Newburgh (town), New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newburgh
Town
J. Malone Bannan Center, the town hall, named for a former (1967–1978) town supervisor
Nickname(s):  Crossroads of the Northeast
Location in Orange County and New York.
Newburgh Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Orange
Area
• Total	46.94 sq mi (121.58 km2)
• Land	43.36 sq mi (112.31 km2)
• Water	3.58 sq mi (9.27 km2)
Elevation	423 ft (129 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	31,985
• Density	681.40/sq mi (263.078/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)	845
FIPS code	36-50045
GNIS feature ID	0979259

Newburgh (/ˈnuːbɜːrɡ/) is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. It's part of a larger metropolitan area that includes New York City. The nearby city of Newburgh used to be part of the town until 1865. New York Stewart International Airport is partly located here.

In 2020, about 31,985 people lived in the town. This was the first time the town's population was larger than the nearby city of Newburgh. The town of Newburgh is often called the "crossroads of the Northeast." This is because of Stewart Airport, the Hudson River, and two major highways that cross through the town: Interstate 84 (east-west) and Interstate 87, also known as the New York State Thruway (north-south).

A Look at Newburgh's Past

Newburgh was first settled in 1709 by German refugees. They called it "Neuburg." Soon after, many Scottish immigrants also moved here. It became a "precinct" in 1762.

Newburgh During the Revolution

During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington had his headquarters in the Hasbrouck House. This house is now in the city of Newburgh. Important events like the Newburgh letter and the Newburgh Conspiracy happened here.

Becoming a Town

Newburgh officially became a town in 1788. At first, it was part of Ulster County. But in 1798, it moved to Orange County. The village of Newburgh became a city in 1865. When it became a city, it became separate from the town.

From Farms to Homes

For a long time, Newburgh was mostly farms and open land. There were many apple orchards and dairy farms. One large farm, Brookside Dairy Farm, was owned by the Stewart family. This family gave their name to Stewart Avenue and Stewart International Airport. After World War II, many farms were turned into housing areas. This happened because war veterans could buy homes easily. Also, more families could afford cars, making it easier to live outside crowded cities.

Many mills used to operate along the streams in Newburgh. For example, the Gidney family ran a grist mill on Gidneytown Creek. Today, you can still see the old brick chimney from this mill. It's now a historic site.

Small communities called hamlets grew up between the farms. These hamlets usually had a general store, a church, and a post office.

Growth and Change

The town's population grew slowly until after World War II. Then, it grew very quickly. Many new homes were built for families. However, in the 1970s, growth slowed down. Many large businesses left the area. This included the closing of Stewart Air Force Base in 1970.

Building started again in the late 1980s. More people from New York City, Westchester County, and Rockland County moved here. They were looking for less crowded areas and lower taxes. By the 1990s, many people were commuting long distances to work. The town became more of a "bedroom community" for people working outside the area.

In 2010, the town of Newburgh's population grew to 29,801. This was more than the city of Newburgh for the first time.

Where is Newburgh?

Chadwick Lake

Orange Lake, New York

Quassaick Creek

The town of Newburgh covers about 47 square miles (121.58 km²). Most of this is land, with some water.

The northern border of the town is with Ulster County. The eastern border is the Hudson River, which separates it from Dutchess County.

Newburgh is bordered by several other towns. To the north are Plattekill and Marlborough. To the west are Shawangunk and Montgomery. The entire southern border is with the town of New Windsor. The city of Newburgh is a separate area at the southeast corner.

Hills and Views

Newburgh has many hills. It's next to the Hudson River, but it's hard to get to the river from town. This is because most of the shoreline has steep cliffs.

Several hills in Newburgh are over 750 feet (228 meters) high. Fox Hill and Kings Hill are examples.

The most famous hill is Cronomer Hill. It's 725 feet (221 meters) above sea level. Most of Cronomer Hill is a park. You can drive to the top and find an observation tower. From there, you can see amazing views of the Hudson Valley. You can see the Newburgh Beacon Bridge, parts of Dutchess County, and Stewart Airport. On a clear day, you might even see High Point in New Jersey.

