Haverstraw, New York

Land area: 22.2 sq. mi.
Water area: 5.3 sq.mi.
Founded: 1788
Population in 2014: 12,172 (100% urban, 0% rural)
Population density: 6,110 people per square mile.
County seat:  New City.
Colleges and Universities: Rockland Community College, Nyack College, SUNY Westchester Community College, Mercy College, United States Military Academy, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Manhattanville College

Description:

Haverstraw is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of the Town of Clarkstown and the Town of Ramapo; east of Orange County, New York; south of the Town of Stony Point; and west of the Hudson River. The town runs from the west to the east border of the county in its northern part. The population was 36,634 at the 2010 census.The name comes from the Dutch word Haverstroo meaning "oats straw",referring to the grasslands along the river. The town contains three villages, one of which is also known as Haverstraw. Haverstraw village is the original seat of government for the town, hosting the area's historic central downtown business district and the densest population in northern Rockland County.
In 1609, the region was explored by Henry Hudson. A land purchase was made in this town in 1666 from local natives and confirmed as a patent in 1671. The region was known as Haverstroo, meaning "oat straw" in Dutch.During the American Revolution, it served as an important lookout for British activities on the Hudson. A blue-marked trail, the Long Path, may be taken 2 miles (3 km) eastward from Central Highway along the crest of South Mountain to High Tor. Halfway is Little Tor, the second highest peak on South Mountain.The town of Haverstraw was formed in 1788 while still part of Orange County, New York. Haverstraw was partitioned in 1791 to form the town of Clarkstown and the town of Ramapo and again in 1865 to form the town of Stony Point.In 1826 the town was the site of a short-lived effort to establish a Owenite colony called the Franklin Community.Underfinanced and wracked by internal dissent, the model Owenite community folded after a mere five months of operation.

Transportation:

There are 3 airports and 5 Amtrak train stations within 30 miles of the Haverstraw city center.
The average travel time to work in Haverstraw is 1% higher than the national average.
The number of people who take public transportation in Haverstraw is 192% higher than the national average.
The number of people who carpool to work in Haverstraw is 26% higher than the national average.
The number of people who work from home in Haverstraw is 53% lower than the national average.

Races:

White (66.24%)
Black or African American (10.27%)
Native American (0.41%)
Asian (3.21%)
Pacific Islander (0.10%)
Other races (15.65%)
Two or more races (4.12%)
Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.73% of the population.

Age:

Median resident age: 32.8 years
New York median age: 38.2 years

Average household size:

Haverstraw : 3.4 people
New York: 2.6 people

Estimated median household income in 2013:

Haverstraw: $52,934 (it was $42,683 in 2000)
New York: $57,369

Median contract rent in 2013 for apartments:

Median gross rent in 2013: $1,256.

Estimated median house or condo value in 2013:

Haverstraw: $284,432 (it was $146,200 in 2000)
New York:  $277,600
Mean prices in 2013: All housing units: $436,783; Detached houses: $475,662; Townhouses or other attached units: $341,396; In 2-unit structures: $336,525; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $223,333; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $357,648; Mobile homes: $108,013

Air pollution:

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2013 was 98.7. This is worse than average.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) [ppm] level in 2013 was 0.391. This is worse than average. Closest monitor was 21.0 miles away from the city center.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) [ppb] level in 2013 was 18.4. This is significantly worse than average. Closest monitor was 14.6 miles away from the city center.
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) [ppb] level in 2013 was 1.55. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 1.8 miles away from the city center.
Ozone [ppb] level in 2013 was 28.8. This is about average. Closest monitor was 3.3 miles away from the city center.
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) [µg/m3] level in 2013 was 8.46. This is about average. Closest monitor was 21.0 miles away from the city center.

Unemployment in September 2015:

Here: 4.6%
New York: 4.8%

Crime: 

The overall crime rate in Haverstraw is 34% lower than the national average.
For every 100,000 people, there are 5.39 daily crimes that occur in Haverstraw.
Haverstraw is safer than 57% of the cities in the United States.
In Haverstraw you have a 1 in 51 chance of becoming a victim of any crime.
The number of total year over year crimes in Haverstraw has decreased by 6%.