Pearl River, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pearl River, New York | |
  Pearl River, New York
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Rockland |
| Area | |
| - Total | 7.2 sq mi (18.6 km²) |
| - Land | 6.8 sq mi (17.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km²) |
| Elevation | 240 ft (73 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 15,553 |
| - Density | 2,273.2/sq mi (877.7/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 10965 |
| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-56902 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0960056 |
Pearl River is a hamlet (and a census-designated place) in Rockland County, New York, United States. The population was 15,553 at the 2000 census.
Pearl River is in the western part of the Town of Orangetown.
Pearl River is also the site of One Blue Hill Plaza, Rockland County's first commercial skyscraper with 21 stories of office space.
In 1906, Ernest Lederle, a former New York City commissioner founded Lederle Laboratories, now Wyeth on a 99-acre farm which now encompasses 550 acres and 40 buildings employing 3,200 workers. [1] [2]
Contents |
[edit] History
Pearl River was originally called "Muddy Creek." In the early 1870s, the town was divided in five different parts: Naurashaun, Middletown, Sickletown, Pascack and Muddy Brook. According to historians, a resident of the town by the name of Dr. Ves Bogert found pearls in mussels in the Muddy Creek, which runs through the town, thus naming the town Pearl River.[citation needed]
Pearl River was a deserted area purchased by Julius E. Braunsdorf in 1872. It is said that Braunsdorf was the "Father of Pearl River" and designed it to be a company town.[citation needed]
Braunsdorf built:[citation needed]
- 1872 - The Aetna Sewing Machine Company - the largest factory in Pearl River and ceded land to the railroad company so workers from New York City could get to his factory.
- 1873 - Two brick train stations (Passenger/Freight) that are still in use today.
- The Pearl River Hotel
- Low-cost housing for the factory employees that he attracted from Germany.
Another story behind the town's name says that Braunsdorf named the town Pearl River because of stories of people finding pearls in the Muddy Creek.[citation needed]
[edit] Geography
Pearl River is located at (41.063996, -74.010298).[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), of which, 6.8 square miles (17.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (4.87%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 15,553 people, 5,539 households, and 4,209 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,273.2 per square mile (877.9/km²). There were 5,636 housing units at an average density of 823.8/sq mi (318.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.13% White, 0.4% African American, 0.65% Native American, 3.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.44% of the population. There were 5,539 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $76,692, and the median income for a family was $91,618. Males had a median income of $58,966 versus $39,452 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $31,417. About 2.2% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Pearl River is well-known for its large Irish American community and hosts the second largest Saint Patrick's Day parade in New York state, typically on the Sunday following St. Patrick's Day. This large Irish and Irish American population also supports the largest youth Gaelic Athletic Football team in the United States.[citation needed]
[edit] Tourism
[edit] Historical Markers
- Cuyper-Van Houten House, 66 Sickletown Road
- Johannes Perry House, 49 Elizabeth St
[edit] Landmarks and places of Interest
- Braunsdorf Park Pearl River, Central Avenue & South Main Street - Named after Julius Braunsdorf, first industrial developer of Pearl River and inventor of various models of sewing machines, newspaper printing presses, carbon arc light bulbs, and electric generators. His sewing machine factory is now the Dexter industrial complex. Braunsdorf installed first indoor lighting in the world in U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
- Edward Salyer House
- Jacob Perry House - 15 Sickletown Road.
- Maria's Rock - Front lawn of Lederle Laboratories, North Middletown Road - An 18th- century legend tells of a little girl named Maria who wandered from her home in nearby Tappan and died of hunger and exposure. Tradition says that villagers found her bones near the massive boulder.
- Orangetown Museum & Archives - 213 Blue Hill Road.
- United States Post Office
- Van Houten Farms - 68 Sickletown Road - Located on the eastern edge of Pearl River. A complete garden center featuring bedding and potted plants, hanging baskets, perennials, roses, mums and nursery stock. Their own vegetables and local fruit sold from summer through fall, with a large pumpkin display featuring a resident witch in October. Holiday greens, trees and poinsettias finish the season in December. Adjacent is the Van Houten/Kuyper Dutch Sandstone House, the main section having been built in 1732 and purchased by Van Houten circa 1812.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- Pearl River High School is the home of the 2005 NYPHSAA Class B Boys Cross Country Team State Champions and 2007 League Champions and is well known for its outstanding long distance runners, for both girls and boys cross country and track. [5]
- Pearl River is the home of the 2nd largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in The United States.[6]
- Sean Giblin signed a seven year minor-league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates after being drafted in the 10th round, 308th overall. Giblin became the first baseball draft pick in Pearl River History. [7]
- Actors Robert Clohessy and Chris Carley are both graduates of Pearl River High School.
