Town of highlands overview

Highlands is a town located in Orange County, NewNathan Smith, Benjamin Rose, Selah Smith, Robert
York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a totalDavenport, David Havens and James Davis. It's road
population of 12,484.began "at or near the landing" then occupied by
The Town of Highlands is on the eastern border of theNathan and Selah Smith, and ran from thence "to the
county.Forest of Dean minehole; thence southwesterly to the
The United States Military Academy (West Point) isDunderburg and Clove Turnpike, near the house of
located alongside the Hudson River here, and theIsaac Holler, in the Town of Monroe." A post office
military reservation occupies a large part of the town.was established at Buttermilk Falls on July 14, 1849,
History During the American Revolution, colonial forceswith Cornelius Nelson as the first postmaster.
constructed Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton toThe name was subsequently changed to Highland
obstruct enemy progress on the river. The Town ofFalls.
Highland Falls was created from the Town of CornwallA post office was also established at Fort
in 1872.Montgomery on November 7, 1855, with Jeremiah
On June 5, 1712, the British Crown granted 400 acresDrew as the postmaster. The name "Fort
of land to Dr. Samuel Staats, the first in theMontgomery" remains today as it originated in 1776 in
present-day Town of Highlands. This landstretchedhonor of General Richard Montgomery, killed while
along the Hudson in the area which is now Fortleading his troops in the cause of independence.
Montgomery. A second land grant was to CharlesGeography According to the United States Census
Congreve on May 17, 1723 for 800 acres, now part ofBureau, the town has a total area of 86.7 km2 (33.5
the lands of the United States Military Academy, and ami2). 80.0 km2 (30.9 mi2) of it is land and 6.7 km2 (2.6
third land grant was to Gabriel Ludlow and Williammi2) of it is water. The total area is 7.73% water.
Ludlow on October 18, 1731 for 991 acres, includingPart of the south town line is the border of Rockland
Buttermilk Falls.County, New York. The east town line is the border of
On December 20, 1750 Alexander Phoenix and othersPutnam County, New York, marked by the Hudson
petitioned for a grant of land situated in OrangeRiver.
County near Buttermilk Falls. The land, amounting toDemographics As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there
1,000 acres was patented to them on July 13, 1751.were 12,484 people, 3,230 households, and 2,322
Early settlement in what was to be the Town offamilies residing in the town. The population density
Highlands was sparse. A 1780 map shows onlywas 156.0/km2 (404.0/ mi2). There were 3,418 housing
Garrison and Rose near Fort Montgomery, Davis nearunits at an average density of 42.7/km2 (110.6/ mi2).
the Forest of Dean, Cronk near Long Pond, Faurot toThe racial makeup of the town was 82.18% White,
the eastward,and "Swim's Trn" (Swim's Tavern) south9.16% African American, 0.49% Native American,
of Buttermilk Falls.2.68% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 2.27% from other
Undoubtedly, other settlers were in the area as well.races, and 3.08% from two or more races.
John Moore had acquired the Congreve tract at West7.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any
Point, and Richard Williams had acquired the 991-acrerace.
Ludlow tract, conveying part of it to Nathan Elliot onThere were 3,230 households out of which 43.8% had
August 30, 1763.children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6%
In 1794 he sold a mill site at Buttermilk Falls to Davidwere married couples living together, 8.9% had a
Lydig, the beginning of Lydig's Mill, which was tofemale householder with no husband present, and
become David Parry's Mill in the early 1800's.28.1% were non-families.
In the 1790's, Eugene Lucer had an extensive business24.1% of all households were made up of individuals
at Fort Montgomery on Popolopen Creek which wasand 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years
"navigable for vessels of 50 tons. Erected on theof age or older.
creek were three docks, three dwelling houses, aThe average household size was 2.74 and the
store and grist mill.average family size was 3.32.
On April 19, 1775 the American Revolution began atThe age distribution is 22.8% under the age of 18,
Lexington and Concord. In 1776 and 1777, the32.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 12.2% from
Americans built Fort Montgomery on the north side of45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or
Popolopen Creek, and Fort Clinton on the south side.older.
They also placed the first Hudson River chain acrossThe median age was 23 years. For every 100
the river to the mountain called Anthony's Nose tofemales there were 147.7 males. For every 100
protect West Point from British forces.females age 18 and over, there were 162.2 males.
On October 6, 1777 the British attacked with anThese statistics are consistent with the presence of
overwhelming force, capturing both forts andthe West Point military base in general, and the
dismantled the chain. In 1778, West Point was fortifiedAcademy in particular.
and a second chain was placed across the river.The median income for a household in the town was
The British never renewed the attack on WestPoint,$52,816, and the median income for a family was
and remained a military post.$59,345. Males had a median income of $23,491
The United States Military Academy was establishedversus $27,406 for females. The per capita income
by Act of Congress on March 16, 1802, and becamefor the town was $17,830. 3.6% of the population and
one of the world's great educational institutions.2.8% of families were below the poverty line. 4.3% of
On April 9, 1814, the Fort Montgomery Turnpikethose under the age of 18 and 3.0% of those 65 and
Company was chartered. The incorporators wereolder were living below the poverty line.