Page 43 - Westchester - 2017 Relocation Guide

Rockland County boasts an extensive park system that has been expanding, thanks to an aggressive Open Space Preservation Program. The county’s diverse population enjoys prime access to a wealth of recreational and cultural activities. Historic sites include the Stony Point Lighthouse, which was built in 1826 on a Revolutionary War battlefield and is the oldest lighthouse on the Hudson River.
The county’s variety of indsutry runs the gamut, from health, pharmaceutical, and research to retail, manu- facturing, and construction. An educated workforce is supplied by a top-notch school system, including several higher-education options. Among these are Dominican College in Orangeburg; Iona College, Rockland Gradu- ate Center in Pearl River; and Rockland Community College, State University of New York in Suffern.
Clarkstown was ranked among the top-10 small cit- ies (population between 50,000 and 300,000) by Money magazine when it was declared one of the best places to live in America in 2014. The Village of Piermont, with its mile-long pier on the Hudson, was described as a “tiny (less than one square mile) hidden Rockland County gem” and named one of 2013’s best places to live by Hudson Valley Magazine.
New City is finding the best of both worlds with rapid development in recent years, while the outskirts of the hamlet remains tranquil.
West Nyack is a cultural hub thanks to the Rock- land Center for the Arts. The arts are also celebrated in Haverstraw, where there is a popular artist community. Visitors can enjoy more than just art, as the business
district has grown to accommodate eclectic diners. Or- angetown is also home to a flourishing arts scene, boast- ing several noted galleries.
Parks abound throughout Rockland. In Ramapo, the most populous town in the county, a large percentage of land is set aside for parks and gardens.
The American Revolution is remembered throughout the county. In Stony Point, a number of important his- torical moments are recorded at Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site, the only preserved Revolutionary War battlefield in the lower Hudson. Brigadier General Anthony Wayne battled successfully against a British garrison in July 1779.
Top: Built in 1826, the lighthouse at Stony Point is the Hudson’s oldest; (left) Rockland Center for the Arts was founded 1947 by artists such as Aaron Copland, Paulette Goddard, Kurt Weill and Helen Hayes; (above) Rockland Community College
in Suffern has made the state’s top-10 community-colleges list two years running.
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