Fishkill (town), New York Facts for Kids

Fishkill is a town in the southwestern part of Dutchess County, New York. It is about 60 miles (97 km) north of New York City. In 2020, about 24,226 people lived there. Fishkill surrounds the city of Beacon. It also has a village inside it, which is also called Fishkill.

The name Fishkill comes from Dutch words, vis kill, which means "fish creek." Native American people called this area Tioranda, meaning "The place where two waters meet." Fishkill is one of the first nine towns in Dutchess County. It is known for its important history, especially from the American Revolutionary War, and its beautiful views of the Hudson Highlands.

History
Tourism
Geography
Population
Sports
Notable residents
See also

History

In 1683, some merchants from New York City bought a large area of land in Dutchess County. They bought about 85,000 acres (344 square kilometers) from the Wappinger Native American people. This land was later given as a royal grant called the Rombout Patent. The first European settlers to live on the land were Catheryna Rombout and her husband, Roger Brett. They built a mill where Fishkill Creek flows into the Hudson River.

When Fishkill became an official town in 1788, it was much larger than it is today. It included the areas of present-day Beacon and the Village of Fishkill. It also covered the Town of Wappinger, Village of Wappingers Falls, Town of East Fishkill, and part of LaGrange. Over time, as new towns were formed, Fishkill's size became smaller. By 1913, when Beacon became a city, Fishkill's borders were almost the same as they are now.

Some places in Fishkill still have their original Native American names. These include Matteawan Road and the hamlet of Wiccopee. Daniel Nimham, who was the last leader (sachem) of the Wappinger people, was born in the Wiccopee area in 1726.

Fishkill played a very important role during the American Revolutionary War. A large military camp, called the Fishkill Supply Depot, was set up nearby. This camp was a main supply center for the Continental Army. It helped guard a mountain pass to the south. Signal fires were ready on top of the mountains to send messages.

The first copies of the New York State Constitution were printed in Fishkill in 1777. Mount Beacon, located in the town, got its name from these signal fires. These fires were used by the Continental Army to communicate during the war.

George Washington, the commander of the Continental Army, spent a lot of time in Fishkill. In 1778, a silversmith named John Bailey made a special sword for Washington in Fishkill. Washington loved this sword and carried it for the rest of the war. Today, this sword is kept at the Smithsonian Institution in the National Museum of American History.

Today, Fishkill has many different types of businesses. These include tourism, healthcare, shops, restaurants, and small businesses.

In 1996, an animal rights group suggested that the town change its name. They thought "Fishkill" sounded violent towards fish. However, the town's name comes from the Dutch words vis kill, meaning "fish creek." Because of this, the town decided not to change its name.

In 2021, the town asked a sculptor to create a bronze statue of Daniel Nimham. The statue is eight feet tall and was placed in Fishkill in May 2022. It was officially dedicated on June 11, 2022. The ceremony included speeches from local leaders and special presentations by Native American groups.

Tourism

Fishkill has several places that tourists like to visit. Many of these sites are important historically.

Dutchess Stadium: This is where the Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team plays. They are a Minor League team.
Mount Gulian
SplashDown Beach: A water and amusement park that is open during certain seasons.
Stony Kill Farm
Van Wyck Homestead Museum

Geography

Fishkill covers about 32 square miles (82.9 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 4.7 square miles (12.1 square kilometers) is water. The land's height above sea level changes a lot. It can be at sea level along the Hudson River or as high as 1,600 feet (488 meters) on South Beacon Mountain.

The southern border of Fishkill is the line between Dutchess and Putnam counties. The western border is the Hudson River. Across the river are towns in Orange County. The city of Beacon is located inside the town of Fishkill. To the north is the town of Wappinger, and to the east is East Fishkill.

The town's name comes from the Fishkill Creek. This creek flows from east to west through the town and into the Hudson River. Since "Fishkill" means "fish creek" in Dutch, saying "Fishkill Creek" is like saying "fish creek creek"!

Interstate 84 goes through Fishkill from east to west. You can get on or off at Exits 41, 44, and 46. US 9 also passes through the town and village, going north and south.

Population

Fishkill has grown a lot over the years. Here's how its population has changed:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	8,203	—
1830	8,292	1.1%
1840	10,437	25.9%
1850	9,240	−11.5%
1860	9,546	3.3%
1870	11,752	23.1%
1880	10,732	−8.7%
1890	11,840	10.3%
1900	13,016	9.9%
1910	13,858	6.5%
1920	2,095	−84.9%
1930	2,890	37.9%
1940	3,615	25.1%
1950	3,863	6.9%
1960	7,083	83.4%
1970	11,935	68.5%
1980	15,506	29.9%
1990	17,655	13.9%
2000	20,258	14.7%
2010	22,107	9.1%
2020	24,226	9.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were about 20,258 people living in Fishkill. There were 6,856 households. About 27.7% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.35 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 18.3% were under 18. About 38.1% were between 25 and 44 years old. The average age was 38 years.

Sports

Fishkill is home to the Hudson Valley Renegades. This is a minor league baseball team that plays at Heritage Financial Park. They are connected with the New York Yankees team.

Notable residents

A statue of Fishkill native Daniel Nimham in the Town of Fishkill.

Elizabeth Allen: An actress and singer who lived in Fishkill.
Catheryna Rombout Brett: A businesswoman who owned a lot of land in Dutchess County long ago.
Elijah A. Briggs: A soldier from the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor. He lived in Fishkill for many years.
Robert Kanigher: A writer for comic books, plays, and TV shows, known for Wonder Woman. He lived in Fishkill.
Marquis de Lafayette: A French military leader who helped George Washington during the Revolutionary War. He was cared for in Fishkill when he was sick.
Daniel Nimham: The last leader (sachem) of the Wappinger people. He was born in Fishkill in 1726 and fought in the Revolutionary War.
Benjamin Strong Jr.: A banker and former Governor of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Fishkill (town), New York facts for kids

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