Deerpark, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deerpark, New York
Town
The refurbished Huguenot Schoolhouse, now the historical museum of Deerpark
Location in Orange County and New York
Deerpark, New York Location in New York Show map of New York Deerpark, New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Orange
Settled	1690
Established	1798
Area
• Total	67.95 sq mi (175.98 km2)
• Land	66.50 sq mi (172.23 km2)
• Water	1.45 sq mi (3.75 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,509
• Density	110.508/sq mi (42.670/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	12729, 12746, 12780, 12785
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-071-19961

Deerpark is a town located in the western part of Orange County, New York, in the United States. It's part of the larger New York metropolitan area. In 2020, about 7,509 people lived here. A small community called Cuddebackville, which is part of Deerpark, is known as the main location for the global Falun Gong religious movement and the Shen Yun performance arts group.

History of Deerpark

Early Settlements and Conflicts

In the 1600s, people from the Netherlands (Dutch) and French Protestants (Huguenots) started settling in this area. They built a Dutch settlement called Waghackamack, which was later renamed Minisink.

This area was part of a long argument between New York and New Jersey about their shared border. This dispute started around 1700 and wasn't solved until 1773.

During the American Revolutionary War, a Mohawk leader named Joseph Brant attacked the area twice. One of these attacks, on July 20, 1776, caused a lot of damage and led to a battle known as the Battle of Minisink.

Founding the Town

The town of Deerpark was officially created in 1798. It was formed from the southeastern part of Mamakating. The town got its name from a piece of land that was fenced off with brushes. Locals called it "McDaniel’s Deerpark."

Later, on May 11, 1853, the area that is now Port Jervis separated from Deerpark to become its own village.

Geography of Deerpark

Land and Water Features

Deerpark covers about 67.9 square miles (175.9 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 66.4 square miles (172.2 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.5 square miles (3.75 square kilometers), is water. This makes Deerpark the second-largest town in Orange County by area.

The southwestern border of the town is shared with Pennsylvania, marked by the Delaware River. The western and northern borders are shared with Sullivan County. The Neversink River also flows through the town. The city of Port Jervis is located at the southern edge of Deerpark. A small part of the town also borders Montague Township, New Jersey.

Roads and Scenic Views

You can find US Route 209 running alongside the Neversink River in Deerpark. If you visit Hawk's Nest scenic overlook along New York State Route 97, you can enjoy amazing views of the Delaware River. Interstate 84 also passes through the southern part of the town, close to the New Jersey state line.

Population of Deerpark

In 2000, there were 7,858 people living in Deerpark. The population density was about 118 people per square mile. About 35.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.7 people.

The population was spread out, with 27.5% of people under 18 years old. The median age was 38 years. This means half the people were younger than 38 and half were older.

The average income for a household in the town was $45,000. For families, the average income was $49,987. About 7.4% of families and 14.8% of the total population lived below the poverty line.

Communities and Locations in Deerpark

Deerpark Town Hall

Deerpark has several smaller communities and interesting spots:

• Cahoonzie – A small community in the western part of the town.
• Cuddebackville – A community located about ten miles north of Port Jervis. It was named after Colonel William Cuddeback, who first owned the land.
• Dragon Springs – This is a large property that is home to the Falun Gong movement and its leader, Li Hongzhi.
• Godeffroy – A small community south of Cuddebackville.
• Huguenot – A community north of Port Jervis. The Huguenot Schoolhouse and Neversink Valley Grange Hall No. 1530 are important historic buildings here. The community is named after the Huguenot immigrants who settled there.
• Montague Valley Wildlife Management Area – A special area set aside to protect wildlife, located near Cahoonzie.
• Paradise – A community near the northern border of the town.
• Port Orange – A community north of Cuddebackville.
• Prospect Hill – A community west of Cuddebackville.
• Rio – A community near the northern town line. The historic Cottage in the Pines is located here.
• Roses Point – A spot south of Cuddebackville.
• Sparrowbush – A community west of Port Jervis, located along the Delaware River.
• Westbrookville – A community north of Cuddebackville, right on the border of Orange and Sullivan Counties.

Education in Deerpark

Most of Deerpark is served by the Port Jervis School District, including the community of Sparrowbush. A small part of the town is served by the Eldred Central School District.

The Port Jervis district has Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School (HBE) in Cuddebackville. Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School is also in Deerpark, even though it has a Port Jervis mailing address. For older students, Port Jervis Middle School and Port Jervis High School are the zoned secondary schools. The high school is located in Deerpark, on the same property as Kuhl Elementary.

Notable People from Deerpark

• Karl A. Brabenec – A former town supervisor who is now a member of the New York State Assembly.
• Bruce Manning – A filmmaker, screenwriter, and novelist.
• William H. Cuddeback – A politician and judge who served on the New York Court of Appeals.
• Thomas Samuel Swartwout – An early settler and one of the founders of the town.

See also

In Spanish: Deerpark para niños