Ramapo, New York

Ramapo, New York
Town
U.S. Post Office in Suffern
Location in Rockland County and the state of New York.
Coordinates: 41°7′19″N 74°5′0″W / 41.12194°N 74.08333°W / 41.12194; -74.08333Coordinates: 41°7′19″N 74°5′0″W / 41.12194°N 74.08333°W / 41.12194; -74.08333
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Rockland
Government
• Supervisor	Yitzchok Ullman (acting)
Area[1]
• Total	61.84 sq mi (160.16 km2)
• Land	61.14 sq mi (158.35 km2)
• Water	0.70 sq mi (1.80 km2)
Elevation	371 ft (113 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	126,595
• Estimate (2016)[2]	136,235
• Density	2,228.25/sq mi (860.33/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	10901, 10952, 10977, 10970, 10965, 10974
Area code	845
FIPS code	36-60510
GNIS ID	0979406
Website	ramapo.org

Ramapo is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States. It was originally formed as New Hampstead, in 1791, and became Ramapo in 1828.^[3] 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.

The city's name, recorded variously as Ramopuck, Ramapock, or Ramapough, is of Lenape origin, meaning either "sweet water" or "slanting rocks". Early maps referred to Ramapo as Ramepog (1695), Ramepogh (1711), and Ramapog (1775).^[4]

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

History

The present-day town was originally inhabited by the Munsee, a band of the Lenape nation. Their descendants now live on Stag Hill in Mahwah, New Jersey, where they form the state (NJ)-recognized Ramapo Lenape Nation.

During the American Revolutionary War, Commander-in-Chief George Washington is said to have climbed the Ramapo Torne (near Sloatsburg) with a telescope to watch the July 24, 1777 sailing of the British fleet off Sandy Hook in New Jersey. General Washington and his troops set up an encampment in Suffern, in the west of Ramapo, due to its strategic location near a local mountain pass. In this encampment were two French soldiers, Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau and Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. The encampment was on the path to Yorktown, Virginia, where the final battle of the American Revolution took place.

The Town of New Hampstead was formed from part of the Town of Haverstraw in 1791, eight years after the end of the Revolution; the name was changed to Hempstead in 1797, and to Ramapo in 1828.^[3]

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 State Route 17 at the base of Terse Mountain, was a producer of first cut nails made in American, 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 Hillburn.

Ramapo became one of the first cities to use Adequate Public Facilities acts to tier growth and infrastructure together.^[5]

In 2006 Money magazine ranked Ramapo as the 49th best place in the United States and the best place in New York State to live. Arts and leisure, business, housing, low crime rates and open spaces/parkland determined the town's ranking. In the category of park space, percentage of land set aside for gardens and parks, the town finished first. Ramapo received the highest rating and one of the best in the country for its open spaces and parkland.

Geography

View of Ramapo from mountain

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).^[6]

Communities

• The hamlet of Antrim, near the south town line
• The village of Airmont
• The village of Chestnut Ridge
• The village of Hillburn, in the southwest part of the town
• The hamlet of Hillcrest
• The village of Kaser
• The hamlet of Monsey
• The village of New Hempstead
• The village of New Square
• The village of Montebello
• The hamlet of Ramapo, in the southwest part of the town. The hamlet of Ramapo and the town of Ramapo are often confused on many internet-based maps.
• The hamlet of Sandyfield
• The village of Sloatsburg
• The village of Spring Valley
• Sterlington, near Sloatsburg
• The village of Suffern
• The hamlet of Suffern Park, near Suffern
• The hamlet of Tallman, in the south part of the town
• The hamlet of Viola, in the east part of the town
• The village of Wesley Hills, in the northeast part of the town

Demographics

As of the census^[8] 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.

Landmarks

Ryan Mansion in Montebello

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

In August 1887, the Ryan family purchased the former Groesbeck mansion, which was built in the 1860s. The estate was called "Montebello" (which gave its name to the village in which it now lies). It now lies across from Suffern Middle School, which was built in 1942, nearly 80 years after the estate.

Places of interest

• Torne Brook Farm - (NRHP)

Recreation

The Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health, and Sports Complex (aka "Torne Valley Recreation Center & Fields") 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 previously available to Ramapo residents. Although the residents of Ramapo have the exclusive right to join the Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community and Health Center, paid memberships are available to others.

The Ramapo Amateur Basketball Association (RABA) offers youth leagues for those 7–15 years old and adult leagues (18+). The Joseph T. St. Lawrence Center also hosts adult racquetball leagues.

