Beacon was incorporated as a city in 1913, annexing the two villages and a small portion of the Hamlet of Glenham from the Town of Fishkill.

The city served as a focal point during the revoluntionary war era. It was used for manufacturing of war supplies, as a fort, and as a signaling point. The city gained its namesake for the signal fires atop of the 1,540-foot mountain located in the city's backdrop. During the 1800s, the city became a factory town and was known as "The Hat Making Capital of the US." With nearly 50 hat factories in town at its peak, it earned this nickname.During the 1960's "Urban Renewal Program" many significant buidings were torn down, which damaged some of the city's character.The Dutchess Ski area closed in the late 1970's which took a large tourist attraction and destination point away. The city continued as a factory town until about 1970, when a decline in the economy caused most of the factories to be abandoned. From 1970 to about 1990, the city entered its darkest age with 80% of its commercial businesses and factories going vacant. However in 2000, the city saw it's rebirth, which began in the 1990's ,with the world's largest contemporary art museum, Dia: Beacon making Beacon its new home. Currently, Beacon is striving to become the art capital of the state with large commercial businesses/art galleries, and numerous residential developments to support it,s growth.Development projects such as a large waterfront hotel and conference center and "The Rivers and Estuaries Center",which will be LEED certified , will also show Beacon's leadership in the GREEN Building industry.

Also from 1902 to 1975, The Mount Beacon Incline Railway, the steepest incline railway in existence (a 65% grade), took an estimated 3 million people up to the 1,540-foot summit of Mount Beacon. This tourist attraction was later destroyed by fire and vandalism. There is now a movement to restore it.

[edit] Geography

Beacon is located at 41°30'15" North, 73°57'56" West (41.504243, -73.965576)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²). 12.4 km² (4.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.25% water.

Located on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, Beacon is noted for its proximity to numerous historic sites and large cities. It is located minutes away from Bannerman's Castle and West Point. Beacon also sits with the famous Mount Beacon as its backdrop and the Hudson River as its front door. The city also is located across the river from its larger sister city, Newburgh. Beacon is just 20 minutes south of the Hudson Valley Region Capital City, Poughkeepsie. In addition Danbury, Connecticut is located about 45 minutes away and New York City is located just over an hour to the south.

The city includes the following neighborhoods:

North Tree Streets
South Tree Streets
Mountain Side
River Side
Groveville

[edit] Demographics

Although the city's population is estimated to be about 16,000 people, the census^GR2 of 2000 placed the city's population at 13,808 people. The census also showed that the city has 5,091 households and 3,360 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,115.3/km² (2,891.6/mi²) based on the census population of 13,808. There are 5,406 housing units at an average density of 436.7/km² (1,132.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 9,440 or 68.37% White and 4,368 or 31.63% Minority. The minority population is dominated by African Americans at 2,713 residents or 19.65%, then followed by Hispanic or Latino which make up 2,334 residents or 16.90% of the city. Smaller minority groups include 956 residents or 6.92% from other races, 181 residents or 1.31% Asian, 43 residents or 0.31% Native American, and 0.00% Pacific Islander. Also the city includes 475 residents or 3.44% from two or more races.

Based on the census; there are 5,091 households out of which 34.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% are married couples living together, 16.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% are non-families. 28.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.23.

In the city the population is spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $45,236, and the median income for a family is $53,811. Males have a median income of $40,949 versus $29,154 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,654. 1,465 residents or 11% of the population and 310 or 9.1% of the families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 834 residents or 11% of those under the age of 18 and 99 residents or 8.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. The city currently is composed of 10% subsidized housing, of which about 400 units are state and federal housing projects.

[edit] Places of Interest

[edit] Professional Sports

Hudson Valley Renegades - Class A Minor League Baseball Team for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Team plays out of Dutchess Stadium located in neighboring Fishkill. (3-5 Minutes North of City)

[edit] Museums and Institutes

Dia:Beacon - Contemporary Arts Museum. (In City)
The Beacon Institute of Rivers and Estuaries - A major river and estuary research institute. (In City)
Tallix - World famous sculpture facility. Designed and built Leonardo da Vinci's Il Cavallo Horse, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Radio City Music Hall's Main Medallion, and the American Folk Art Museum Facade. (In City)

[edit] Restaurants and Night Life

Max's on Main - Beacon's most unique bar and cocktail experience. Original homemade "American Comfort Food" in Beacon's oldest bar. Karaoke Thursday Nights, Live Music Weekends. (In City on Main Street)

[edit] Parks

Memorial Park - Located in the center of the city and serves as the city's "Central Park". It is the city's primary park and many events are hosted in the park.
Riverfront Park - City's riverfront park that is a peninsula into the Hudson River. A very active park that hosts numerous events.
Green Street Park - A neighborhood park located in the Mountain Side Section of the city.

