New Windsor, New York

New Windsor, New York
Name	New Windsor
Settlement type	Town
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	New York
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Orange County
Leader title	Town Supervisor
Leader name	George Meyers
Area total sq mi	37.50
Population as of	2020
Population total	27,805
Population density sq mi	auto
Timezone	Eastern (EST)
Utc offset	-5
Timezone DST	EDT
Utc offset DST	-4
Coordinates	41, 28, 35, N...
Postal code type	ZIP Codes
Postal code	12553, 12550
Area code	845
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	36-50885
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	0979273
Website	www.townofnewwindsor.com

New Windsor, New York. New Windsor is a town in Orange County, New York, situated along the western bank of the Hudson River. Part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area, it is a historically significant community with a mix of suburban residential areas, commercial centers, and preserved natural landscapes. The town is governed by an elected Town Supervisor and Town Council under the New York State Town Law.

History

The area was originally inhabited by the Lenape people before European settlement. It was part of the Rombout Patent granted by Governor Thomas Dongan in 1685. During the American Revolutionary War, the town served as a crucial military encampment; the Continental Army established its final winter encampment at New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site in 1782-1783, where General George Washington confronted the Newburgh Conspiracy. The Temple Hill area was the site where the Badge of Military Merit, precursor to the Purple Heart, was first awarded. In the 19th century, the town became a hub for industries like bluestone quarrying and brickmaking, facilitated by the Erie Railroad and the Hudson River. The Storm King Mountain bypass controversy in the 1960s, involving Consolidated Edison, was a landmark case in environmental law.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.5 square miles, of which 35.0 square miles is land and 2.5 square miles is water. It is bordered by the Hudson River to the east, the Town of Newburgh to the south, the Town of Cornwall to the west, and the Town of Blooming Grove to the north. Notable geographic features include Moodna Creek, Chadwick Lake, and parts of the Appalachian Trail. The terrain varies from riverfront lowlands to the foothills of the Hudson Highlands, including Storm King State Park.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 27,805. The racial makeup was approximately 68.5% White, 12.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 5.2% Asian, and 10.2% identifying as Hispanic or Latino. The median household income was $86,452, with a poverty rate of 7.3%. Major ancestry groups include Irish, Italian, German, and Puerto Rican.

Government and infrastructure

The town operates under a Council-manager government with an elected Town Supervisor and a six-member Town Council. It is part of New York's 18th congressional district, represented in the United States House of Representatives by Pat Ryan. Key infrastructure includes the Stewart Air National Guard Base, shared with the Town of Newburgh, and major transportation routes such as Interstate 84, Interstate 87, and New York State Route 32. Public safety is provided by the New Windsor Police Department and the Cornwall-on-Hudson Fire Department.

Notable people

Notable individuals associated with the area include William H. Seward, former United States Secretary of State who lived at Seward House Museum; John L. Worden, commander of the USS Monitor during the Battle of Hampton Roads; and Sojourner Truth, abolitionist who lived in the town during her early life. Contemporary figures include Mike Richter, former New York Rangers goaltender, and John J. McKenna III, recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross.

Points of interest

Significant sites include the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site and the adjacent National Purple Heart Hall of Honor. Outdoor attractions feature Storm King State Park, Chadwick Lake Park, and the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. The Knox's Headquarters State Historic Site, the Edmonston House, and the Last Encampment of the Continental Army are key historical landmarks. The Temple Hill area remains a focal point for Revolutionary War commemorations.

Category:Towns in Orange County, New York Category:Hudson Valley Category:Populated places established in 1763