Ramapo, New York

Ramapo, New York
Town

The Ramapo Torne in Harriman State Park

Location in Rockland County and the state of New York.
Coordinates: 41°7′19″N 74°5′0″W / 41.12194°N 74.08333°WCoordinates: 41°7′19″N 74°5′0″W / 41.12194°N 74.08333°W
Country United States
State New York
County Rockland
Area
 • Total 61.9 sq mi (160.4 km2)
 • Land 61.2 sq mi (158.6 km2)
 • Water 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)
Elevation 371 ft (113 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 126,595
 • Density 2,000/sq mi (790/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
FIPS code 36-60510
GNIS feature ID 0979406
Website ramapo.org

Ramapo is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States. It was formerly known as New Hempstead then later Hampstead. As of the 2010 census, Ramapo had a total population of 126,595. If Ramapo were incorporated as a city, it would be the sixth-largest city in the state of New York, after Syracuse, in fifth place. It would be the 209th largest city in the country, between Coral Springs, Florida and Stamford, Connecticut.

The city name, recorded variously as Ramopuck, Ramapock, or Ramapough, is of Native American origin, meaning either "sweet water" or "sloping/slanting rocks".

The town is located south of Haverstraw and west of Clarkstown and Orangetown.

History

During the American Revolutionary War, Commander-in-Chief George Washington is said to have climbed the Ramapo Torne (near Ramapo hamlet) with a telescope to watch the July 24, 1777 sailing of the British fleet off Sandy Hook in New Jersey.

The Town of Hempstead was formed from part of the Town of Haverstraw in 1791. In 1829 the name was changed to Ramapo.

The first railroad line across Rockland County was built in 1841 and ran from Piermont to Ramapo. By 1851, the line was extended to Lake Erie, and was considered an engineering marvel.

Ramapo Iron Works, located near present-day Route 17 at the base of Terse Mountain, was a producer of cut nails, wood screws, cotton cloth, and spring steel in the first half of the 19th century. Its founder, Jeremiah H. Pierson, was influential in building the Nyack Turnpike and the New York & Erie Railroad across the county. A cotton mill is still standing on the east side of the road.

In 1916, what would become State Route 59, which reached from Nyack to Spring Valley in 1915, was extended to Suffern and Ramapo Hamlet.

Ramapo became one of the fist cities to use Adequate Public Facilities acts to tier growth and infrastructure together.[1]

Geography

View of Ramapo From Mountains

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 61.9 square miles (160 km2), of which 61.2 square miles (159 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2), or 1.11%, is water.

The south town line is the border of New Jersey, and the west town line is the border of Orange County. The break in the Ramapo Mountains at Suffern formed by the Ramapo River causes the town to be the site of the New York State Thruway and I-287, New York State Route 17, and a railroad line. The Palisades Interstate Parkway runs through the northeast corner of the town, with an exit at the Haverstraw town line on the northern border.

Torne Mountain (1,130 ft or 340 m; shown on topographic maps as "High Torne"), in Harriman State Park, overlooks the Ramapo Pass and remnants of the once-thriving Ramapo Iron Works. During the American Revolution, the Torne served as a lookout for British ship movements on the Hudson. Legend tells that Gen. George Washington lost his watch on the mountain, and it may still be heard ticking up there in a crevice of rock.

The highest point in Ramapo is Squirrel Swamp Mountain near the northern border of the town, with an elevation of 1,252 feet (382 m).[2]

Communities and locations

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
2000108,905—
2010126,59516.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[3]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 108,905 people, 31,561 households, and 24,870 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,778.2 people per square mile (686.6/km²). There were 32,422 housing units at an average density of 529.4 per square mile (204.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 72.54% White, 17.04% African American, 0.32% Native American, 4.60% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.65% from other races, and 2.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.19% of the population.

There were 31,561 households out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.37 and the average family size was 3.82.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $60,352, and the median income for a family was $67,004. Males had a median income of $46,286 versus $34,632 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,868. About 11.5% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Rankings

Landmarks and places of interest

The Monsey Church (New Hope Christian Church) is a historic Reformed Christian church established in 1824. The congregation continues to meet every Sunday in their building dedicated in 1869.

Recreation

The Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health, and Sports Complex was dedicated and opened on November 19, 2006. The facility features a turf multi-purpose field with stands to accommodate 1800 spectators, a separate climate-controlled dome, a 60 x 40 yard, and a turf practice area. It also features three multi-purpose indoor courts, a running track, cardio equipment, weight training machines, two racquetball courts, a computer room, and a dance/aerobic studio.

Sports include football, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, and field hockey, as well as year-round sports programs that were not available to Ramapo residents before.

Although the residents of the Ramapo have the exclusive right to join the Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community and Health Center, paid memberships are available to others.

The Ramapo's Adult (18+) Leagues for basketball and racquetball are hosted at the Joseph T St Lawrence Center.

The Rockland Boulders are a professional baseball team based just outside the village of Pomona and a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, also known as the Can-Am League. Christoper St. Lawrence pushed through the financing of the park even after residents voted it down. A state audit has found that taxpayers could be liable for up to $60 million for Provident Bank Park in Ramapo.[5]

Government

Ramapo is run by a town supervisor, Christopher St. Lawrence. It is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Nita Lowey. In state government it is represented by Senator David Carlucci, and Assemblymembers Ellen Jaffee, Kenneth P. Zebrowski and Annie Rabbitt.

Education

Rockland Community College is in the hamlet of Viola. The western portion of the town (Suffern and Sloatsburg area) is primarily served by the Ramapo Central School District and the eastern part of the town (Spring Valley, Monsey and Pomona area) by the East Ramapo Central School District.

Sister cities

In recognition of Ramapo's substantial cultural diversity, former Town Supervisor Herbert Reisman, along with many volunteers from the various communities in Ramapo, started the twinning program. This program is made up of committees that raise funds and organize trips to Ramapo's twin towns around the world, providing local high school students the opportunity to experience life in other lands.

There are currently seven active twinning committees in Ramapo:

References

  1. ↑ Robert H. Freilich, Robert J. Sitkowski, Seth D. Mennillo. From Sprawl to Sustainability: Smart Growth, New Urbanism, Green Development. p. 123.
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute topographic map series; Acme Mapper
  3. ↑ U.S. Decennial Census; census.gov
  4. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. ↑ DiNapoli Takes on Stadium, Work Habits of Ramapo Town; Rockland County Times

Further reading

External links