Warwick, New York


Warwick is a town in the southwest part of Orange County, New York, United States. Its population was 32,065 at the 2010 census. The town contains three villages and eight hamlets.

History

In the early 1700s, one of the original patent holders, Benjamin Aske, named his land "Warwick", presumably after an area of England near his original ancestral home. He began to sell it off to settlers in 1719. His first parcel of land, 100 acres, was sold to Lawrence Decker. Other familiar family names of the Valley appeared in subsequent years. The white population of the valley grew rapidly from 1730 to 1765, and the pre-existing indigenous native people declined as forests and land were cleared for pasture and were re-organized. By the start of the American Revolution, almost all of the native population had disappeared in various ways. So the region has been referred to as Warwick since the early eighteenth century, but the town of Warwick was officially created in 1788.
During the American War for Independence, Warwick was the site of a Continental Army encampment. The Hudson River Chain was forged at Stirling Iron Works in Warwick, preventing the British Navy from sailing up the Hudson River. In 1783, George Washington traveled through Warwick, stopping at Baird's Tavern and spending the night in the home of John Hathorn.
of Warwick from 1887 with list of landmarks by L.R.
Burleigh
Warwick is situated along a freight rail line, which, as it did with many other towns in Orange County, contributed to the growth of the area. The nineteenth-century writer and naturalist Henry William Herbert, writing as Frank Forrester, popularized the area with his 1845 book, "The Warwick Woodlands." Today, the town of Warwick is a rural community with many agricultural pursuits that stimulate its economy.

Geography

The town of Warwick comprises the southern tip of Orange County. It borders the townships of Vernon and West Milford to the south, both in the state of New Jersey. To its north, Warwick is bordered by Chester via Sugar Loaf, Orange County's oldest hamlet, antedating both Warwick and Chester, and which was part of Warwick until the mid-nineteenth century. To its east, Warwick is bordered by the town of Tuxedo, home of the New York Renaissance Faire and the hamlet of Tuxedo Park.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town is the second largest township in New York State and has a total area of 104.9 square miles, of which 101.7 square miles is land and 3.2 square miles is water. Greenwood Lake is Orange County's largest lake, and is bisected by the border between New Jersey and New York. Glenmere Lake, an extremely critical endangered species habitat, is bisected by Warwick and Chester.
Warwick is served by Warwick Municipal Airport and two regional state highways, New York State Route 17A and NY 94. The Appalachian Trail passes through Warwick, which has been designated an Appalachian Trail Community.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 30,764 people, 10,868 households, and 7,955 families residing in the town. The population density was 302.6 people per square mile. There were 11,818 housing units at an average density of 116.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 91.06% White, 4.51% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.60% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.47% of the population.
There were 10,868 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town, the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

Education

The Warwick Valley Central School District serves as the public school system for Warwick residents and residents of the southern portion of the town of Chester. It does not serve residents of the villages Greenwood Lake or Florida.

Festivals

is an annual outdoor festival attracting up to 35,000 people each year in October.
The Hudson Valley Jazz Festival, originally named the Warwick Valley Jazz Festival, takes place during the summer.
The annual George Washington Celebration is a tradition that celebrates when the Founding Father, Gen. Washington came to Warwick and enjoyed a grog with his men in Baird's Tavern. This free community-wide tradition takes place the 4th weekend in July, and is carried on by the Historical Society of the Town of Warwick, also known as the Warwick Historical Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to Warwick since its inception in 1906. Visit www.whsny.org for information.

Transportation

Warwick is served by the 196 & 197 buses to Manhattan. It is also served by the Warwick inter-municipal bus.

Communities and locations in the town of Warwick