Sterling Forest, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sterling Forest, New York
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 Sterling Forest, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Orange |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
10979
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| Area code(s) | 845 |
Sterling Forest, New York is a small community known as a hamlet. It is located in the Town of Warwick, within Orange County. This hamlet sits on the eastern shore of Greenwood Lake, right at the border with New Jersey. A small part of Sterling Forest even extends into West Milford Township, New Jersey.
Sterling Forest has its own active United States post office. This area grew up around a train station that was part of the Erie Railroad. The railroad arrived around 1875. The post office, originally in New Jersey, moved to the New York side in 1926 and is still there today. Train service stopped in 1935.
Contents
History of Sterling Forest
Early Industries and Growth
Before the railroad came, a large commercial ice house was built in Sterling Forest around 1864. This ice house was later run by the Mountain Ice Company. It stopped working and was torn down in 1945.
At one time, Sterling Forest was a busy place. It had two hotels, a general store, a lumber yard, and two bars. There was also a Roman Catholic church nearby in New Jersey. Today, only a few businesses remain, including a bar/restaurant and a marina. The marina is located where the old train station used to be.
Famous Visitors and Unique Events
In the 1930s and 1940s, the famous baseball player Babe Ruth often spent his summers in Sterling Forest. He would rent a cabin and was known to play baseball with the local kids at a small field there.
Sterling Forest was also the site of a very special event. On February 23, 1936, the first American rocket airplane flight that carried mail took place here. The mail flew from the New York side of the state line to the New Jersey side.
Understanding Sterling Forest's Name
Avoiding Confusion with Other Places
It's easy to confuse Sterling Forest, New York, with other places that have similar names. For example, the old Sterling Forest Gardens property and the nearby Sterling Forest State Park are actually several miles away. They are located in the Town of Tuxedo, New York.
The Sterling Forest Gardens property is now home to the New York Renaissance Faire. This is an annual festival that celebrates the Renaissance period. To add to the confusion, there is another festival called The Sterling Renaissance Festival. However, that one is located much further north, near Syracuse.
