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Ramapo is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 108,905.
The Town of Ramapo is in the southwest corner of Rockland County, where it consists of about one-third of the western part of the county. The name is of Native American origin, meaning either "sweet water" or "sloping rocks".
Home of Rockland Community College in the hamlet of Viola.
In 2006 Money Magazine ranked Ramapo as the 49th best place in the United States and the best place in New York State to live. Arts and leisure, business, housing, low crime rates and open spaces/parkland determined the towns ranking. In the category of park space, percentage of land set aside for gardens and parks, the town finished first. The town received the highest rating and one of the best in the country for its open spaces and parkland[citation needed].
On April 24th, 2006 the Town of Ramapo was awarded the Outstanding Facility Award (Class 3) for communities with a population more than 75,000 for its community, health and sports center located in the village of Hillburn.
Ramapo is run by a Town Supervisor, Christopher St. Lawrence.
Little Known Neighborhoods
The village of Suffern, situated in the western part, near the border with Orange County and New Jersey, has an old-timey feel, with plenty of small shops, old buildings, and little side streets. It's the place where the Avon cosmetics company was born (it was originally called The California Perfume Company), and the firm is in the midst of expanding to stay at its original site right in the middle of town. Here's where you'll find the only old movie theater still in operation in Rockland. The Lafayette Theater presents films without intermission and advertisements, and every Friday and Saturday, there's live music in the balcony from a mighty Wurlitzer organ!
Suffern's old-fashioned charm is a little deceptive, because it's also a major commuter transportation hub. The intersection of the NY State Thruway with Routes 17 and 287 is located here, and the Suffern train station is one of the major stops on the rail line that runs toward the Jersey crossings to mid-town and downtown Manhattan. Other stops for train-lovers are Sloatsburg, Spring Valley, Nanuet, and Pearl River.
Ramapo History
During the American Revolutionary War, Commander-in-Chief George Washington is said to have climbed the Ramapo Torne (near Ramapo hamlet) with a telescope to watch the movement of British ships off Sandy Hook. The Town of Hempstead was formed from part of the Town of Haverstraw in 1791. In 1829 the name was changed to Ramapo.
The first railroad line across Rockland County was built in 1841 and ran from Piermont to Ramapo. By 1851, the line was extended to Lake Erie, and was considered an engineering marvel. Ramapo Iron Works - Route 17, base of Terse Mountain, Ramapo - Producer of cut nails, wood screws, cotton cloth, and spring steel in first hair or 19th century. Founder, Jeremiah H. Pierson, was influential in building Nyack Turnpike and New York & Erie Railroad across the county. Cotton mill still standing on east side of road.
In 1916, what would become State Route 59, which reached from Nyack to Spring Valley in 1915, was extended to Suffern and Ramapo Hamlet.
Ramapo Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 61.9 square miles (160.4 km2), of which, 61.2 square miles (158.6 km2) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of it (1.11%) is water.
The south town line is the border of New Jersey and the west town line is the border of Orange County. The break in the Ramapo Mountains at Suffern formed by the Ramapo River causes the town to be the site of the New York State Thruway and I-287, New York State Route 17, and a railroad line. The Palisades Interstate Parkway also runs through the northeast corner of the town, with an exit at the Haverstraw, New York town line on the northern border.
Torne Mountain - Harriman State Park. - Highest peak in western Rockland County, overlooking the Ramapo Pass and remnants of once-thriving Ramapo Iron Works. During Revolution, the Torne served as a lookout for British ship movement on the Hudson. Legend tells that Gen. George Washington lost his watch on the mountain and it may still be heard ticking up there in a crevice of rock.
Ramapo Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 108,905 people, 31,561 households, and 24,870 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,778.2 people per square mile (686.6/km2). There were 32,422 housing units at an average density of 529.4/sq mi (204.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 72.54% White, 17.04% African American, 0.32% Native American, 4.60% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.65% from other races, and 2.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.19% of the population.
There were 31,561 households out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.37 and the average family size was 3.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 33.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $60,352, and the median income for a family was $67,004. Males had a median income of $46,286 versus $34,632 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,868. About 11.5% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Communities & Locations In Ramapo
- Antrim -- A hamlet near the south town line.
- Airmont -- The Village of Airmont.
- Chestnut Ridge -- The Village of Chestnut Ridge.
- Harriman State Park -- A state park in the western part of the town.
- Hillburn -- The Village of Hillburn in the southwest part of the town.
- Hillcrest -- A hamlet.
- Kaser -- The Village of Kaser.
- Monsey -- The hamlet of Monsey.
- New Hempstead -- The Village of New Hempstead.
- New Square -- The Village of New Square.
- Montebello -- The Village of Montebello.
- Ramapo -- The hamlet of Ramapo in the southwest part of the town.
- Sloatsburg -- The Village of Sloatsburg.
- Spring Valley -- The Village of Spring Valley.
- Sterlington -- A location near Sloatsburg.
- Suffern -- The Village of Suffern.
- Suffern Park -- A hamlet near Suffern.
- Tallman -- A hamlet in the south part of the town.
- Viola -- A hamlet in the eastern part of the town.
- Wesley Hills -- The Village of Wesley Hills is in the northeast part of the town.
Official Links For Ramapo
*All information excerpted from Wikipedia except "Little Known Neighborhoods."
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Other Rockland Communities
Town of Ramapo | Town of Stony Point | Town of Haverstraw | Town of Clarkstown
Town of Orangetown | The Riverfront Communities
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