New Windsor

History

The region was originally inhabited by the Munsee people, part of the Lenape confederation. The first European settlers were colonists from Scotland who arrived in 1685. New Windsor was founded by the General Assembly of New York on April 5, 1763. Settlement rights in the area that now encompasses the town were obtained from the Munsee by Governor Thomas Dongan, who encouraged the settlement of a party of Scottish colonists led by David Toshack, the Laird of Monzievaird, and his brother-in-law Major Patrick McGregorie. They arrived in 1685 and settled in the area overlooking the Hudson River near Moodna Creek. McGregorie is said to have built a cabin north of the creek on Conwanham's Hill at Plum Point, while Toshack set up a trading post south of the creek on Sloop Hill. In June 1685, Governor Dongan appointed McGregorie Muster-Master of Militia for the City and province of New York. A rival claim was obtained in 1694 by Captain John Evans of HMS Richmond, who was granted powers and privileges as lord of the manor. The next governor, the Earl of Bellomont, decided that this was unfair to the settlers, and had the Evans grant annulled in 1699. Around 1709, the portion of the town nearest the Hudson River was organized under the Precinct of the Highlands (Ulster County), remaining thus until 1743. In 1762, separate precincts were created for the Town of New Windsor and Newburgh. The name of the town is from Windsor, England, with the New being prefixed. By whom this was conferred cannot be ascertained, but first appears in 1728 records of the London "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts". Among the earliest roads was the King's Highway, later known as "the Goshen Road", which ran north and south. During much of the Revolutionary War, New…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.0 square miles (95.9 km2), of which 34.8 square miles (90.1 km2) is land and (6.03%) is water. The eastern town line, marked by the Hudson River, is the border of Dutchess County. Part of the northern town line borders the city of Newburgh. The remainder of the northern town boundary is with the towns of Newburgh and Montgomery. Interstate 87, the New York State Thruway, is a major north–south highway. NY-207 is an east–west state highway.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY
  High · NEWBURGH · 3,433 students · 12.3:1 ratio
• WASHINGTONVILLE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
  High · WASHINGTONVILLE · 1,318 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• CORNWALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
  High · NEW WINDSOR · 1,027 students · 13.9:1 ratio
• MEADOW HILL GLOBAL EXPLORATIONS MAGNET SCHOOL
  Elementary · NEWBURGH · 1,013 students · 11.1:1 ratio
• TEMPLE HILL SCHOOL
  Elementary · NEW WINDSOR · 972 students · 11.4:1 ratio
• WASHINGTONVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · WASHINGTONVILLE · 900 students · 11.7:1 ratio
• CORNWALL MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · CORNWALL · 895 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · NEWBURGH · 878 students · 9.6:1 ratio