Beacon is a city located in
Dutchess County, New YorkDutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2000 census lists the population as 280,150, but the United States Census Bureau gives an estimate of 292,706 residents for the 12-month period ending July 1, 2007...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Although the city's estimated living population is around 16,000 people, the 2000 census placed the city total population at 13,808. It is part of the
PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, the United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
–
NewburghNewburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, 60 miles north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. The population was 28,259 at the 2000 census. Figures released by the U. S. Census Bureau in late June 2009 estimated that the population at that time was 28,101...
–
MiddletownMiddletown is a city in Orange County, New York, United States. It lies in New York's Hudson Valley region, near the Wallkill River and the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains. Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh, New York. The city's population was 25,388 at the 2000 census...
, NY
Metropolitan Statistical AreaThe Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in New York's Hudson Valley, with the cities of Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Middletown, and the Arlington census-designated place as...
as well as the larger
New YorkNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
–
NewarkBrick City redirects here. For the township in Ocean County, see Brick Township, New Jersey.Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, and the county seat of Essex County. Newark has a population of 281,402, making it the largest municipality in New Jersey and the 65th largest city in the U.S...
–
BridgeportBridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in and the former county seat of Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 137,912 in 2006 and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, NY-
NJNew Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered on the north by New York, and to the east by the Hudson River, Upper New York Bay, the Kill Van Kull, Newark Bay, the Arthur Kill, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Westchester County, New York City, Long Island, and...
-
CTConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
-
PAThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , often colloquially referred to as PA by natives and Northeasterners, is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States...
Combined Statistical AreaThe New York metropolitan area, also known as Metropolitan New York, Greater New York, or the Tri-State Region, is the most populous metropolitan area in the United States and is also one of the most populous in the world. The metropolitan area is defined by the U.S...
. Beacon was named to commemorate the historic beacon fires that blazed forth from the summit of the Fishkill Mountains to alert the
Continental ArmyThe American Continental Army was an army formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen...
about British troop movements.
Beacon is located in the southwest corner of Dutchess County, in the fast growing Mid-Hudson Region. It sits north of
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
. It is also located approximately south of
AlbanyAlbany is a city in the United States of America; it is the capital of the state of New York and the county seat of Albany County. Albany is roughly 136 miles north of the city of New York, and slightly south of the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. The city sits on the Hudson River and...
.
History
The area occupied as Beacon was originally settled as the villages of Matteawan and Fishkill Landing in 1709, which were among the first communities in the state. Beacon
incorporatedA municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
as a city in 1913, amalgamating the two villages as well as a small portion of the hamlet of Glenham from the town of
FishkillFishkill is a town in the southwest part of Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 20,258 at the 2000 census. Fishkill partly surrounds the city of Beacon.The town of Fishkill contains a village, which is also named Fishkill...
.
The city served a variety of roles during the Revolutionary War. It manufactured war supplies, and served as a fort and signaling point. The city's name came from signal fires that were atop nearby Beacon Mountain. During the 1800s, the city became a factory town and was known as "The Hat Making Capital of the US" with nearly 50 hat factories operating at one time.
During the 1960s, urban renewal led to the destruction of some significant historic buildings. In the late 1970s, the Dutchess Ski area, which had been a large tourist attraction, was closed. Also in the 1970s, a decline in the economy shuttered most of the factories. This decline quickly became a severe and ongoing economic downturn that lasted from about 1970 to the late 1990s, during which almost 80 percent of the city's commercial business spaces and factories were vacant.
Starting in the late 1990s, with the opening of one of the world's largest contemporary art museums Dia: Beacon, Beacon began to an artistic and commercial rebirth. New development continues to enlarge the city. Currently, the two largest planned projects are a waterfront hotel and conference center, and "The Rivers and Estuaries Center" on Dennings Point.
Beacon is home to one of at least three operating "dummy-lights" in the United States, located at the intersection of Main and East Main Streets. It is a
traffic signalTraffic lights, also known as stop lights, stoplight, traffic lamps, stop-and-go lights, robots or semaphore, are signaling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and other locations to control competing flows of traffic.Traffic lights have been installed in most cities...
on a pedestal which sits in the middle of an intersection, dating back to the 1920s. The other two are also located in New York State, in
CanajoharieCanajoharie, New York may refer to:* Canajoharie , New York* Canajoharie , New York...
and
Croton-on-HudsonCroton-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 7,606 at the 2000 census. As a village, it is located in the Town of Cortlandt, in New York City's Northern suburbs. The village was incorporated in 1898....
