Cornwall, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cornwall, New York | |
  Cornwall, New York
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Orange |
| Area | |
| - Total | 28.2 sq mi (72.9 km²) |
| - Land | 26.8 sq mi (69.5 km²) |
| - Water | 1.3 sq mi (3.5 km²) |
| Elevation | 282 ft (86 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 12,307 |
| - Density | 458.8/sq mi (177.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 12518 |
| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-18300 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0978869 |
Cornwall is a town in Orange County, New York, USA. The population was 12,307 at the 2000 census. The Town of Cornwall is in the eastern part of the county.
Contents |
[edit] History
The region was visited by the explorer Henry Hudson in 1609. The Town of Cornwall was founded in 1788.
In the mid-1800s, Cornwall took on another personality -- a health retreat. Until the early 1900s, city folk flocked to the Valley to experience the therapeutic powers they believed it to hold. The mountains, fresh air and evergreen forests were thought to offer the perfect conditions for good health and they were within close proximity to the city. Cornwall on the west side of the Hudson became especially popular as a health retreat, offering numerous boarding houses and many conveniences of the day, including accessibility to the railroad and steamboats, as well as a telegraph office and large library. Nathaniel Parker Willis, one of the Knickerbocker writers, enjoyed the time he spent here so much he bought property in Cornwall, establishing a country home he called Idlewild. His many writings on the area helped make Cornwall a popular spot for health-seekers.
Shifting attitudes toward a more healthy lifestyle began to make the Hudson Valley popular for outdoor activities and exercise. Hiking, rowing, swimming, fishing, hunting and biking all contributed to the development in the area of summer camps as well as the notion of the summer vacation.
In 1962, a 17-year legal battle began that launched modern-day environmental activism. Consolidated Edison proposed building a giant hydro-electric plant on the river at Storm King Mountain near Cornwall. Despite pressure from local residents, Con Ed went forward with its plan, applying to the Federal Power Commission for a license to operate such a facility. Three years later, after hearings and appeals and more hearings, the U. S. Court of Appeals set a major precedent when it sent the case back to the FPC to start the process over again. Its reasoning was based on the commission's refusal to hear much of the environmental impact testimony the first time around. For the first time in U.S. history, a court had decided that protection of natural resources was just as important as economic gain. It prompted Congress to pass the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969, which requires an environmental impact study on all major projects needing an OK from the federal government.
[edit] Geography
The town is located 52 miles (84 km) north of New York City, and just 5 miles (9 km) north of the United States Military Academy at West Point, in eastern Orange County, Cornwall is situated in the valley formed by Schunemunk Mountain and the Hudson Highlands ridges along the Hudson River. Cornwall encompasses the Village of Cornwall on Hudson, as well as the historic hamlets of Bethlehem, Mountainville, Salisbury Mills, Canterbury and Idlewild. Part of the east town line is formed by the Hudson River with Dutchess County, New York on the opposite shore. U.S. Route 9W and the New York State Thruway pass through the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.2 square miles (72.9 km²), of which, 26.8 square miles (69.5 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.5 km²) of it (4.76%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 12,307 people, 4,625 households, and 3,330 families residing in the town. The population density was 458.8 people per square mile (177.2/km²). There were 4,852 housing units at an average density of 180.9/sq mi (69.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.68% White, 1.32% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.11% of the population.
There were 4,625 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $72,000 and the median income for a family was $87,195. Males had a median income of $52,813 versus $37,546 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,509. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Trivia
- Olympic speed skater Bonnie Blair was born in Cornwall on March 18, 1964.
- Djuna Barnes, author of Nightwood was born in a log cabin on Storm King Mountain in Cornwall in 1892
- William Frederick Hoppe (1887-1959) Billiards champion, was a native.
- David Petraeus, four-star general, graduated from Cornwall Central High School in 1970
- "Indian" Larry Desmedt, Famous Motorcycle Old School bike builder was born in Cornwall.
- Nathaniel Parker Willis, was an American author and editor who had worked with notable American writers including Harriet Jacobs and Edgar Allan Poe.In 1846 Willis settled near the banks of Canterbury Creek in Cornwall, New York, naming his new home Idlewild. Because of failing he health spent the remainder of his life chiefly in retirement.
[edit] Communities and locations in Cornwall
- Bethlehem --
- Canterbury --
- Cornwall on Hudson -- The Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson is in the eastern part of the town.
- Cornwall Landing --
- Firthcliffe -- A hamlet.
- Firthcliffe Heights --
- Idlewild --
- Meadowbrook --
- Mountainville -- A hamlet located along NY 32 in the western part of town
- Orrs Mill --
- Salisbury -- Part of the hamlet of Salisbury.
- Storm King State Park -- A state park by the Hudson River.
- West Cornwall --
- New York Military Academy
- Museum of the Hudson Highlands A park and Museum eaturing preserved fishes, reptiles and amphibians as well as live animals, Indian artifacts and geological specimens indigenous to the Hudson Valley. Hiking trails, interpretive and live animal exhibits, a Tall Grass Prairie and a regional artists' gallery are also found at the museum.
- The Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, near Cornwall, is an art museum and outdoor sculpture park featuring the work of 20th century American and European artists. Visitors stroll the 200-acres near Storm King Mountain to view the work.
[edit] References
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
