Orangetown is a
triangle-shaped
town in
Rockland County,
New York,
United States located in the southeast part of the county. It is northwest of
New York City; north of
New Jersey; east of the town of
Ramapo; south of the town of
Clarkstown; west of the
Hudson River. The population was 47,711 at the 2000 census.
History
Orangetown was first settled around 1680. The town of Orangetown was the first town formed in Rockland County, after the county was established.
During a border dispute with
New Jersey, part of the town was lost from New York.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.4 square miles (81.2 km²), of which, 24.2 square miles (62.6 km²) of it is land and 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²) of it (22.92%) is water.
The eastern border is defined by the
Hudson River and the south border is
New Jersey. The town is bordered to the north by the town of
Clarkstown and to the northwest by the town of
Ramapo.
Demographics
As of the
census of 2000, there were 47,711 people, 17,330 households, and 11,940 families residing in the town. The
population density was 1,973.1 people per square mile (761.8/km²). There were 17,827 housing units at an average density of 737.3/sq mi (284.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 83.97%
White, 5.88%
African American, 0.11%
Native American, 6.42%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander, 1.66% from
other races, and 1.93% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 6.02% of the population.
There were 17,330 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were
married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $70,477, and the median income for a family was $87,341 (these figures had risen to $91,497 and $111,742 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $53,596 versus $39,886 for females. The
per capita income for the town was $33,170. About 2.4% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Elected Representation
The Town of Orangetown has a Town Supervisor as its elected executive. It is currently Thom Kleiner, but will be represented by Paul Whalen, beginning in
2010. It is represented in the
United States House of Representatives by
Eliot Engel. In state government, it is represented by Senator
Thomas Morahan and Assemblywoman
Ellen Jaffee.
Communities and locations in Orangetown
Unincorporated hamlets
- Blauvelt – A hamlet in the central part of the town.
- Orangeburg – A hamlet in the south part of the town.
- Palisades – A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town.
- Sparkill – A hamlet southwest of the village of Piermont.
- Sneden's Landing – A location on the Hudson River south of the village of Piermont.
- Tappan – A hamlet in the southeast corner of the town.
- Upper Grandview – A hamlet south of the village of South Nyack.
Other notable locations
- Lake Tappan – A reservoir running north to south, roughly bisecting the Town, and entering New Jersey at the south town line.