.
The Mount Beacon Incline Railway
From 1902 to 1975, the
Mount Beacon Incline RailwayThe Mount Beacon Incline Railway was a popular tourist attraction in Beacon, New York, USA, and the neighboring Town of Fishkill. It operated for much of the 20th century, providing sweeping views of the Hudson Valley and efforts continue to restore it today....
was one of the steepest incline railways in existence (a 65% grade). It took an estimated 200 million people up to the summit of Mount Beacon. Fire and vandalism destroyed the incline railway. There is now a movement to restore it.
Geography
Beacon is located at 41°30'15" North, 73°57'56" West (41.504243, -73.965576).
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 4.9 square miles (12.7 km
2), of which 4.8 square miles (12.4 km
2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km
2) is water. The total area is 2.25% water.
Located on the eastern shore of the
Hudson RiverThe Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. It rises at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains, flows past Albany, and finally forms the border between New York City and New Jersey at its mouth before emptying into...
, Beacon is noted for its proximity to numerous historic sites and large cities. It is located minutes away from Bannerman's Castle and
West PointWest Point is a federal military reservation located North of the Village of Highland Falls in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. Beacon also sits with the famous Mount Beacon as its backdrop and the
Hudson RiverThe Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. It rises at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains, flows past Albany, and finally forms the border between New York City and New Jersey at its mouth before emptying into...
as its front door. The city also is located across the river from its larger sister city, Newburgh. Beacon is just 20 minutes south of the
Hudson ValleyThe Hudson Valley refers to the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, generally from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy...
Region Capital City,
PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, the United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
. In addition,
Danbury, ConnecticutDanbury is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It has an estimated population of 78,736. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
is located to the east and New York City is to the south.
The city includes the following neighborhoods:
Main Neighborhoods
- River Side Section
- Mountain Side Section
Secondary Neighborhoods
- North Tree Streets
- South Tree Streets
- Groveville
- Business District (Main Street Area)
- "Davies" or "The Apartments" (Section of City with a Concentrated Area of Public Housing on South Ave)
Demographics
Although the city's population is estimated to be about 16,000 people, the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000 placed the city's population at 13,808 people. The census also showed that the city has 5,091 households and 3,360 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
is 1,115.3/km² (2,891.6/sq mi), based on the census population of 13,808. There are 5,406 housing units at an average density of 1,132.1/sq mi (436.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 9,440 or 68.37% White and 4,368 or 31.63% Minority. The minority population is dominated by African Americans at 2,713 residents or 19.65%, then followed by Hispanic or Latino which make up 2,334 residents or 16.90% of the city. Smaller minority groups include 956 residents or 6.92% from other races, 181 residents or 1.31% Asian, 43 residents or 0.31% Native American, and 0.00% Pacific Islander. Also, the city includes 475 residents or 3.44% identifying themselves as two or more races.
Based on census data showing 5,091 households, 34.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% are
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 16.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% are non-families. 28.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.23.
Of the city's total population, 27.1% are under the age of 18, 7.1% are between 18 to 24, 31.9% are between 25 to 44, 21.7% are between 45 to 64, and 12.2% are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $45,236, and the median income for a family is $53,811. Males have a median income of $40,949 versus $29,154 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city is $20,654. 1,465 residents or 11% of the population and 310 families or 9.1% of the total number of families are living below the poverty line. Of the total population, 834 residents or 11% of those under the age of 18 and 99 residents or 8.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. The city's housing stock is currently composed of 10% subsidized housing, of which about 400 units are state and federal housing projects.
Professional sports
- Hudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
- Class A Minor League Baseball Team for the Tampa Bay RaysThe Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball franchise based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and are the defending American League champions. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League...
. Team plays out of Dutchess StadiumDutchess Stadium is a stadium in Wappingers Falls, New York. It is primarily used for baseball, as the home field of the Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball team. It opened in 1994 and holds 4,494 people. It is located on New York State Route 9D....
located in neighboring FishkillFishkill is a town in the southwest part of Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 20,258 at the 2000 census. Fishkill partly surrounds the city of Beacon.The town of Fishkill contains a village, which is also named Fishkill...
