New Paltz, New York

This article is about the town. For the village, see New Paltz (village), New York.

New Paltz
Town
Skytop tower of Mohonk Mountain House from east, a view that dominates the town
Seal
Name origin: Palatine dialect pronunciation of Pfalz
Country	USA
State	New York
Region	Hudson Valley
County	Ulster
Landmark	Mohonk Mountain House
River	Wallkill
Elevation	239 ft (73 m)
Coordinates	41°44′53″N 74°05′06″W
Highest point	NW town line near Skytop Tower
- elevation	1,340 ft (408 m)
- coordinates	41°45′47″N 74°9′13″W
Lowest point	Wallkill River at N town corner
- elevation	160 ft (49 m)
- coordinates	41°48′30″N 74°4′3″W
Area	34.3 sq mi (89 km2)
- land	33.9 sq mi (88 km2)
- water	0.4 sq mi (1 km2)
Population	14,003 (2010)
Density	374.1 / sq mi (144 / km2)
Founded	1678
Government	Town Hall
- elevation	200 ft (61 m)
- coordinates	41°45′23″N 74°4′55″W
Supervisor	Susan Zimet
Timezone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP Code	12561
Area code	845
Exchanges	255, 256
Location of New Paltz within New York
Wikimedia Commons: New Paltz, New York
Website: Town of New Paltz, NY

Mohonk Mountain House, a resort hotel located on the Shawangunk Ridge

New Paltz is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 14,003 at the 2010 census. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston, New York. New Paltz contains a village also with the name New Paltz. The name of the town is derived from Palz (pronounced: [palts]), the German dialect name of the Rhenish Palatinate, now a region of Germany called "Pfalz" (pronounced: [Pfalts]).

The Mohonk Preserve and Mohonk Mountain House resort hotel are located near the western part of New Paltz, and have New Paltz mailing addresses. The Survival of the Shawangunks triathlon has been held in that area of the town each September since 1983.

History

The town of New Paltz was founded in 1678 by both patent and purchase from the local Esopus tribe. The first settlers were Huguenot refugees from Mannheim in the German Palatinate, who settled around the present-day village of New Paltz (on what is now known as Huguenot Street Historic District) and established their own local government. The size of the town increased from surrounding regions in 1775 and 1809. In 1842, part of New Paltz was removed to form the town of Esopus. More of New Paltz was removed in order to form the towns of Rosendale (1844), Lloyd (1845), and Gardiner (1853).

Geography

The Wallkill River flows northward through New Paltz on its way to join the Rondout Creek, which in turn feeds into the Hudson River.

The portion of the Shawangunk Ridge which includes the Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park Preserve is in the town. The ridge is the single busiest rock climbing destination in North America, with some 50,000 technical climbers visiting the area each year.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,830 people, 4,455 households, and 2,347 families residing in the town. The population density was 378.4 inhabitants per square mile (146.1/km²). There were 4,679 housing units at an average density of 138.0 per square mile (53.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 82.16% White, 5.99% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 4.06% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.93% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.22% of the population.

There were 4,455 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.3% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town the population was spread out with 16.9% under the age of 18, 31.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,542, and the median income for a family was $55,537. Males had a median income of $38,250 versus $26,629 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,436. About 6.8% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

New Paltz is accessible by a number of different roads. Interstate 87 (the New York State Thruway) is the main thoroughfare and passes through in the eastern part and houses Exit 18 for Route 299. State routes that traverse through are Route 32, Route 208, and Route 299.

Education

New Paltz has 4 public schools, K-12 and is home to a college in the SUNY system.

• Duzine Elementary School (K-2)
• Lenape Elementary School (3-5)
• New Paltz Middle School (6-8)
• New Paltz High School (9-12).
• State University of New York at New Paltz

The town is home to several private schools, including one which received attention for having a registered sex offender living on the grounds.

Government

The town is governed by a town council composed of four at-large members who serve for four years and a supervisor who serves for two years. The highway superintendent serves for two years, while the town clerk is elected to a four-year term.

Sister city

• Niimi, Okayama, Japan

Notable natives and residents

• Roberto Azank, Argentine-born American painter
• Benjamin F. Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin pioneer
• Oscar Tschirky, inventor of the Waldorf salad
• Floyd Patterson, heavyweight boxing champion.
• Jason West, who performed marriages of gay couples while mayor of the Village of New Paltz.
• Daniel Jason Torres, the youngest Latino elected to office in New York State history.

Historic places

• Huguenot Street Historic District

External links

• Town of New Paltz, NY
• Historic Huguenot Street
• Elting Memorial Library (New Paltz)