West Nyack, New York#Landmarks and places of interest

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = West Nyack, New York

| settlement_type = Census-designated place

| nickname =

| motto =

| image_skyline =

| imagesize =

| image_caption =

| image_flag =

| image_seal =

| pushpin_map = New York

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the state of New York

| image_map = Rockland County New York incorporated and unincorporated areas West Nyack highlighted.svg

| mapsize = 260px

| map_caption = Location in Rockland County and the state of New York.

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = New York

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Rockland

| subdivision_type3 = Town

| subdivision_name3 = Clarkstown

| government_footnotes =

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| established_title =

| established_date =

| area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=September 20, 2022}}

| area_magnitude =

| area_total_km2 = 7.65

| area_land_km2 = 7.57

| area_water_km2 = 0.08

| area_total_sq_mi = 2.95

| area_land_sq_mi = 2.92

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.03

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 3649

| population_density_km2 = 482.00

| population_density_sq_mi = 1248.37

| timezone = Eastern (EST)

| utc_offset = -5

| timezone_DST = EDT

| utc_offset_DST = -4

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m = 24

| elevation_ft = 79

| coordinates = {{coord|41|5|28|N|73|58|8|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}

| postal_code_type = ZIP code

| postal_code = 10994

| area_code = 845

| blank_name = FIPS code

| blank_info = 36-80599{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}

| blank1_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank1_info = 0970831{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=2007-10-25}}

| website =

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| unit_pref = Imperial

}}

West Nyack is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Clarkstown, Rockland County, New York, United States. It is located north of Blauvelt, east of Nanuet, southwest of Valley Cottage, southeast of Bardonia, and west of Central Nyack. It is approximately {{convert|18|mi}} north of New York City. The population was 3,439 at the 2010 census.{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): West Nyack CDP, New York| publisher=United States Census Bureau| access-date=February 9, 2012}}

History

The hamlet was originally known as Clarksville and subsequently MontMoor. It was subsequently merged with the small village located adjacent to the West Shore Railroad station where the Nyack Water Works were also located and became known as West Nyack in 1891.{{Cite book |last=Tompkins |first=Arthur Sidney |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S8opAQAAMAAJ&dq=%2522West+Nyack%2522+Clarksville&pg=PA433 |title=Historical Record to the Close of the Nineteenth Century of Rockland County, New York |date=1902 |publisher=Van Deusen & Joyce |pages=433–434 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Clarksville Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=21381 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=O'Hagan |first=Dee |title=LibGuides: West Nyack Local History : A Brief History of West Nyack |url=https://guides.rcls.org/c.php?g=128582&p=840149 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=guides.rcls.org |language=en}}

File:Brooklyn Museum - West Nyack, New York - John William Hill - overall.jpg

Geography

West Nyack is located at {{Coord|41|5|28|N|73|58|8|W|type:city}} (41.091096, -73.968785).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of {{convert|2.9|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|2020= 3649

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}

}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,282 people, 1,107 households, and 892 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|1,125.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,132 housing units at an average density of {{convert|388.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.03% White, 1.98% African American, 0.03% Native American, 7.59% Asian, 0.98% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.58% of the population.

There were 1,107 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $98,931, and the median income for a family was $106,576. Males had a median income of $67,326 versus $41,518 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $40,178. About 1.0% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

File:United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Logo.jpg

Transportation

West Nyack is located along the New York State Thruway, at the Exit 12 interchange. Other major thoroughfares in West Nyack are New York State Route 303 and New York State Route 59. The Palisades Interstate Parkway is located at the western edge of the hamlet.

West Nyack is located along CSX Transportation's River Line, with 20 to 55 freight trains passing through the hamlet daily.[http://www.rocklandquietzone.com/trainfacts.html Rockland Train Facts] Passenger service ended on the line in 1959.

