New City, New York facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids New City, New York
Census-designated place
Rockland County Court House in New City
Location in Rockland County and the state of New York.
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Rockland
Town	Clarkstown
Area
• Total	16.25 sq mi (42.10 km²)
• Land	15.46 sq mi (40.05 km²)
• Water	0.79 sq mi (2.05 km²)
Elevation	157 ft (48 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	34,135
• Density	2,207.67/sq mi (852.38/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	10956
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-50100
GNIS feature ID	0958400

New City is a community in Rockland County, New York, United States. It's a part of the greater New York Metropolitan Area. New City is like a friendly neighborhood located about 18 miles north of New York City. It is the main town for Clarkstown and also where the county government offices are. In 2020, about 34,135 people lived here.

Exploring New City's Location
A Look Back at New City's History
Life in New City Today
- Neighborhoods to Explore
New City's Population
Historical Markers in New City
Cool Places to Visit in New City
Famous People From New City
Images for kids
See also

Exploring New City's Location

New City is found at coordinates 41.145495° N and 73.994901° W. It's easy to get to from big roads in Rockland County. These roads connect New City quickly to places like Bergen County, New Jersey, Westchester County, and even Manhattan and the Bronx in New York City.

A Look Back at New City's History

Before the American Revolutionary War, the Lenape Native Americans lived in the area that became New City. The first Europeans to settle here were the Dutch.

How New City Got Its Name

New City was officially created in 1798. This happened when Rockland County became its own separate county, splitting off from Orange County. Since travel was hard back then, a central spot was needed for the new county's main offices. New City was chosen because it was easy for everyone to reach. The name "New City" came from the idea that the founders wanted to build a "new" important city for the county.

Early Days and Growth

In its early years, New City was mostly farmland with a few small shops. There was even a county fairground and a racetrack!

A famous movie pioneer, Adolph Zukor, who started Paramount Pictures, moved to New City in 1918. He bought a huge property with a golf course. Later, he added more land and built an 18-hole championship golf course. This land is now the Paramount Country Club. A park nearby, Zukor Park, is named after him. Zukor's home attracted many artists and creative people to the area, forming an artist colony on South Mountain Road.

Dutch Gardens: A Beautiful Park

The Dutch Gardens were built in 1934 by skilled Italian workers. These gardens are known for their special brick designs. A local designer, Mary Mowbray-Clark, created them. In 1934, Better Homes and Gardens Magazine even called it the "Garden of the Year." It's still a popular park today, located right by the courthouse.

New City Becomes a Suburb

New City stayed mostly rural until the 1950s. Then, the Tappan Zee Bridge and the Palisades Interstate Parkway opened. This made it much faster to travel between New York City and Rockland County. Many people from New York City moved to Rockland County. This changed New City from a quiet farming area into a busy suburb. Along with homes, many businesses, banks, and shops also opened. Some parts of New City, like South Mountain Road and Lake Lucille, have kept their quiet, wooded, and historic feel.

Life in New City Today

New City has grown a lot, especially between 1950 and 1980. The downtown area is a busy place with many businesses and government offices. This brings many workers and visitors to the area each day. Neighborhoods closer to the town center are usually middle-class and have more homes close together.

However, many wealthier neighborhoods on the edges of town, especially to the north, are still peaceful. They have lots of trees, winding roads, and even lakes and streams. While there isn't much empty land left for building, you can still find a few small farms.

Neighborhoods to Explore

New City has many different neighborhoods, each with its own feel:

