Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cornwall-on-Hudson
Village
Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson
Downtown Cornwall-on-Hudson
Location in Orange County and the state of New York.
Cornwall-on-Hudson Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Orange County
Town	Cornwall
Established	1609
Incorporated (village)	1884
Area
• Total	2.09 sq mi (5.42 km2)
• Land	1.99 sq mi (5.15 km2)
• Water	0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,075
• Density	1,547.56/sq mi (597.55/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	12520
Area code	845
FIPS code	36-18333

Cornwall-on-Hudson is a charming village located right on the Hudson River in Orange County, New York. It's about 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. In 2020, about 3,075 people lived here.

This village is part of the larger New York metropolitan area. It's known for its beautiful river views and friendly community feel.

A Look Back: History of Cornwall-on-Hudson

The area where Cornwall-on-Hudson now stands was first part of a large land grant in 1685. An early name for the village was Willisville.

How Cornwall-on-Hudson Started

The Clermont making a landing at Cornwall on the Hudson in 1810

The first settlements grew around Cornwall Landing. This was a busy spot on the Hudson River below Butter Hill. It was the only place in the town where boats could easily land.

In the early 1800s, a man named Daniel Tobias sailed a type of boat called a sloop from Cornwall Landing. His brother, Isaac S. Tobias, even built a road to connect the river to the land above.

Growth and Change at the Landing

Cornwall Landing became a very important place for business. A large lumber company, Mead and Taft, once employed 500 people there. The Landing even had its own post office.

However, after World War II, things changed. Passenger train service stopped, and many old buildings were taken down. Cornwall-on-Hudson officially became a village in December 1884.

Historic Places to Explore

Cornwall-on-Hudson has some interesting historic spots.

Amelia Barr House: A Writer's Home

Amelia Barr House

The Amelia Barr House, also called "Cherry Croft," is on Mountain Road. It sits on the slopes of Storm King Mountain. Amelia Barr was a famous writer from the 1800s. She wrote many of her best books while living here. This house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Camp Olmsted: A Summer Getaway

Camp Olmsted is a summer camp in Cornwall-on-Hudson. It is run by a group called the Five Points Mission. The camp is located near Storm King Mountain.

It started in 1901 when Sarah and John Olmsted gave 21 acres of land for the camp. Kids from the city would take a ferry up the Hudson River to get there. Camp Olmsted was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Geography: Where is Cornwall-on-Hudson?

Cornwall-on-Hudson seen from Breakneck Ridge, across the river

Cornwall-on-Hudson covers about 2.1 square miles (5.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The village is located right on the western shore of the Hudson River.

It's known as one of the more well-off communities in Orange County. While it's mostly a place where people live, it also has a small downtown area. Many homes are right by the river, next to Donahue Memorial Park.

Main roads like NY-218 go through the village. Just south of the village is Storm King State Park. Even further south is the famous United States Military Academy.

Population of Cornwall-on-Hudson

In 2020, the village had a population of 3,075 people. Over the years, the number of people living in Cornwall-on-Hudson has changed. You can see how the population has grown and shrunk in the table above.

Schools in and Around Cornwall-on-Hudson

Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary School

Kids in Cornwall-on-Hudson attend several schools.

• Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary School is right in the village.
• Cornwall Central Middle School and Cornwall Central High School are located in the larger Town of Cornwall.
• Other elementary schools in the Town of Cornwall include Cornwall Elementary School at Lee Road and Willow Avenue Elementary School.
• There are also private boarding schools nearby, like New York Military Academy (NYMA) and Storm King School.

Famous People from Cornwall-on-Hudson

Many interesting people have connections to Cornwall-on-Hudson!

• Djuna Barnes (1892–1982): A well-known writer.
• Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr (1831–1919): A British novelist who lived in the village.
• Lawrence DeSmedt (1949–2004), known as Indian Larry: A famous custom motorcycle builder and stuntman.
• Malcolm Fraser (1903–1994): He founded a big auto parts company and a foundation for stuttering.
• Abram P. Haring (1840–1915): A hero from the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor.
• William Frederick Hoppe (1887–1959), known as Willie Hoppe: A world champion in billiards.
• Albrecht Pagenstecher (1839–1926): A German-American who helped start the modern paper industry.
• David Petraeus (born 1952): A high-ranking U.S. Army general who grew up here.
• Edward Payson Roe (1838–1888): A popular novelist.
• Robert T. Sauer (born 1948): A biochemist who grew up on Mountain Road.
• Whit Stillman (born 1952): An Oscar-nominated filmmaker.
• Harriet Josephine Terry (1885–1967): An important African-American educator and one of the founders of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
• Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921): A famous artist who rented Amelia Barr's house before she did.
• Nathaniel Parker Willis (1806–1867): A writer, editor, and poet.
• Peggy Hull (1889–1967): The first female war correspondent to be officially recognized.

See also

In Spanish: Cornwall-on-Hudson para niños