Landmarks and places of interest

File:9.6.07.PalisadesCenterMallByLuigiNovi1.jpg

File:WestNyackNY MountMoorCemetery 01.jpg

File:NyackNY MountMoorCemetery 02.jpg

File:WestNyackNY TerneurHuttonHouse.jpg

{{clear}}

  • Palisades Center, one of the largest malls in the country, is located along Route 59, Route 303 and the New York State Thruway (I-87 and I-287), exit 12.
  • Clarkstown Reformed Church – 107 Strawtown Road – Site of the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New Hempstead (name in reference to many who moved here from Hempstead. L.I.). Built 1750–51, replaced 1871 by present Clarkstown Reformed Church, 107 Strawtown Road. Note gravestones inscribed in Dutch and those bearing names of 40 veterans of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 and of the Hill family, which produced three generations of artists and a renowned scientist.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
  • DeClark-Polhemus Mill – Remnants still exist on the southwest corner of Strawtown and Germonds roads, West Nyack. The last witchcraft trial in New York State supposedly took place at this gristmill in 1816. Jane (Naut) Kannif, a widow of a Scottish physician, was knowledgeable about herb medicines and was accused of practicing witchcraft. At the mill, Naut was weighed against a large brass-bound Dutch Bible on the large flour balance. Jane outweighed the Bible, was judged innocent and set free. The mill operated into the 20th century to grind flour. The hub of the water wheel still exists as does the dam and mill pond. Historical Marker on site.
  • Mount Moor Cemetery – Mount Moor Cemetery sits in the shadow of the Palisades Center Mall, just north of Route 59. This well-kept cemetery is maintained by the Mount Moor Cemetery Association of 1 Milford Lane, Suffern. Although several stones appear to have been professionally restored, many are too badly worn to read. There are also many field stones often used as burial markers with no inscriptions as well as a plain wooden cross. One of the graves at Mount Moor is that of Lafayette Logan, a Buffalo Soldier who fought in the American Civil War with the legendary black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the unit made famous in the motion picture Glory About six others members of the Buffalo Soldiers are buried here. (NRHP)
  • Rockland Center for the Arts – Founded by Maxwell Anderson and others in 1947.{{cite news |title=Rockland Center Plans 40th-Year Programs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/23/arts/rockland-center-plans-40th-year-programs.html |date=January 23, 1987 |work=New York Times}}{{cite news |title=Readings to Honor Maxwell Anderson |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/20/theater/readings-to-honor-maxwell-anderson.html |date=May 20, 1988 |work=New York Times}} Programs include a School for the Arts, exhibitions, a performing arts series and a Summer Arts Day Camp. The Center provides opportunities for artists to exhibit, perform, create and teach.{{cite web |title=About us |url=http://rocklandartcenter.org/about-us/ |access-date=July 2, 2015 |publisher=Rockland Center for the Arts}}
  • Terneur-Hutton House – 160 Sickelton Road, National Register of Historic Places. (NRHP)

=Historical markers=

  • Clarksville – West Nyack and Sickletown Rds.
  • Clarksville Inn – 1 Strawtown Road. The inn was built by Thomas Warner in 1840 as a hotel, and the buildings were restored in 1957. As of 2020, the Inn operated as a restaurant.{{Cite web |title=Clarksville Inn Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=15351 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}
  • Colonial Clarkstown – 135 Strawtown Road
  • Old Clarkstown Reformed Church Cemetery – 254 Germonds Road, where services have been held since 1740 in the adjacent Pye's Corner.{{Cite web |title=Pye's Corner Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=26199 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Clarkstown Reformed Church Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=44204 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}
  • Site of First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New Hempstead – 254 Germonds Road
  • Nyack Turnpike – West Nyack Road and West Nyack Way{{Cite web |title=The Nyack Turnpike Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=15352 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}
  • The Old Parsonage – 106 Strawtown Road{{Cite web |title=The Old Parsonage Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=26196 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}
  • [http://vanhoutenfields.com/About.html Van Houten Fields] – In 1937 Ralph Borsodi organized a group for the purchase of a 106-acre Dutch farm divided into leased acreage plots, becoming the largest self-administered, back-to-the-land community in Rockland County.
  • Washington's Encampment – 134 Strawtown Road, part of the original DeClark Farm fromo which Clarkstown gets its name{{Cite web |title=Washington's Encampment Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=54842 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}
  • West Nyack's Last Horse Trough, West Nyack Free Library] – 65 Strawtown Road{{Cite web |title=West Nyack's Last Horse Trough Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=21379 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}

=Solar field=

Clarkstown built New York's first solar field atop a capped landfill in 2014. It was slated to generate 3 million kilowatt-hours – enough power to supply about 200 homes, one-third of the electric needs of the Town of Clarkstown government and there are ongoing discussions about expanding it.{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2014/07/03/clarkstown-turns-old-landfill-into-solar-energy-field/|title=Clarkstown Turns Old Landfill Into Solar Energy Field |date=2014-07-08 }}{{Cite news |last=Brum |first=Robert |title=From trash to cash: How Clarkstown saw the light |language=en-US |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/clarkstown/2019/05/23/clarkstown-solar-field-turns-former-landfill-into-green-powerhouse/3709913002/ |access-date=2022-04-28}}

Notable people

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References