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. Christopher St. Lawrence pushed through the financing of the park even after residents voted it down. A state audit found that taxpayers could be liable for up to $60 million for Provident Bank Park in Ramapo.^[9]

Government

Ramapo is run by a town supervisor, until May 19, 2017, Christopher St. Lawrence. In April 2016, federal prosecutors indicted St. Lawrence and a former town official, N. Aaron Troodler, on 22 counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy. The fraud related to a number of projects such as a minor league baseball stadium and condominium development, falsified accounting entries made to sell Town bonds to investors, and misappropriating funds from the Town's special tax districts (such as its Ambulance Fund) to use in its General Fund.^[10][11][12] On March 7, 2017, Troodler pled guilty to a number of the fraud charges.^[13] Jury selection for St. Lawrence's trial began on April 18, 2017.^[14] St. Lawrence was convicted on May 19, 2017 of 20 felony charges.^[15][16] Following the conviction, Ramapo Deputy Supervisor Yitzchok Ullman announced that St. Lawrence is disqualified from serving as Supervisor. As a result, Ullman is currently the Acting Supervisor of the Town of Ramapo. It was announced on June 19, 2017 that the Town Board officially voted to have Frederick Brinn, Mayor of New Hempstead, as the Interim Town Supervisor. His term will officially commence on June 26, 2017, and will conclude on December 31, 2017. ^[17]

Ramapo 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

College

Rockland Community College, a public two-year community college run by SUNY, is located in the CDP of Viola, about 4 miles (6 km) east of Suffern. The Sunbridge Institute in Chestnut Ridge is a Waldorf-based adult learning center that specializes in training teachers.

Public schools

Cherry Lane Elementary School, located in the Village of Airmont. Cherry Lane is one of five elementary schools that help comprise Ramapo (Suffern) Central School District.

The town is served by two school districts. The western part of the town (Suffern, Montebello, Airmont, Sloatsburg) is primarily served by the Ramapo Central School District, and the eastern part of the town (Spring Valley, Monsey, Pomona, Chestnut Ridge, New Hempstead) by the East Ramapo Central School District.

The western half of Ramapo is served by the Ramapo Central School District. The district operates five elementary schools that go from grades K-5, Cherry Lane, Montebello, R.P. Connor, Sloatsburg, and Viola; one middle school that goes from grades 6-8, Suffern Middle School; and one high school, Suffern High School. Both the middle and high schools' mascots are mountain lions, known colloquially as "mounties." Cherry Lane Elementary was awarded with a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award from the U.S. Department of Education in 2013, and is one of four schools within the district to receive the New York State High Performing Reward School award by the New York State Department of Education in 2014. The other three schools include Montebello Elementary, Sloatsburg Elementary, and Suffern High School.

The eastern half of Ramapo is served by the East Ramapo Central School District. The district operates four elementary schools that go from grades 1-3, Grandview, Summit Park, Fleetwood, and Margetts; and five elementaries that go from grades 4-6, Lime Kiln, Kakiat, Hempstead, Eldorado, and Elmwood; totaling nine elementary schools. It also operates two middle schools that go from grades 7-8, Pomona and Chestnut Ridge; and two high schools, Ramapo and Spring Valley. Spring Valley High's mascot is a tiger, and Ramapo High's is a griffin.

In 2005 the Orthodox Jewish population of the district received majority control of the school board. This new board began reducing the budget and lowering taxes. The communities using the public schools opposed these actions. In July 2010 the School Board of the East Ramapo Central School District voted to sell Hillcrest Elementary School — closed due to budget cuts — to the Hasidic Jewish Congregation Yeshiva Avir Yakov of New Square.

On June 30, 2011, former president of the East Ramapo Central School District Nathan Rothschild pleaded guilty to a mail fraud scheme which had been an attempt to eliminate his own private debt. The scheme involved selling public land to his creditors, then buying the land back at a higher price. He engaged in these activities as Fire Commissioner in Monsey. Questions arose as to whether the attempt to sell Hillcrest Elementary School was engineered for similar pursuits, as the sale of the 12-acre public school campus was engineered during his time in office as the school board president at East Ramapo Central School District.

Private schools

Most private schools in Ramapo are orthodox Jewish and Hasidic Jewish yeshivas, as almost half of the town's population is Jewish. Most yeshivas are located in the eastern part of the town. Some include Yeshiva Zichron Yaakov, Yeshiva Avnei Shlomo, Yeshiva Ohr Reuven, Yeshiva Darchei Noam, and Bais Yaakov Chofetz Chaim.

The two Roman Catholic private schools in the town are Sacred Heart School and St. Joseph's School. In addition, some Catholic county residents send their High School-aged sons to Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey.

There are four non-religious private schools in Ramapo, the Goddard School, the Skill Building Center, the Green Meadow Waldorf School, and the Rockland County Learning Center.

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:

• African Twinning Committee (Ghana)
• Chinese Twinning Committee (China)
• Indian Twinning Committee (India)
• Irish Twinning Committee (Doneraile, Ireland)
• Israeli Twinning Committee (Beit Shemesh, Israel)
• Italian Twinning Committee (Andretta, Italy)
• Philippine-American Twinning Committee (Makati, the Philippines)

References

Further reading

• Zimmermann, Linda, Rockland County Scrapbook. Eagle Press, 2004.
• Penford, Saxby Voulaer., "Romantic Suffern - The History of Suffern, New York, from the Earliest Times to the Incorporation of the Village in 1896", Tallman, N.Y., 1955, (1st Edition)

External links

• Town of Ramapo official website