[edit] References
- ^ Blue Hill Plaza, Office Listings
- ^ Pharmaceutical Research jobs - Locations Wyeth.com
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.pressrepublican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060901/SPECIAL/609080307
- ^ 2008 Rockland County St. Patrick's Day Parade - Pearl River Saint Patrick's Day Parade Parade Sunday, March 9th, 2008
- ^ http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070614/SPORTS01/706140405
[edit] External links
- Pearl River, New York is at coordinates Coordinates:
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The History
Of
Pearl River
Pearl River was originally called, “Muddy Creek”. It was divided into four parts: Naurshaun, Middletown, Pascack and Muddy Brooke in the 1870’s. According to historians, a resident named, “Dr. Ves Bogert” found mussels in the creek. In the mussels, pearls lay inside, thus naming the town, Pearl River. Pearl River was a deserted area purchased by Julius E. Braunsdorf. Braunsdorf was nicknamed “Father of Pearl River”. He designed it to be a company town. Braunsdorf built:
W The Aetna Sewing Machine Company in 1872- The largest company in Pearl River; he built it next to the railroad so people from New York City could come to this company W Two brick train stations in 1873- Still in use today W The Pearl River Hotel W Low-cost housing for the factory employees that he attracted from Germany
Some Other Information:
There used to be some Indian Tribes in Rockland County. The Delaware Indians controlled all the land west of the Hudson and from the Catskill Mountains south into Delaware. The Iroquois were north of the Catskills and the Mohegans were east of the Hudson. Pearl River, Orangeburg and other places in Rockland County were the homes of our Indians for a substantial length of time. Many arrowheads and other stone tools that were recently found proved this. We also know that early migrations of different groups came here from different directions. The Indians came here right after the last ice age. They first came to Pearl River as small hunting groups. This group was termed pre-archaic or Paleo Indians. After the Archaic Period, the period termed Woodland came. There were many improvements in the Woodland Period. There was an increase in design and art projects, and an improvement of pottery type and form. Following the Woodland Period was the Historic Period. This brought great changes to the Indian culture. European objects resulted in a big change for the Indians. On the Indian sites in Rockland County artifacts have been found that represent most of the groups mentioned. Some of the artifacts were forms of art, diagnostic tool types and anthropological remains. These groups have lived here from the end of the last ice age up to the Historic Period. Most of our Indians moved westward after the Historic Period to continue the only way of life that they knew. Julius E. Braunsdorf is without a doubt the “Father of Pearl River.” He was an inventor, city planner, humanitarian, business leader, and a great builder all at one time. He came to Pearl River 100 years after it’s settlement. Braunsdorf bought the Polhemus farm, where he built his home. Braunsdorf purchased a property in 1872 in a deserted area, which soon became Pearl River. Julius Braunsdorf designed Pearl River to be a company town. The company was The Aetna Sewing Machine Company. In 1872 it as completed as the largest factory in Pearl River. He ceded land to the railroad in 1872, so workers from New York City could get to his factory. He built two brick train stations in 1873, which is still used today. He also built the Pearl River Hotel. Braunsdorf named the town Pearl River because there were stories of people finding pearls in the Muddy Brook. In 1880, Julius Braunsdorf died. Before the Railroads, Pearl River is a town full of nice people. The railroads made transportation easier and let more and more people come to this town every year. Prior to 1870, the closest railroad to Pearl River was the Northern Terminus of the Hackensack and the New York Extension Railroad at Hillsdale, which was finished in 1869. Around that time, The New Jersey and New York Railroad Co. decided to move northward and Pearl River was in its way. The first Railroad station in Pearl River was a small wooden structure that was created in 1870 on Central Ave. Unfortunately, while pushing snow of the train tracks, the train accidentally ran into the station the next winter. Later in 1871 - 1872 Julius Braunsdorf, “The Father Of Pearl River” built the newest station. They were two brick buildings, one of them was used for the Passenger Station, and the other one was used for freight. Later on, the opening between the two buildings enclosed and formed under one roof.
Throughout the years, the numbers of passengers and the number of runs through Pearl River have increased thoroughly. A maximum of 30 runs came through around the 1920’s. Later on though, Passenger Service declined rapidly by 1934 an only about 17 runs went through Pearl River. The freight trains running through Pearl River were used for two main purposes, carrying flowers grown by 10 Local Green Houses, and for bringing clothes back and forth to many places. The freight train comes from northbound and southbound and brings many goods place to place. In 1966, The Erie Railroad petitioned to stop passenger service because they were losing money. Even though they did that, the commission decided to keep the railroad and make up for the losses by giving them several million dollars each year. This extra support still exists and has allowed the train to add silver passenger cars that were air and conditioned in 1971. The rest remains in service today – mostly for people, not goods.