People of Newburgh

In 2020, the population of Newburgh was 31,985 people. In 2000, there were 27,568 people living in the town. About 36.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.80 people.

The median age in the town was 38 years old. About 26.2% of the population was under 18. The median income for a household in 2000 was $60,017. By 2018, the estimated median household income was $87,602. This shows that the town of Newburgh is generally wealthier than the city of Newburgh.

Schools in Newburgh

A map from 1875 shows that Newburgh used to have 14 different school districts. Each had its own schoolhouse and school board. In the mid-1950s, it was common for one teacher to teach several grades in one classroom.

After World War II, more modern schools were needed. New elementary schools were built in Balmville, Gardnertown, East Coldenham, Leptondale, and Union Grove.

In 1963, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District was created. It included the city of Newburgh and most of the town of New Windsor. It also took in several school districts within the town of Newburgh.

However, some areas joined other school districts. Roseton and Middlehope joined the Unified Marlboro School District. East Coldenham joined the Valley Central School District. Leptondale joined the Wallkill Central School District. This means there are four different school districts in the town of Newburgh. Each of these districts has its main office in a different nearby town.

Today, elementary schools in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District are "magnet schools." This means that where a student lives doesn't always decide which elementary school they attend.

Getting Around Newburgh

Stewart International Airport

Stewart International Airport is partly in the town of Newburgh.

Several important roads pass through the town. These include U.S. Route 9W, New York Route 17K, New York Route 32, New York Route 52, New York Route 207, and New York Route 300.

Interstate 84 goes through the town from east to west. It connects with Interstate 87 (the New York State Thruway).

Bus service is also available. Short Line buses travel along U.S. Route 9W. They go to and from Midtown Manhattan and West Point Military Academy.

