Montebello, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montebello, New York
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Overhead view of Montebello
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Location in Rockland County and the state of New York.
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 Montebello, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Rockland |
| Incorporated | May 7, 1986 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.33 sq mi (11.22 km2) |
| • Land | 4.32 sq mi (11.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 318 ft (97 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,507 |
| • Density | 1,043.05/sq mi (402.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
10901
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| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-48090 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0979939 |
| Website | http://www.villageofmontebello.org/ |
Montebello is a lovely village in Rockland County, New York. Its name comes from Italian and means "beautiful mountain." It's located north of Suffern and is part of the larger town of Ramapo. In 2020, about 4,507 people lived here.
Contents
Geography of Montebello
Montebello is located at 41°7′39″N 74°7′9″W / 41.12750°N 74.11917°W. The village covers about 4.4 square miles (11.22 square kilometers) of land.
Montebello has a good road system. Major roads include U.S. Route 202 and the New York State Thruway. Exit 14B of the Thruway is right within the village!
Montebello's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 2,950 | — | |
| 2000 | 3,688 | 25.0% | |
| 2010 | 4,526 | 22.7% | |
| 2020 | 4,507 | −0.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, Montebello had 3,688 people living in 1,163 homes. Most homes were families, with many having children under 18. The average family size was about 3 people.
The population was spread out in terms of age. About 32% of residents were under 18. The average age was 38 years old.
History of Montebello
Early Days of Montebello
Long ago, Montebello was a quiet area with farms and mills. These were connected by simple dirt roads. This peaceful life began to change when the Erie Railroad arrived in nearby Suffern in 1841.
The Erie Railroad's Impact
Suffern became a very busy train station. People from New York City, looking for a cool and calm escape from city life, would take trains to this rural area. The beautiful scenery and fresh air made Suffern a popular summer spot. Many wealthy families from New York came to visit or even buy land. They built elegant country homes among the rolling hills and forests of the Ramapo Mountains.
The Montebello Estate
One famous estate belonged to a rich New York businessman named Thomas Fortune Ryan. In 1887, the Ryans bought a large mansion. They called their new home "Montebello," which means "beautiful mountain."
Within three years, they replaced the old house with a huge brick and stone mansion. It cost $600,000 to build! This amazing summer home had a two-lane bowling alley, an electric elevator, a private chapel, and 13 fireplaces. It had over 44 rooms in total. The estate was huge, covering about 1,000 acres (4 square kilometers), and even had a working farm. The Ryans also built five smaller mansions for their sons nearby.
Thomas Fortune Ryan came from humble beginnings. He became one of the richest men in the country. He made his money in many different businesses, including railroads, tobacco, and banking.
The Ryans were also very generous. Mrs. Ryan gave away millions of dollars to charities, especially to the Roman Catholic Church. She helped build many churches, schools, and hospitals. She also helped the local community by donating equipment to the Suffern Fire Department and establishing a girls' school and a seminary. She even started Good Samaritan Hospital in the area.
After Mrs. Ryan passed away in 1917, the estate was divided. In 1921, the main mansion was sold to Edward Swann, a New York City District Attorney. Later, it was sold to the Archdiocese of New York, which used it as a retreat. In 1951, a copper mining company, Phelps Dodge Corporation, bought the mansion and used it as their corporate headquarters for over 30 years. Today, it is an office park.
Education in Montebello
Montebello is part of the Suffern Central School District. Montebello Elementary School is located in the village. Older students go to Suffern Middle School and Suffern High School.
Rockland Community College, which is part of the SUNY system, is also very close to the village.
Historical Markers in Montebello
Bayard Lane: A Unique Community
Bayard Lane was once a special community in Montebello. In 1936, it was home to a unique project called "Utopia." This idea came from Ralph Borsodi, a well-known author and economist. He wanted to create a lifestyle where families could be self-sufficient and independent, even if they worked in New York City.
