Nyack is a village in Rockland County, New York. The population was 6,737 at the 2000 census. The village is located approximately 19 miles north of Manhattan, by way of driving.
Nyack straddles the border of two towns and is located mostly within the Town of Orangetown with a small portion - one election district- within the Town of Clarkstown. The New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) and US Route 9W pass through the village.
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Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.1 km˛ (1.6 mi˛). 2.0 km˛ (0.8 mi˛) of it is land and 2.1 km˛ (0.8 mi˛) of it (51.88%) is water.
Nyack is on the west bank of the Hudson River, north of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
History
Nyack was originally settled by Native Americans known locally as the Nyack Indians, from whom the village takes its name.
Nyack was incorporated as a village in 1782.
Subsequent history
Nyack is one of five villages and hamlets (Nyack, Central Nyack, South Nyack, Upper Nyack and West Nyack) that make up an area of southeastern Rockland County called The Nyacks. Named after the Native Americans who resided here prior to colonization, the village itself lies on the hilly terrain that meets the western shore of the Hudson River.
The village consists mostly of low-rise buildings that lie along the western shore of the Hudson River. Throughout the 18th century and 19th century, Nyack was known for its shipbuilding and was the main commercial center of Rockland County. In the 19th century, a number of factories manufactured shoes. The West Shore Railroad connected the village with Weehawken, New Jersey, where ferries took passengers to New York City, until it was discontinued in the second half of the 20th century. The village of Nyack is in the Nyack School District.
In the 1980s, the village underwent a major urban revitalization project to commercialize the downtown area and to expand its economy. It was at that time when the Helen Hayes Theater was built and the downtown area became home to many new business establishments.
Past residents of note
Famous residents of the Nyacks have included:
- Carson McCullers - author
- Claudio Sanchez - musician/author
- Edward Hopper - artist
- Ellen Burstyn - actress
- Helen Hayes - actress
- Jill Footlick - producer
- Jonathan Demme - film director
- Joseph Cornell - artist
- Joseph Alessi - trombonist
- Larry Mullen Jr - musician
- Michael Rumaker - author
- Rosie O'Donnell - actress/comedian
- Stephen Baldwin - actor
- Van Johnson - actor
- Russell Crowe - actor
- Horton Foote - playwright/screenwriter
- Harold Perrineau - actor
- Noah Michael Levine - actor/writer
- Joshua Bellinger - musician
- Princess Vera Konstantinovna of Russia, one of the last russian Princesses and one of the only ones to survive the revolution
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,737 people, 3,188 households, and 1,511 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,378.1/km˛ (8,749.1/mi˛). There were 3,288 housing units at an average density of 1,648.7/km˛ (4,270.0/mi˛).
There were 3,188 households out of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.6% were non-families. 42.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living independently who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the village the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $54,890, and the median income for a family was $69,146.
