Highland Falls, New York
Encyclopedia
Highland Falls, formerly named Buttermilk Falls, is a village
in Orange County
, New York
, United States
. The population was 3,678 at the 2000 census. The village was founded in 1906. It is part of the Poughkeepsie
–Newburgh
–Middletown
, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
as well as the larger New York
–Newark
–Bridgeport
, NY-NJ
-CT
-PA
Combined Statistical Area
.
Highland Falls is in the Town of Highlands
and is adjacent to the United States Military Academy
at West Point
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.89% is water.
of 2000, there were 3,678 people, 1,567 households, and 922 families residing in the village. The population density
was 3,326.4 people per square mile (1,279.4/km2). There were 1,657 housing units at an average density of 1,498.6 per square mile (576.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 76.94% White, 12.75% African American, 0.38% Native American, 2.18% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 3.78% from other races
, and 3.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.58% of the population.
There were 1,567 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $45,833, and the median income for a family was $57,885. Males had a median income of $41,833 versus $29,488 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $24,100. About 3.9% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
http://www.hffmcsd.org/oneill/hshome.htm (Grades 9-12).
There was also a parochial school, Sacred Heart of Jesus School, that served students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight. The school closed in June 2011.
lived in Highland Falls in the 1970s after he moved back to New York. New York at the time was struggling under civil disorder and economic stress. He wrote the song, "New York State of Mind," on a Grey Hound bus on his way to his home in Highland Falls. Mr. Joel lived in the Cragston neighborhood, and wrote the song "Summer, Highland Falls."
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,678 at the 2000 census. The village was founded in 1906. It is part of the Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, 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...
–Newburgh
Newburgh (city), New York
Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, United States, north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. Newburgh is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes all of Dutchess and Orange counties. The Newburgh area was...
–Middletown
Middletown, Orange County, New York
Middletown 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 Area
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area
The 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 York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
–Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
–Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, NY-NJ
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
-CT
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
-PA
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Combined Statistical Area
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
.
Highland Falls is in the Town of Highlands
Highlands, New York
Highlands is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 12,484 at the 2000 census.The Town of Highlands is on the eastern border of the county....
and is adjacent to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
.
Geography
Highland Falls is located at 41°22′7"N 73°58′5"W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The 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...
, the village has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.89% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A 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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,678 people, 1,567 households, and 922 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,326.4 people per square mile (1,279.4/km2). There were 1,657 housing units at an average density of 1,498.6 per square mile (576.4/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 76.94% White, 12.75% African American, 0.38% Native American, 2.18% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 3.78% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.58% of the population.
There were 1,567 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $45,833, and the median income for a family was $57,885. Males had a median income of $41,833 versus $29,488 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $24,100. About 3.9% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Highland Falls is part of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District. The district has three campuses – Fort Montgomery Elementary School (Grades K-2), Highland Falls Middle School (Grades 3-8), and James I. O'Neill High SchoolJames I. O'Neill High School
James I. O'Neill High School is a public high school in Fort Montgomery, New York. It serves students from the communities of Fort Montgomery, Garrison, Highland Falls, and West Point.-History:...
http://www.hffmcsd.org/oneill/hshome.htm (Grades 9-12).
There was also a parochial school, Sacred Heart of Jesus School, that served students in grades pre-kindergarten through eight. The school closed in June 2011.
Notable residents
Singer Billy JoelBilly Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
lived in Highland Falls in the 1970s after he moved back to New York. New York at the time was struggling under civil disorder and economic stress. He wrote the song, "New York State of Mind," on a Grey Hound bus on his way to his home in Highland Falls. Mr. Joel lived in the Cragston neighborhood, and wrote the song "Summer, Highland Falls."