Borsodi and his family started experimenting with this idea in 1919. They moved to a small farm near Suffern. While Borsodi worked in the city, his family learned to grow their own food and make many things themselves.
In 1933, Borsodi wrote a popular book called Flight from the City. This book inspired many families during the Great Depression who were looking for a better way of life. In 1935, Borsodi started Bayard Lane, a small experimental community on 40 acres of land.
The land was bought by the Independence Foundation, a non-profit group. They divided the land into small homesteads, usually 1 to 2 acres each. Families owned their homes, but the land was owned cooperatively. The first house was built in June 1935. The homes were strong and made of local fieldstone.
The School of Living was a key part of Borsodi's project. It was founded in 1938 and taught people how to be self-sufficient. They learned skills like caning, raising poultry, masonry, and carpentry.
Even though Bayard Lane was famous for a while, it eventually changed. As the United States entered Second World War, the economy shifted, and people moved away from Borsodi's ideas. Today, two historical markers on U.S. Route 202 tell the story of this interesting community.
Cobblestone Farm: A Grand Estate
Cobblestone Farm is another important landmark in Montebello. This beautiful estate covers 35 acres of land on Viola Road. It was once the home of Henry von L. Meyer, Sr., who founded White Laboratories, a drug manufacturing company.
In 1907, Meyer bought 200 acres of land to create a grand country estate and working farm. He built a unique barn and carriage house using stones cleared from the fields, which is how it got its name, Cobblestone Farm. The farm also had other buildings, including a large dairy barn, and several ponds.
Henry von L. Meyer was a successful businessman and a generous person. He and his wife, Laura Hard Meyer, were known for their charity work. They supported many organizations, including the Boy Scouts of America and the Rockland County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. They even built a shelter for homeless animals on their farm.
Indian Rock: A Giant Boulder
Indian Rock is a huge glacial erratic boulder. This means it's a giant rock that was moved by a glacier thousands of years ago! It's made of granite gneiss and is estimated to weigh about 17,300 tons.
This massive rock was carried to its current spot by a huge ice sheet about 21,000 years ago. The ice picked up the rock from the nearby Ramapo Mountains and dropped it here when the glacier melted. Even though it looks like several rocks, it was originally one single boulder. Over time, freezing and thawing water caused it to crack into pieces.
Long ago, when the Kakiat Indians were leaving their traditional hunting grounds, they stopped at Indian Rock. They held a final feast and left offerings before moving westward.
Other Landmarks and Places of Interest
- Fant Farm: The house and barns here date back to around 1850.
- Montebello Village Hall: This building, built around 1920, was once a private home. It's now the village hall and is considered a historic landmark.
- Residence, Tudor Revival: A beautiful home built around 1923, showing the Tudor or English Cottage style.
Fun Things to Do in Montebello
- Spook Rock Golf Course:
This 18-hole golf course is considered one of the best public courses in the country. It used to be a Boy Scout camp!
- Spook Rock Pool: A great place to swim and cool off.
- Kathryn Gorman Ponds Park: This 25-acre park has many ponds and walking trails. It's named after the village's first Mayor.
- Warren E. Berbit Park: A 12-acre natural park on Spook Rock Road. It's kept as open space and was named after the first Village Attorney.
- Tot Lot and 9/11 Memorial: The village has a playground for kids on the Village Hall grounds. There's also an outdoor gazebo and a special 9/11 Memorial Garden. In 2011, the village received a 250-pound steel piece from the World Trade Center to place in the memorial.
- Kakiat Park:
This large 376-acre park is next to Harriman State Park. It was once a farm owned by the Blauvelt family for over 200 years. You can still see the foundation of their old mill.
Kakiat Park is a great place for outdoor activities! You can go hiking on the Kakiat Trail, ride horses, or have a picnic. There's even an off-leash area for dogs. The Mahwah River flows through the park, and it's stocked with trout for fishing. In winter, you can enjoy various snow activities. The park has many different types of trees, from willows to oaks.
See also
In Spanish: Montebello (Nueva York) para niños