. (3-5 Minutes North of City)
- Hudson Valley Hawks
The Hudson Valley Hawks are a professional basketball team in the National Professional Basketball League based in Beacon, New York....
- semi-professional basketball of the National Professional Basketball LeagueNational Professional Basketball League was a pro basketball league in the USA in . The league played just one season, with no championship finals ever being staged.EASTERN DIVISION*Sheboygan Red Skins...
team plays at Beacon High School. (In City)
Museums and institutes
- Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries is the museum for the Dia Art Foundation's collection of art from the 1960s to the present. The museum, which opened in 2003, is situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Beacon, New York. Dia:Beacon occupies a former Nabisco box-printing facility that was renovated...
- Contemporary Arts Museum. (In City)
- The Beacon Institute of Rivers and Estuaries - A major river and estuary research institute. (In City)
Historic sites
- Madam Brett Homestead
The Madame Brett Homestead is an early 18th-century home located in the city of Beacon, New York, USA. It is the oldest standing building in its part of Dutchess County and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.-History:...
— 50 Van Nydeck Avenue — the oldest building in Dutchess County, the home was owned and occupied by one family for seven generations and is on the National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
- Lower Main Street Historic District
The Lower Main Street Historic District is the first several blocks of Main Street east of its intersection with South Street, the end of its concurrency with NY 9D. It covers about 50 acres and includes 32 buildings, most of them in the late 19th-century Italianate style...
— The first several blocks of Main Street east of its junction with South Avenue feature many small businesses located in vintage ItalianateThe Italianate style of architecture was a distinct nineteenth-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of sixteenth-century Italian architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
-styleArchitectural styles classify architecture in terms of form, techniques, materials, time period, region, etc. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture. In architectural history, the study of Gothic architecture, for instance, would include all...
buildings.
Parks
- Forrestal Park - connected to Forrestal Elementary on Liberty Street this large playground with a basketball court is a long time favorite with locals. (in city)
- Green Street Park - A neighborhood park located in the Mountain Side Section of the city (In city)
- Hammond Field - A neighborhood park located in the River Side Section of the City that is primarily used for the city school district functions. Is the home of the "Beacon Bulldogs" Track and Football venues. (In city)
- Hudson Highlands State Park
The Hudson Highlands are the mountains on both sides of the Hudson River in the U.S. state of New York, between Newburgh Bay and Haverstraw Bay which form the northern region of the New York - New Jersey Highlands...
- The state park located behind and just south of the city. A very large state park that covers Mount Beacon. (1–3 minutes east and south of city)
- Memorial Park - Located in the center of the city and serves as the city's "Central Park". It is the city's primary park and many civic events are hosted there. (In city)
- Riverfront Park - The City's riverfront park, which is located on a peninsula jutting out into the Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. It rises at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains, flows past Albany, and finally forms the border between New York City and New Jersey at its mouth before emptying into...
. A very active park that hosts numerous events. (In city)
- South Ave Park - A housing project park for the Forrestal Heights Houses. Primarily used for the Beacon Hoops program, a city youth basketball program. (In city)
Clubs
- Beacon Sloop Club - Started in 1978 to promote recreation, sound ecological practices, and environmental awareness of the Hudson River. The BSC offers free rides to the public on the sloop Woody Guthrie, teaches seamanship to its volunteers, and maintains the harbor.
Restaurants and eateries
- Brothers Trattoria - Italian food located on the east end of Main St. Excellent pizza and lasagnas.
- Homespun Foods - Cozy, inviting place on Main St. with amazing specialty sandwiches, salads and soups, plus fresh breads and homemade desserts.
- Max's on Main - American Bar and Grill located in the center of Main St.
- The Muddy Cup - Coffee shop located at the very beginning of Main St. Popular with visitors to DIA since it is within walking distance of the museum. RECENTLY CLOSED
- The Piggy Bank - BBQ served up on Main St.'s East End. Located in a former bank building. Wines are stored in the old vault. Location of excellent dance parties on second Saturdays.
- Zuzu's - Coffee and tea house located at the back end of Main St. Very popular with Beaconites. Serves coffee and dozens of different tea varieties. Bakery on site. Local community gathering spot.
- Kennedy's Fried Chicken - Located on Main St. Stop in and get you a Jamaican beef pattie!