Places and Communities in Newburgh

• Algonquin Park – This park was given to the city of Newburgh by private developers. It's now managed by Orange County. The park has the ruins of an old gunpowder mill. This mill is part of the Orange Mill Historic District, the only historic district in the town.
• Algonquin Park Boulder – A very large boulder in Algonquin Park was a popular landmark for many years. It was sadly removed in 2008, despite efforts by local residents to save it.
• Balmville – A small community in the eastern part of the town, just north of the city of Newburgh.
• Candlestick Hill – An area in the northern part of town that used to be rural with apple orchards. Since 2000, many new homes have been built here.
• Cedar Cliff – Once a small community in the far northeast corner of town. Today, it's just the name of a hill and a short road.
• Cedar Hill Cemetery – The largest cemetery in Newburgh. It was founded in the 1850s. Famous people like Andrew Jackson Downing and Eric Carr (drummer for Kiss) are buried here.
• Chadwick Lake – A lake created by people in the northwestern part of town. The town government owns it and uses it for recreation. It's also a water source for the town. You can find playgrounds, picnic areas, and hiking trails around the lake.
• Cronomer Hill Park – This park is on Cronomer Hill. It has soccer and baseball fields, and tennis courts. The town's "Community Day" is held here every year before July 4th.
• Cronomer Valley – A small community located between Fostertown and Cronomer Hill. The local fire department is here.
• Danskammer Point – A small piece of land that sticks out into the Hudson River. It's home to an electric power plant.
• East Coldenham – A community that was the site of a school disaster in 1989. It's part of the Valley Central School District.
• Fostertown – A community that used to be a farming area. The Fostertown School building is believed to be the oldest school building still used for education in town. A church built in 1833 is also believed to be the oldest church building still in use.
• Gardnertown – This community is in the center of the town. Many government buildings, like Town Hall and Police Headquarters, are located here.
• Gidneytown – A former community where the Gidney family operated a grist mill. Today, only the brick chimney remains. The town's animal shelter is also here.
• Gomez Mill House – This is the oldest known Jewish residence still standing in the country. It's also the oldest home in Orange County listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Hy Vue Terrace – A development built in the mid-1950s where all the houses were made of brick.
• Leptondale – Located in the northwest corner of the town. It's still the most rural part of town, but new homes have been built here. It's part of the Wallkill School District.
• Meadow Hill – The largest housing development in the town. It used to be farmland. The streets are named after horses, royalty, or British places.
• Meadow Winds – A new development built in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It has homes, townhouses, and condos with great views.
• Middlehope – A community in the northeast part of town. It was once a center for apple growing. The Middlehope school district joined the Marlboro School District.
• Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike – One of the oldest roads in the state, built in 1801. Today, it's known as New York State Route 17K.
• North Plank Road and South Plank Road – These were two old toll roads built in the 1840s. Today, they are New York State Route 32 and New York State Route 52.
• Orange Lake – A large lake in the western part of the town. It's believed to be the biggest lake entirely within Orange County.
• Orange Lake – A community east of Orange Lake. It was a resort area with an amusement park before World War II. Famous performers used to play at a nightclub here.
• Powelton Club – An exclusive private country club in Balmville. It's one of the oldest country clubs in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Quassaick Creek – This creek is mostly in the town of Newburgh. It gained attention in the 1980s for efforts to stop pollution.
• Roseton – This community mostly no longer exists. It was once known for its brick yards. Most of the homes were demolished for the expansion of power plants.
• Rossville – A former community on New York Route 32. All that remains is the building of the former Rossville Methodist Church, now a library museum.
• Sherwood Forest – A small housing development where the streets are named after characters from the Robin Hood legend.
• Trinity United Methodist Parish – This church was formed in 1976 by merging three Methodist churches. Its main building was built in 1833 and is believed to be the oldest church building still in use in town.
• Union Grove – This rural community is now mostly commercial. The tallest building in the town is located here.
• Wedgewood Park – A housing development where all the streets are named after states.
• Winona Lake – An area around two lakes. The upper lake dried out, and the lower lake has had problems with its dam.

Famous People from Newburgh

• William W. Belknap (1829–1890) – He was the Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant.
• Eric Carr (1950–1991) – The drummer for the famous rock band Kiss.
• Rob Cohen (born 1949) – A well-known film director and producer. He grew up in the Powelton Farms area.
• The Delano family – This family lived in a large estate called Algonac in Balmville.
• Thomas C. Desmond (1887–1972) – He made a fortune building ships during World War I. He also served in the New York State Senate for many years.
• Andrew Jackson Downing (1815–1852) – A famous landscape architect.
• William S. Hart (1864–1946) – He was a silent movie star and one of the first "cowboys" in films. He was born in what is now the city of Newburgh.
• James D. Hughes (1922–2024) – An Air Force General who was a top military helper to President Richard M. Nixon.
• George Inness (1825–1894) – A famous 19th-century painter.
• Joseph John Jova (1916–1993) – A diplomat who served as a U.S. Ambassador to several countries. His family owned brick yards in Roseton.
• Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015) – A noted painter and sculptor.
• Margaret Leech (1893–1974) – She won two Pulitzer Prizes for her history books.
• Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt (1854–1941) – The mother of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who became the 32nd President of the United States. She was born and raised in Balmville.
• Mickey Spillane (1918–2006) – A best-selling author of crime novels. He lived in Newburgh for many years.
• Thomas Vonn (born 1975) – A former alpine ski racer.
• John E. Wool (1784–1869) – A military officer who served in three wars: the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War.
• Lenny Wolpe (born 1951) – A star of Broadway musicals and television. He lived in the town of Newburgh during his teenage years.
• Orange County Choppers – The headquarters of this custom motorcycle company is on Route 17K. They are famous from the reality TV show American Chopper.

Images for kids

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  Fostertown Methodist Church in 1959

See also

In Spanish: Newburgh (ciudad) para niños