[edit] Farmers' Market

Open year-round, Sundays from 10-4. Located on the Waterfront, adjacent to the Beacon Sloop Club in warm months and inside the building during the winter. Several local growers as well as bakeries, local wine-makers, and cheese-producers are represented.

[edit] Transportation

Beacon's most major route is Interstate 84, which passes through the city's northside, providing a connection that is minutes to the Taconic State Parkway, New York State Thruway, and Stewart International Airport. The city also has the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge which carries the interstate over the Hudson River.

Although Interstate 84 is the city's most major route, NY Route 9D serves as the city's arterial. It starts at the city's northside where it intersects with Interstate 84 as the Interstate's Exit 11 and wraps around the city to its southside. The city also has New York State Route 52 Business that runs down the middle of the city and begins in the city's westside at NY Route 9D.

Commuter service to New York City is available via the MTA Beacon Train Station, served by Metro-North Railroad.

Beacon is also serviced weekdays by a commuter ferry, The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry, over the Hudson between both cities to help alleviate traffic to the Beacon Train Station from Orange County commuters. The ferry docks between Beacon City Harbor and Newburgh City Waterfront.

In nearby Wappingers Falls, the Dutchess County Airport services local commuter flights. The nearest major airport to Beacon is Stewart International Airport about 10 minutes away, in Newburgh.

Municipal bus service is provided by the county's Dutchess County LOOP Bus System, which provides commuter service throughout the county. Its main line from Beacon travels from Main & NY Route 9D up Route 9D to the Poughkeepsie Galleria and South Hills Mall in the Town Of Poughkeepsie.

[edit] Notable People

[edit] Born and Raised

James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy 1944-1947 and Secretary of Defense from 1947-1949. One of the city's four elementary schools and one of its federal housing projects is named in his honor.

Melio Bettina [1], World Light Heavyweight Champion Boxer in 1939. A small street in the city's center is named in his honor.

Robert Montgomery, famous actor who served as head of the Screen Actors Guild in 1935 and 1946. He also was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

Digger Phelps, head basketball coach at Notre Dame (1972-91), won more games (393) than any coach in Irish history. Coached junior varsity basketball in Beacon before moving away. A small street off west Main Street is named in his honor.

[edit] Residents At One Time

Gloria Swanson, famous actress who was filmed in Airport (1974) and Killer Bees (1974).

Chris Woolston.

Pete Seeger, Folk Musician, Songwriter and important influence on the Folk Music Revival of the 1960s has lived in Beacon for many years, with his wife in a house he built himself.

[edit] Famous Movies

Nobody's Fool - Filmed in the city in 1994. Featured Paul Newman and Bruce Willis; it was also Jessica Tandy's last film.

Super Troopers - "Town Cop" scenes filmed in the city in 1999. Started out as an underground film and then became a very popular "teen comedy" movies.

[edit] See also

Beacon City Schools

[edit] External links

City of Beacon, NY Official Website
Beacon City School District Official Website
City of Beacon Fire Department
City of Beacon Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3490
Beacon Dispatch (Local Newspaper)
Max's on Main, Dining and Cocktails
Fisch Internet Solutions, Web and Network Solutions
Fishkill Creek Watershed Committee
Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 41.50472° -73.97°
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

	v • d • e Municipalities and Communities of Dutchess County, New York County Seat: Poughkeepsie (city)
Cities	Beacon \| Poughkeepsie
Towns	Amenia \| Beekman \| Clinton \| Dover \| East Fishkill \| Fishkill \| Hyde Park \| LaGrange \| Milan \| North East \| Pawling \| Pine Plains \| Pleasant Valley \| Poughkeepsie \| Red Hook \| Rhinebeck \| Stanford \| Union Vale \| Wappinger \| Washington
Villages	Fishkill \| Millbrook \| Millerton \| Pawling \| Red Hook \| Rhinebeck \| Tivoli \| Wappingers Falls
Communities and CDPs	Amenia \| Annadale-on-Hudson \| Arlington \| Brinckerhoff \| Crown Heights \| Dover Plains \| Fairview \| Haviland \| Hillside Lake \| Hopewell Junction \| Myers Corner \| New Hamburg \| Pine Plains \| Red Oaks Mill \| Rhinecliff \| Salt Point \| Shekomeko \| Spackenkill \| Staatsburg \| Wassaic

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Categories: Cities in New York | Dutchess County, New York | Hudson River