- Roma Nova's - Mexican food and delicious pizza and chicken. Located on Main St.
- Yankee Clipper - An excellent and friendly place to eat. Located at 397 Main St. near the intersection of Maine and 52.
Transportation
Beacon's most major route is
Interstate 84Interstate 84 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, in the Eastern United States. In New York, I-84 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster...
, which passes through the city's northside, providing a connection that is minutes to the
Taconic State ParkwayThe Taconic State Parkway is a part of the New York highway system. For most of its route, the TSP is four lanes. All of the parkway in Westchester County north of the Sprain Brook Parkway is now a six lane limited-access freeway...
,
New York State ThruwayThe New York State Thruway is a limited-access toll highway in the U.S. state of New York...
, and
Stewart International AirportStewart International Airport is located west of Newburgh, New York, in the southern Hudson Valley, 60 miles north of New York City and, 15 miles southwest of Poughkeepsie, New York...
. The city also has the
Newburgh-Beacon BridgeThe Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, is a cantilever toll bridge that spans the Hudson River in New York State carrying NY 52 and Interstate 84 between Newburgh and Beacon...
which carries the interstate over the
Hudson RiverThe Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. It rises at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains, flows past Albany, and finally forms the border between New York City and New Jersey at its mouth before emptying into...
.
NY Route 9DNew York State Route 9D , also known as the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, is a north-south road that runs along the eastern shore of the Hudson River. It starts at the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge in Westchester County, and ends at the intersection of Vassar Road and U.S...
serves as the city's north-south arterial. It starts at the city's northside and wraps around the city to its southside. The city also has
NY 52 BusinessNew York State Route 52 is a long state highway in the southeastern part of New York, United States. It generally runs from west to east, beginning at the Pennsylvania state line in the Delaware River near Narrowsburg, crossing the Hudson River on the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, and ending in Carmel...
that runs down the middle of the city and begins in the city's westside at Route 9D
Commuter service to
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
is available via the
MTA Beacon Train StationBeacon is a Metro-North Railroad station that serves the residents of Beacon, New York, via the Hudson Line. Trains leave for New York City every hour during off peak hours, and about every 15-25 minutes during rush hour...
, served by
Metro-North RailroadThe Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. Metro–North runs service between New York City to its...
.
Beacon is also serviced weekdays by a commuter ferry,
The Newburgh-Beacon FerryThe Newburgh-Beacon Ferry is a ferry service crossing the Hudson River that connects Newburgh with Beacon New York.It carries passengers between the two cities during rush hour, primarily transporting commuters from the west side of the river at Newburgh to the commuter train station on the east...
, over the Hudson between both cities to help alleviate traffic to the Beacon Train Station from Orange County commuters. The ferry's route runs between Beacon City Harbor and Newburgh City Waterfront.
In nearby Wappingers Falls, the
Dutchess County AirportDutchess County Airport a county-owned public-use airport located in the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County, New York, United States, four miles south of the central business district of Poughkeepsie. It is sometimes called Poughkeepsie Airport, which gives it the code POU...
services local commuter flights. The nearest major airport to Beacon is
Stewart International AirportStewart International Airport is located west of Newburgh, New York, in the southern Hudson Valley, 60 miles north of New York City and, 15 miles southwest of Poughkeepsie, New York...
about 10 minutes away, in
Newburgh-Places:Scotland*Newburgh, Fife, a former royal burgh*Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, a village*Newburgh, Borders, a village*Newburgh, Moray, a village*Newburgh, Orkney, a villageEngland*Newburgh, Lancashire, a village*Newburgh, North Yorkshire, a village...
.
Municipal bus service is provided by the county's
Dutchess County LOOP Bus System, which provides commuter service throughout the county. Its main line from Beacon travels from Main &
NY Route 9DNew York State Route 9D , also known as the Bear Mountain-Beacon Highway, is a north-south road that runs along the eastern shore of the Hudson River. It starts at the eastern end of the Bear Mountain Bridge in Westchester County, and ends at the intersection of Vassar Road and U.S...
up Route 9D to the
Poughkeepsie GalleriaThe Poughkeepsie Galleria is a shopping mall on US 9 in the Town of Poughkeepsie, New York, not far from Wappingers Falls, and is the biggest mall in New York's Hudson Valley region...
and
South Hills MallSouth Hills Mall was an indoor shopping mall on US 9 in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York. The 62,700 m² plaza opened in 1974 and included four stores, a small food court, and an eight-screen second-run cinema...
in the Town Of Poughkeepsie.
