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New Paltz, New York

Coordinates: 41°44′53″N 74°05′06″W / 41.74806°N 74.08500°W / 41.74806; -74.08500
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This article is about the town. For the village, see New Paltz (village), New York.
New Paltz
Town
Town of New Paltz
Paltz Point view from east, a view that dominates the town
Paltz Point view from east, a view that dominates the town
Official seal of New Paltz
Seal
Official logo of New Paltz
Wordmark
Etymology: Palatine dialect pronunciation of Pfalz
Location in Ulster County and New York
Location in Ulster County and New York
Location of New York in the United States
Location of New York in the United States
Coordinates: 41°44′53″N 74°05′06″W / 41.74806°N 74.08500°W / 41.74806; -74.08500
Country United States
State New York
County Ulster
Founded1678
Government
 • TypeTown council
 • SupervisorAmanda Gotto
Area
[1]
 • Total34.31 sq mi (88.85 km2)
 • Land33.88 sq mi (87.74 km2)
 • Water0.43 sq mi (1.12 km2)  1.25%
Elevation
239 ft (73 m)
Lowest elevation
160 ft (50 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,407
 • Density425.24/sq mi (164.20/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
12561
Area code845
FIPS code36-111-50562
GNIS feature ID00979269
Wikimedia CommonsNew Paltz, New York
WebsiteTown of New Paltz, NY

New Paltz (locally /ˈnuː pɔːlz/) is an incorporated U.S. town in Ulster County, New York. The population was 14,407 at the 2020 census.[2] The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston. New Paltz contains a village, also with the name New Paltz. The town is named for Palz (IPA: [ˈpalts]), the dialect name of the Palatinate, called Pfalz (IPA: [ˈpfalts] ⓘ) in standard German.

Due to the presence of what is now the State University of New York at New Paltz, it has been a college town for over 150 years.

History

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The town of New Paltz was founded in 1678 by French Huguenots by both patent from the governor and purchase from the local Esopus tribe of the Lenape people. Prior to the purchase of New Paltz during the 17th century, the Esopus tribe had been pressured off much of their land which is now present day Ulster and Sullivan counties, because of conflicts known as the Esopus Wars. As a result, the Esopus were willing to exchange the land for a hefty sum of goods.[1] The Huguenots were religious refugees from France who had immigrated via Mannheim in the German Palatinate, where they had settled after fleeing France during religious persecution. They settled in the area of the present-day village of New Paltz (on what is now known as Huguenot Street Historic District) and established their own local government.[3]

The size of the town increased with annexation 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).[citation needed]

Geography

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The Wallkill River flows northward through New Paltz on its way to join the Rondout Creek, which in turn feeds into the Hudson River. A portion of the Shawangunk Ridge is in the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.31 square miles (88.9 km2), of which 33.88 square miles (87.7 km2) is land and 0.43 square miles (1.1 km2) (1.25%) is water.

Transportation

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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.

The nearest train station is about 11 miles (18 km) away, in Poughkeepsie. Both Amtrak and Metro-North trains serve Poughkeepsie. Adirondack Trailways also provides bus transportation from New Paltz into various locations across multiple states.

The western terminus of the Hudson Valley Rail Trail is located here. The hiking/biking path eventually crosses the Walkway Over The Hudson and becomes the Dutchess Rail Trail that ends in Hopewell Junction.

Education

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New Paltz has four public schools (K-12) and is home to a college in the SUNY system:

The town is also home to several private schools, including Mountain Laurel Waldorf School pre-K through grade 8), Montessori of New Paltz (pre-K through grade 3), and Huguenot Street Cooperative Nursery School (pre-K).

Government

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The town is governed by a town council, composed of four at-large members and a supervisor. There is also a village of New Paltz within the town, governed by a mayor and a board of trustees. It also had the first Green Party majority council in the nation, led by mayor Jason West.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18204,612—
18305,10510.7%
18405,4085.9%
18502,729−49.5%
18602,023−25.9%
18702,0400.8%
18801,958−4.0%
18902,24214.5%
19002,2641.0%
19103,02533.6%
19202,163−28.5%
19302,55017.9%
19402,81510.4%
19503,74933.2%
19605,84155.8%
197010,41578.3%
198010,183−2.2%
199011,38811.8%
200012,83012.7%
201014,0039.1%
202014,4072.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
Aerial view of New Paltz at an altitude of 3,500 feet MSL, looking west

2010 census

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As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,003. The racial makeup of the town was 84.72% White, 5.35% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 4.36% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.46% from other races, and 2.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.81% of the population.[5]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,407. The racial makeup of the town was 74.01% White, 5.72% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 5.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.11% from other races, and 8.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.74% of the population.[2]

Historic places

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Notable people

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Sister city

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "2020 Census Redistricting Data: New Paltz town, New York". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  3. ^ History of the Village of New Paltz Archived August 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  4. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ^ "2010 Census Redistricting Data: New Paltz town, New York". data.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Student of the Week; Ronald Enroth Plans to Become a Teacher; Like History, Writing, Traveling and Books", Poughkeepsie Journal, December 2, 1955. Accessed June 26, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Set on becoming a teacher, Ronald M. Enroth, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Enroth, New Paltz, has been selected by the faculty as New Paltz High School's 'Student of the Week'. Born in Weehawken, N. J., Ronald was raised in Ridgefield, N. J., and attended the Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood, N. J., prior to moving to New Paltz two years ago."
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Paltz, New York.
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