Haverstraw

History

In 1609, the region was explored by Henry Hudson. A land purchase was made in this town in 1666 from local natives and confirmed as a patent in 1671. The region was known as Haverstroo, meaning "oat straw" in Dutch. During the American Revolution, it served (under the command of Col. Ann Hawkes Hay) as an important lookout for British activities on the Hudson. A blue-marked trail, the Long Path, may be taken eastward from Central Highway along the crest of South Mountain to High Tor. Halfway is Little Tor, the second highest peak on South Mountain. The town of Haverstraw was formed in 1788 while still part of Orange County, New York. Haverstraw was partitioned in 1791 to form the town of Clarkstown and the town of Ramapo and again in 1865 to form the town of Stony Point. In 1826 the town was the site of a short-lived effort to establish an Owenite colony called the Franklin Community. Underfinanced and wracked by internal dissent, the model Owenite community folded after a mere five months of operation.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 19.19%, is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• NORTH ROCKLAND HIGH SCHOOL
  High · THIELLS · 2,687 students · 14.8:1 ratio
• RAMAPO HIGH SCHOOL
  High · SPRING VALLEY · 1,603 students · 13.1:1 ratio
• SUFFERN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · SUFFERN · 1,486 students · 12.9:1 ratio
• SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
  High · SPRING VALLEY · 1,434 students · 12.6:1 ratio
• CLARKSTOWN SOUTH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · WEST NYACK · 1,345 students · 12.2:1 ratio
• FIELDSTONE MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · THIELLS · 1,247 students · 13.4:1 ratio
• CLARKSTOWN NORTH SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · NEW CITY · 1,234 students · 10.5:1 ratio
• ROCKLAND BOCES
  Other · WEST NYACK · 1,080 students · 6.8:1 ratio