West Nyack, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Nyack, New York
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Location in Rockland County and the state of New York.
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 West Nyack, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Rockland |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.95 sq mi (7.65 km2) |
| • Land | 2.92 sq mi (7.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) |
| Elevation | 79 ft (24 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,649 |
| • Density | 1,248.37/sq mi (482.00/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
10994
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| Area code(s) | 845 |
| FIPS code | 36-80599 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0970831 |
West Nyack is a small community called a "hamlet" in New York State. It is also a census-designated place, which means it's a specific area defined for population counting. West Nyack is located in the town of Clarkstown, within Rockland County.
You can find West Nyack north of Blauvelt and east of Nanuet. It's surrounded by other towns like Valley Cottage and Bardonia. It's about 18 miles (29 km) north of New York City. In 2020, about 3,649 people lived here.
Contents
History of West Nyack
West Nyack has had a few different names over the years. It was first known as Clarksville, then later as MontMoor. In 1891, it officially became known as West Nyack. This happened when it merged with a small village near the West Shore Railroad station, where the Nyack Water Works were located.
Some of the original families who lived here had names like DeClarkes, Demarests, Lydeckers, Oblenis, Tallmans, and Vanderbilts. Their names are still remembered in other places around the town today.
Where is West Nyack?
West Nyack is located at coordinates 41°5′28″N 73°58′8″W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, West Nyack covers a total area of about 2.9 square miles (7.5 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of West Nyack
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 3,649 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 3,282 people living in West Nyack. The population density was about 1,126 people per square mile (435 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people living in West Nyack were White (88.03%). There were also people who identified as Asian (7.59%), African American (1.98%), and other races. About 5.58% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in West Nyack was 40 years old. About 23.8% of the population was under 18 years old, and 13.8% were 65 years or older.
The average income for a household in West Nyack was about $98,931. For families, the average income was $106,576.
Schools in West Nyack
West Nyack is home to several schools:
- Strawtown Elementary School is a special school that won a Blue Ribbon Award in 2007. This award recognizes schools for being excellent.
- West Nyack Elementary School is also located here.
- Clarkstown High School South serves older students in the area.
- Felix Festa Middle School is another school located in West Nyack.
Getting Around West Nyack
West Nyack is easy to reach because it's located along the New York State Thruway. This is a major highway with an exit (Exit 12) right in West Nyack. Other important roads include New York State Route 303 and New York State Route 59. The Palisades Interstate Parkway is also nearby, on the western edge of the community.
A train line called the CSX Transportation's River Line runs through West Nyack. Many freight trains use this line every day. However, passenger train service on this line stopped in 1959.
Fun Places to Visit in West Nyack
West Nyack has several interesting places to explore:
- Palisades Center: This is one of the biggest shopping malls in the country! You can find it near Route 59, Route 303, and the New York State Thruway (Exit 12).
- Clarkstown Reformed Church: This church is located at 107 Strawtown Road. The first church here was built between 1750 and 1751. The current church was built in 1871. You can see old gravestones here, some written in Dutch, and markers for 40 veterans who fought in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
- DeClark-Polhemus Mill: You can still see parts of this old mill at the corner of Strawtown and Germonds roads. A famous story says that the last witchcraft trial in New York State happened here in 1816. A woman named Jane Kannif was accused of witchcraft, but she was found innocent after being weighed against a large Bible. The mill used to grind flour and operated until the 1900s.
- Mount Moor Cemetery: This cemetery is located near the Palisades Center Mall. It's a well-kept place where many people are buried. One of the graves belongs to Lafayette Logan, a Buffalo Soldier who fought in the American Civil War with the famous black 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. This unit was featured in the movie Glory. About six other Buffalo Soldiers are also buried here.
- Rockland Center for the Arts: This center was started in 1947. It offers art classes, exhibitions, and performances. It's a place where artists can show their work and teach others.
- Terneur-Hutton House: This historic house at 160 Sickelton Road is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Historical Markers to Explore
You can find special signs called historical markers around West Nyack that tell you about its past:
- Clarksville – At West Nyack and Sickletown Roads.
- Clarksville Inn – 1 Strawtown Road. This building was a hotel built in 1840 and is now a restaurant.
- Colonial Clarkstown – 135 Strawtown Road.
- Old Clarkstown Reformed Church Cemetery – 254 Germonds Road.
- Site of First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New Hempstead – 254 Germonds Road.
- Nyack Turnpike – At West Nyack Road and West Nyack Way.
- The Old Parsonage – 106 Strawtown Road.
- Van Houten Fields – This area was once a large farm that became a community where people lived off the land.
- Washington's Encampment – 134 Strawtown Road. This was part of the original DeClark Farm, which is where Clarkstown got its name.
- West Nyack's Last Horse Trough, West Nyack Free Library – 65 Strawtown Road.
Solar Power in West Nyack
In 2014, Clarkstown built New York's first solar field on top of an old landfill. This field generates a lot of clean energy, enough to power about 200 homes. It also provides about one-third of the electricity needed for the Town of Clarkstown government. There are talks about making it even bigger!
Famous People from West Nyack
Many interesting people have connections to West Nyack:
- Adam Chanler-Berat: An actor known for his roles in "Peter and the Starcatcher" and "Next to Normal".
- Jake T. Austin: An actor famous for "Wizards of Waverly Place".
- John Flaherty: A retired Major League Baseball player and a current sports broadcaster.
- John William Hill: A British-born American artist who lived in West Nyack.
- George William Hill: A mathematician and astronomer who studied the moon's movement.
- Morris Kantor: A Russian-born American painter.
- Charles Wright Mills: A well-known sociologist.
- Michael Park: An Emmy Award-winning actor.
- Arthur S. Tompkins: A former U.S. Representative and a justice of the New York Supreme Court.
- Timothy Yang: A Broadway child actor who appeared in "King and I".
- Jason Vosler: A professional baseball third baseman.
See also
In Spanish: West Nyack para niños
