Stony Point, New York
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Stony Point is a town located in Rockland County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 14,244. The name of the town is derived from a prominent projection into the Hudson River.
The Town of Stony Point is in the northeast part of the county.
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History
During the American Revolution, the King’s Ferry in Stony Point linked New York and the southern colonies with New England; it was used many times by George Washington’s Continental Army, and in 1781 Washington's French allies used it on their way to the Battle of Yorktown.
The Stony Point Historic Site, just north of Stony Point, marks the July 1779 Battle of Stony Point in which General "Mad" Anthony Wayne earned his nickname leading 1,350 Continental Army troops in a surprise attack against the 544-man British garrison at Stony Point. The Americans were unable to hold the fort for more than a few days.
The Town of Stony Point was founded in 1865.
Geography
Image:Town of Stony Point, Rockland County.png According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 81.7 km² (31.5 mi²). 72.1 km² (27.8 mi²) of it is land and 9.6 km² (3.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 11.76% water.
The western town line is the border of Orange County, New York, and the eastern town line is defined by the Hudson River with Westchester County, New York on the opposite shore.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 14,244 people, 4,832 households, and 3,802 families residing in the town. The population density was 197.5/km² (511.7/mi²). There were 4,951 housing units at an average density of 68.7/km² (177.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.33% White, 1.27% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.66% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 6.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,832 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $71,940, and the median income for a family was $83,238. Males had a median income of $55,727 versus $36,424 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,244. 3.7% of the population and 1.9% of families were below the poverty line. 2.4% of those under the age of 18 and 10.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Transportation
The ex-New York Central's River Line follows the west bank of the Hudson River through Stony Point. The line is now operated by CSX Transportation, the fourth railroad to operate the line. The only company served in by CSX in the town is the Mirant Lovett Generating Station which receives trainloads of coal about once a week. The power station owns and operates its own railroad to bring the coal from the siding at milepost (MP) 38 into the plant. A talking defect detector, which scans the axles of passing trains for problems, is located in Stony Point. On average, between 20-25 trains pass through Stony Point per day.
Communities and locations in Stony Point
- Bear Mountain State Park -- A state park in the north part of the town.
- Bulsontown -- A hamlet in the northwest part of the town.
- Cedar Flats -- A hamlet northwest of Stony Point village.
- Stony Point -- The hamlet of Stony Point is in the eastern part of the town.
- Doodletown -- A hamlet in the northern corner of the town, in Bear Mountain State Park, abandoned since 1965.
- Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site -- A state site of significant history north of Stony Point.
- Tomkins Cove -- A hamlet north of Stony Point.
- Willow Grove -- A hamlet on the south town line.