Sports
Beacon is home to the
Hudson Valley HawksThe Hudson Valley Hawks are a professional basketball team in the National Professional Basketball League based in Beacon, New York....
, which is a team in the newly formed
National Professional Basketball LeagueThe National Professional Basketball League is a U.S.-based professional basketball league featuring teams from the East Coast.It utilizes a fast-pace style of ball. This is a result of having a mere 7 seconds to bring the ball past half court as well as a 20 second shot clock...
. The team's home court is at Beacon High School.
The
Hudson Valley RenegadesThe Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
are a minor league baseball team affiliated with the
Tampa Bay RaysThe Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball franchise based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and are the defending American League champions. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League...
. The team is a member of the
New York - Penn LeagueThe New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
, and play at
Dutchess StadiumDutchess Stadium is a stadium in Wappingers Falls, New York. It is primarily used for baseball, as the home field of the Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball team. It opened in 1994 and holds 4,494 people. It is located on New York State Route 9D....
in nearby
FishkillFishkill is a village within the Town of Fishkill in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The village population was 1,735 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
.
The
Hudson Valley BearsThe Hudson Valley Bears were an ice hockey team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. They split their home games between the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York and the in Newburgh, New York.-2008-2009:...
are one of four founding members of the
Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL)The Eastern Professional Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league. The league was developed by Curtis Russell, Tim Kolpien, Igor Mrotchek, and Jim Riggs, the former commissioner of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League in 2007....
. They play their home games at the
Mid-Hudson Civic CenterThe Mid-Hudson Civic Center is a venue in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA consisting of Mair Hall and the McCann Ice Arena . It was built in the 1970s as part of the general attempt at rehabilitation of the central district of the City of Poughkeepsie...
in nearby
PoughkeepsiePoughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, the United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
.
The Hudson Valley Highlanders of the
North American Football LeagueThe North American Football League is a wholly owned subsidiary of 360 Sports Management. It is an adult amateur American football league that was designed to be a self-sustaining level of minor league football where players can develop their skills and simply play for the love of the game.-...
play their home games at Dietz Stadium in nearby
KingstonKingston is a city in Ulster County, New York, United States. It is north of New York City and south of Albany along the Hudson River. The population was 23,456 at the 2000 census...
.
Born and raised
- Melio Bettina
Melio Bettina was a professional boxer.-Amateur career:Bettina won the 1935 Intercity Golden Gloves at light-heavyweight by decision over Tony Zale.-Pro career:...
, World Light Heavyweight Champion Boxer in 1939. A small street in the city's center is named in his honor.
- Wallace E. Conkling
Wallace Edmonds Conkling was the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and served from 1941 to 1953. He was born October 25, 1896, in Matteawan, now part of Beacon, New York...
, (1896-1979), 7th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of ChicagoThe Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is the official organization of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and Northern Illinois, USA. The diocese is served by The Right Reverend Jeffrey D. Lee, who serves as Bishop of the diocese, and The Right Reverend Victor A. Scantlebury, who serves as Assistant Bishop...
, was born October 25, 1896, in Matteawan, now part of Beacon and grew up there.
- James Forrestal
James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense.Forrestal was a supporter of naval battle groups centered on aircraft carriers...
, Secretary of the Navy 1944-1947 and Secretary of Defense from 1947-1949. One of the city's four elementary schools and one of its federal housing projects is named in his honor.
- Robert Montgomery
Robert Montgomery was an Scottish/American actor and director.-Early life:Montgomery was born Henry Montgomery Jr. in Beacon, New York, then known as "Fishkill Landing", the son of Mary Weed and Henry Montgomery, Sr. His early childhood was one of privilege, since his father was president of the...
, famous actor who served as head of the Screen Actors GuildThe Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
in 1935 and 1946. He also was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
- Digger Phelps
Richard "Digger" Phelps was the coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball team in the 1970s, 1980s, and part of the 1990s. Professional baseball player Jamie Moyer is his son-in-law...
, head basketball coach at Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, USA....
(1972-91), won more games (393) than any coach in Irish history. Coached junior varsity basketball in Beacon before moving away. A small street off west Main Street is named in his honor.
