Central Nyack, New York facts for kids

Central Nyack is a small community, called a hamlet, located in Rockland County, New York. It's about 20 miles north of New York City. Central Nyack is surrounded by other towns: Blauvelt to the south, West Nyack to the west, Valley Cottage to the north, and the Village of Nyack to the east. Since it's a hamlet, the local government is managed by the larger Town of Clarkstown. This area offers beautiful mountain views and is close to parks like Buttermilk Falls County Park.

A Look Back: Central Nyack's History

Central Nyack grew up along an old road called the Nyack Turnpike, which is now State Route 59. People say that travelers who wanted to avoid paying a fee (a toll) on the main road near Nyack village found a different path into the hills. This path eventually became Waldron Avenue, and a community started to form around it. Most of Central Nyack was built between the 1880s and the 1920s. Some newer parts were added in the 1970s.

A cool fact from history is that the very first professional baseball game played at night under lights in Rockland County happened right here in Central Nyack! This exciting event took place on June 29, 1933. The stadium was built by Pierre Arnold Bernard. It's even said that dynamite and elephants were used to flatten the land for the stadium!

Getting Around: Transportation

Central Nyack is right on State Route 59, which is a main road. You can catch Transport of Rockland county buses along this route. These buses can take you to places like Suffern, Spring Valley, Nyack, and even to the MetroNorth train station in Tarrytown.

For getting around within Central Nyack, Clarkstown MiniTrans offers smaller buses. There's also a Central Nyack bus stop that connects with Route D. This route goes to the Nanuet Train Station, where you can catch the Pascack Valley Line train to Hoboken, New Jersey. Hudson Link buses also serve the hamlet, connecting people to more places.

What's Here: Land Use and Nature

Most of the homes in Central Nyack are single-family houses. There are also some apartment buildings, including a garden apartment complex and larger complexes on Pine Street and Waldron Avenue.

Along State Route 59, you'll find businesses like shops and restaurants. A shopping plaza was built in the late 1980s, which includes a supermarket and several places to eat. Central Nyack doesn't have much large industry.

The community is next to Buttermilk Falls County Park to the south. This park is mostly natural, with a small parking area and a few hiking trails. If you visit, you might spot wildlife like white-tailed deer, chipmunks, rabbits, and nuthatch birds. There are no schools located directly within Central Nyack.

Learning Here: Education

Students in Central Nyack go to different schools depending on where they live in the community.

• Western Central Nyack: If you live in the western part, you're part of the Clarkstown Central School District. Students here attend West Nyack Elementary School, Felix V. Festa Middle School, and Clarkstown Senior High School South.
• Eastern Central Nyack: If you live in the eastern part, you're part of the Nyack Public Schools system. Students here go to Valley Cottage Elementary School, Nyack Middle School, and Nyack High School.

Who Lives Here: Community Facts

According to the 2000 U.S. census, Central Nyack had a population of 1,845 people. The community is diverse, with people from many different backgrounds. About 31% of the population was Non-Hispanic White, 40% was Non-Hispanic Black, 8% was Non-Hispanic Asian, and 11% was Hispanic. The remaining 10% were from other groups.

There were 574 housing units in Central Nyack at that time. About 39% of these homes were rented, while 61% were owned by the people living in them.