Braemar: A middle-class area just south of the downtown.
Brownsell Corner: Found near Zukor Park on the northern side of town.
Camelot: A wealthy neighborhood on the eastern side, known for its large, castle-like homes.
Centenary: Located on the northeastern edge of town, near Haverstraw.
Dellwood Park: An upper-middle-class area north of town, close to Lake Lucille.
Downtown New City: The main business area, with some homes, apartments, and townhouses.
Fieldstone: A wealthy neighborhood on the southeastern side, along Lake DeForest.
The Hamlets of Rockland: Part of this neighborhood is in New City, and part is in Nanuet.
Lake Lucille: An upper-middle-class area next to the lake of the same name.
Laurel Plains: A middle-class neighborhood with an elementary school. Many residents work in the Hudson Valley or commute to New York City.
Middlesex Heights Development: An upper-middle-class area with rolling hills and homes built mostly in the Colonial style. Its streets are named after famous US landmarks and people.
New City Condominiums (Heritage Drive): A lower-middle-class area about a mile north of downtown.
New City Gardens: A working-class neighborhood near the center of town.
New City Park: A community southwest of downtown, known for its small lake and Cropsey Farm.
Oakbrook: Located on the southwestern edge of town, near Nanuet.
Omni Court: A middle-class neighborhood in the center of town.
Phillips Hill Road: An upper-middle-class area known for its wooded setting, streams, and waterfalls.
The Dells: A development on the north side of town, next to Paramount Country Club.
The Promenade: An upper-middle-class neighborhood on the northern side of town.
The Woods: A wealthy neighborhood on the southeastern side of town.
Sky Drive: A wealthy, private neighborhood north of Lake Lucille.
South Mountain Road: A winding, historic road that was once home to many artists.
Squadron Gardens: A community for seniors in the center of town.
Tarry Hill: An upper-middle-class neighborhood on the northern side of town.
Tor Terrace and Smith Farms: A wealthy neighborhood on the northern side of town.

New City's Population

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
2020	34,135	—
U.S. Decennial Census

New City has grown a lot over the years. In 1940, about 1,000 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 34,135! This growth was especially fast after the Tappan Zee Bridge opened, making it easier for people to move from New York City.

In 2000, there were 34,038 people living in New City. About 40% of homes had children under 18. Most households (76%) were married couples. The average age of people in New City was 40 years old. The average income for a family in 2007 was about $128,200.

Historical Markers in New City

These markers show important places in New City's past:

Collyer Farm Pond & New City Park – Collyer Avenue and Lake Drive
H. R. Stevens House – 234 Congers Road
The Jacob Blauvelt House, 20 Zukor Road
Rockland County Court House, 1 South Main Street
Martinus Hogenkamp Cemetery, South Little Tor Road
One Germonds, 1 Germonds Road

Cool Places to Visit in New City

New City has many interesting landmarks and places to explore:

Coe's Tavern: Once located at Route 45 & New Hempstead Road. This spot was a stop for Continental Army troops during the Revolutionary War.
Contempora House: A historic house listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cropsey Farm: Located at 230 Little Tor Road, this is one of the few remaining vegetable and fruit farms in Rockland County. The farmhouse was built around 1769.
Paramount Country Club: Formerly Dellwood Country Club, this club hosts a tennis tournament that raises money for breast cancer research. It was once the home of Paramount Pictures founder Adolph Zukor.
Dutch Garden: Designed in 1933–34, this beautiful garden won "Garden of the Year" in 1935. It has unique brickwork and a Tea House with carvings. It's now a county park.
English Church and Schoolhouse (New Hempstead Presbyterian Church): Located at 484 New Hempstead Road, this was the first English-speaking church in the county, founded in 1734.
H. R. Stevens House: A historic house at 234 Congers Road.
High Tor Mountain: The tallest peak in the Palisades Range. Its southern base is in New City.
Historical Society of Rockland County: Located at 20 Zukor Road, this society helps preserve local history.
Jacob Blauvelt Farmhouse: At 20 Zukor Road, this Dutch colonial style farmhouse was built in 1882. It has an open fireplace for cooking demonstrations and a museum.
Law Enforcement Museum: Inside the county Sheriff's Department, you can see photos and items about law enforcement in the area.
New City Library: Located at 220 North Main Street.
Peter DePew House: A historic house at 101 Old Route 304.
Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church: This church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007.
South Mountain Road: A winding, historic road that was once home to an artist's colony.
Street Community Center Veterans Museum: Located at 31 Zukor Rd, this museum honors veterans.
Van Houten Gardens: At 241 S. Little Tor Road, this was once part of Cropsey Farm.