Residents at one time
- William Few
William Few, Jr. was an American politician and a Founding Father of the United States. Few represented the U.S. state of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention....
, a Founding Father of the United StatesThe Founding Fathers of the United States were the political leaders who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 or otherwise took part in the American Revolution in winning American independence from Great Britain, or who participated in framing and adopting the United States Constitution...
- Michael J. "Hootman" Giannoni, (1954-2008), natural bodybuilder from Mount Vernon who resided in Beacon through the 80's, 90's, and 2000's. He won Mr. World All Natural in 1988 & 1990.
- Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes was an American actress whose career spanned almost 70 years. She eventually garnered the nickname "First Lady of the American Theatre" and was one of only ten people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award...
, famous actress who won the Academy Award for her performances in The Sin of Madelon ClaudetThe Sin of Madelon Claudet is a 1931 American drama film directed by Edgar Selwyn and starring Helen Hayes. The screenplay by Charles MacArthur and Ben Hecht was adapted from the play The Lullaby by Edward Knoblock...
(1931) and AirportAn airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
(1970).
- Joseph Howland
Joseph Howland was an American Union Army general, politician and philanthropist.-Early life:...
, civil war general and philanthropist.
- Bruce Molsky
Bruce C. Molsky is an American fiddler, banjo player, guitarist, and singer. He primarily performs old-time music of the Appalachian region.Molsky was born in 1955 at New York Infirmary in Manhattan, and grew up in The Bronx...
, old-time fiddler, guitarist, and singer
- Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and a key figure in the mid-20th century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early '50s as a member of The Weavers, most notably the 1950 recording of Leadbelly's...
, singer/songwriter and activist.
- Clifford Shull
Clifford Glenwood Shull was a Nobel Prize-winning American physicist.-Biography:...
, Nobel PrizeThe Nobel Prize is a Sweden-based international monetary prize. The award was established by the 1895 will and estate of Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel. It was first awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace in 1901...
winning AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicistA physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
- Elmer Steele
Elmer Rae Steele was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1907-1911.-External links:...
, Major League Baseball player who played for Boston, Pittsburgh, and Brooklyn from 1907 to 1911 as a pitcher. Most notable in the Hudson Valley for earning a 244-5 semi-pro record and becoming a phenom that had a short career of 5 years in the majors due to a career ending arm injury.
Major motion pictures
- War of the Worlds (2005)
War of the Worlds is a live action science fiction film adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp. It stars Tom Cruise as Ray Ferrier, a dock worker estranged from his wife and children and living separately from them...
- The movie's production studio, Paramount, stated that a scene was shot in the city during its 2004 filming, which was confirmed via the IMDb Movie Database.
- Drowning Mona
Drowning Mona is a 2000 comedy-mystery starring Danny DeVito as Wyatt Rash, a local police chief from Verplanck, New York, who investigates the mysterious death of Mona Dearly, a spiteful, loud-mouthed, cruel and around the town highly unpopular woman, who drove her son's Yugo off the cliff and...
- The movie's production studio, Code Entertainment, claims that the movie was based and partially filmed in the city during its 1999 filming. Confirmed via the IMDb Movie Database that the movie was based in the city and scenes were shot in the city.
- Super Troopers
Super Troopers is a 2001 comedy film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, written by and starring the Broken Lizard comedy group . Marisa Coughlan, Daniel von Bargen and Brian Cox co-star while Lynda Carter has a cameo appearance...
- Film was based in the city and the "Town Cop" scenes as well as most of the inside scenes were filmed in the city in 1999. Started out as an underground film and then became a very popular "teen comedy" movie.
- Nobody's Fool - Filmed largely in the home of the Schneider family. Many other scenes were filmed in the city in 1994, most notably three or four scenes that showed Main Street's "Main St., USA" appeal. The movie featured an all-star cast with Paul Newman and Bruce Willis. It was also Jessica Tandy's last film.
Short-length black-and-white films
- The Red Man's View - A cowboy and Indian movie filmed entirely on Mt. Beacon in 1909.
- Down the Mountainside, Turning Panorama of Mt Beacon, A Stern Chase, and Down the Mountainside - A release of the 1902 B&W short films of views from the "World's Steepest Incline Railway", Mt. Beacon's Incline Railway.
External links