| Highlands is a town located in Orange
| |
| | incorporators were Nathan Smith, Benjamin
|
| County, New York. As of the 2000 census,
| |
| | Rose, Selah Smith, Robert Davenport,
|
| the town had a total population of
| |
| | David Havens and James Davis. It's road
|
| 12,484.
| |
| | began "at or near the landing" then
|
| The Town of Highlands is on the eastern
| |
| | occupied by Nathan and Selah Smith, and
|
| border of the county.
| |
| | ran from thence "to the Forest of Dean
|
| The United States Military Academy (West
| |
| | minehole; thence southwesterly to the
|
| Point) is located alongside the Hudson
| |
| | Dunderburg and Clove Turnpike, near the
|
| River here, and the military reservation
| |
| | house of Isaac Holler, in the Town of
|
| occupies a large part of the town.
| |
| | Monroe." A post office was established at
|
| History During the American Revolution,
| |
| | Buttermilk Falls on July 14, 1849, with
|
| colonial forces constructed Fort
| |
| | Cornelius Nelson as the first postmaster.
|
| Montgomery and Fort Clinton to obstruct
| |
| | The name was subsequently changed to
|
| enemy progress on the river. The Town of
| |
| | Highland Falls.
|
| Highland Falls was created from the Town
| |
| | A post office was also established at
|
| of Cornwall in 1872.
| |
| | Fort Montgomery on November 7, 1855, with
|
| On June 5, 1712, the British Crown
| |
| | Jeremiah Drew as the postmaster. The name
|
| granted 400 acres of land to Dr. Samuel
| |
| | "Fort Montgomery" remains today as it
|
| Staats, the first in the present-day Town
| |
| | originated in 1776 in honor of General
|
| of Highlands. This landstretched along
| |
| | Richard Montgomery, killed while leading
|
| the Hudson in the area which is now Fort
| |
| | his troops in the cause of independence.
|
| Montgomery. A second land grant was to
| |
| | Geography According to the United States
|
| Charles Congreve on May 17, 1723 for 800
| |
| | Census Bureau, the town has a total area
|
| acres, now part of the lands of the
| |
| | of 86.7 km2 (33.5 mi2). 80.0 km2 (30.9
|
| United States Military Academy, and a
| |
| | mi2) of it is land and 6.7 km2 (2.6 mi2)
|
| third land grant was to Gabriel Ludlow
| |
| | of it is water. The total area is 7.73%
|
| and William Ludlow on October 18, 1731
| |
| | water.
|
| for 991 acres, including Buttermilk
| |
| | Part of the south town line is the border
|
| Falls.
| |
| | of Rockland County, New York. The east
|
| On December 20, 1750 Alexander Phoenix
| |
| | town line is the border of Putnam County,
|
| and others petitioned for a grant of land
| |
| | New York, marked by the Hudson River.
|
| situated in Orange County near Buttermilk
| |
| | Demographics As of the censusGR2 of 2000,
|
| Falls. The land, amounting to 1,000 acres
| |
| | there were 12,484 people, 3,230
|
| was patented to them on July 13, 1751.
| |
| | households, and 2,322 families residing
|
| Early settlement in what was to be the
| |
| | in the town. The population density was
|
| Town of Highlands was sparse. A 1780 map
| |
| | 156.0/km2 (404.0/ mi2). There were 3,418
|
| shows only Garrison and Rose near Fort
| |
| | housing units at an average density of
|
| Montgomery, Davis near the Forest of
| |
| | 42.7/km2 (110.6/ mi2). The racial makeup
|
| Dean, Cronk near Long Pond, Faurot to the
| |
| | of the town was 82.18% White, 9.16%
|
| eastward,and "Swim's Trn" (Swim's Tavern)
| |
| | African American, 0.49% Native American,
|
| south of Buttermilk Falls.
| |
| | 2.68% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander,
|
| Undoubtedly, other settlers were in the
| |
| | 2.27% from other races, and 3.08% from
|
| area as well. John Moore had acquired the
| |
| | two or more races.
|
| Congreve tract at West Point, and Richard
| |
| | 7.71% of the population were Hispanic or
|
| Williams had acquired the 991-acre Ludlow
| |
| | Latino of any race.
|
| tract, conveying part of it to Nathan
| |
| | There were 3,230 households out of which
|
| Elliot on August 30, 1763.
| |
| | 43.8% had children under the age of 18
|
| In 1794 he sold a mill site at Buttermilk
| |
| | living with them, 59.6% were married
|
| Falls to David Lydig, the beginning of
| |
| | couples living together, 8.9% had a
|
| Lydig's Mill, which was to become David
| |
| | female householder with no husband
|
| Parry's Mill in the early 1800's.
| |
| | present, and 28.1% were non-families.
|
| In the 1790's, Eugene Lucer had an
| |
| | 24.1% of all households were made up of
|
| extensive business at Fort Montgomery on
| |
| | individuals and 8.5% had someone living
|
| Popolopen Creek which was "navigable for
| |
| | alone who was 65 years of age or older.
|
| vessels of 50 tons. Erected on the creek
| |
| | The average household size was 2.74 and
|
| were three docks, three dwelling houses,
| |
| | the average family size was 3.32.
|
| a store and grist mill.
| |
| | The age distribution is 22.8% under the
|
| On April 19, 1775 the American Revolution
| |
| | age of 18, 32.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7%
|
| began at Lexington and Concord. In 1776
| |
| | from 25 to 44, 12.2% from 45 to 64, and
|
| and 1777, the Americans built Fort
| |
| | 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older.
|
| Montgomery on the north side of Popolopen
| |
| | The median age was 23 years. For every
|
| Creek, and Fort Clinton on the south
| |
| | 100 females there were 147.7 males. For
|
| side. They also placed the first Hudson
| |
| | every 100 females age 18 and over, there
|
| River chain across the river to the
| |
| | were 162.2 males. These statistics are
|
| mountain called Anthony's Nose to protect
| |
| | consistent with the presence of the West
|
| West Point from British forces.
| |
| | Point military base in general, and the
|
| On October 6, 1777 the British attacked
| |
| | Academy in particular.
|
| with an overwhelming force, capturing
| |
| | The median income for a household in the
|
| both forts and dismantled the chain. In
| |
| | town was $52,816, and the median income
|
| 1778, West Point was fortified and a
| |
| | for a family was $59,345. Males had a
|
| second chain was placed across the river.
| |
| | median income of $23,491 versus $27,406
|
| The British never renewed the attack on
| |
| | for females. The per capita income for
|
| WestPoint, and remained a military post.
| |
| | the town was $17,830. 3.6% of the
|
| The United States Military Academy was
| |
| | population and 2.8% of families were
|
| established by Act of Congress on March
| |
| | below the poverty line. 4.3% of those
|
| 16, 1802, and became one of the world's
| |
| | under the age of 18 and 3.0% of those 65
|
| great educational institutions.
| |
| | and older were living below the poverty
|
| On April 9, 1814, the Fort Montgomery
| |
| | line.
|
| Turnpike Company was chartered. The
| |
| |
|
