Fishkill (town), New York
Encyclopedia
Fishkill is an affluent suburban town in the southwest part of Dutchess County
, New York
, USA. The population was 20,258 at the 2000 census, however, current estimates put the town's population at over 22,100. Fishkill partly surrounds the city of Beacon
.
The town of Fishkill contains a village, which is also named Fishkill
. The name means derives from the Dutch
"vis kill," meaning "fish creek."
The location of Fishkill was known as Tioranda by the Native American peoples. The name means "The place where two waters meet".
merchants Frances Rombout and Gulian Verplanck purchased 85000 acres (344 km²) in Dutchess County from the Wappinger Indians
for a quantity of goods including rum, powder, and tobacco. Neither ever lived on the land, intending to use it only for fur trading. The first white settlers were Rombout's daughter, Catharyna and her husband, Roger Brett, who built a mill at the mouth of the Fishkill Creek as it flows into the Hudson River
.
Fishkill played an important role in the Revolutionary War when a huge military encampment was established one mile (1.6 km) below the village to guard the mountain pass to the south. Signal fires lay in readiness on tops of the surrounding mountains. The Fishkill encampment became the main supply depot for the northern division of the Continental Army
. The first copies of the New York State Constitution were printed at Fishkill in 1777.
In the 19th century mills and factories sprang up in Glenham and Matteawan brought an influx of skilled weavers from the British Isles. The healthy economy came to an end in the post-Civil War
depression and the once thriving factories fell into decay. In 1931, Texaco
purchased the old woolen mill site and established a research center there. Today, the town's industry is mostly technology based.
In 1996, the animal rights group PETA
suggested the town change its name to something less suggestive of violence toward fish. The town declined.
, the town has a total area of 32.0 square miles (82.8 km²), of which, 27.4 square miles (71.0 km²) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (11.8 km²) of it (14.26%) is water. The elevation of the town varies from sea level (Fishkill Waterfront, Fishkill Landing, Dutchess Junction) to 2000 feet (609.6 m) above sea level (Mission Peak, Mount Beacon).
The southern town line is the county line between Dutchess and Putnam
Counties. The western town line is defined by the Hudson River
and the City of Beacon
. To the north is the town of Wappinger
.
Fishkill Creek gives the town its name and empties into the Hudson River. Interstate 84
passes through the town, and US 9 passes through both the town and Village of Fishkill.
Dutchess Stadium
, home of the Class A Minor League Baseball
Team, the Hudson Valley Renegades
is in the Town.
of 2000, there were 20,258 people, 6,856 households, and 4,264 families residing in the town. The population density
was 738.9 people per square mile (285.3/km²). There were 7,040 housing units at an average density of 99.1 persons/km² (256.8 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 77.19% White, 14.13% African American
, 0.19% Native American, 2.99% Asia
n, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.49% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 10.47% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There are 6,856 household
s out of which 27.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
living together, 8.1% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 37.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 135.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,745, and the median income for a family was $63,574. Males had a median income of $42,106 versus $32,198 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,662. 5.4% of the population and 3.4% of families were below the poverty
line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 6.2% are under the age of 18 and 7.5% are 65 or older.
, who are a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays
. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League
, and play at Dutchess Stadium
.
The Hudson Valley Bears
are one of four founding members of the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL)
. They play their home games at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center
in nearby Poughkeepsie
.
The Hudson Valley Hawks
is a team in the newly formed National Professional Basketball League
. The team's home court is at Beacon High School, in nearby Beacon
.
The Hudson Valley Highlanders of the North American Football League play their home games at Dietz Stadium
in nearby Kingston
.
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, USA. The population was 20,258 at the 2000 census, however, current estimates put the town's population at over 22,100. Fishkill partly surrounds the city of Beacon
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
.
The town of Fishkill contains a village, which is also named Fishkill
Fishkill, New York
Fishkill is an upscale village within the much larger town, Town of Fishkill, one of the fastest growing towns in the region, in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The village population was 1,735 at the 2000 census...
. The name means derives from the Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
"vis kill," meaning "fish creek."
The location of Fishkill was known as Tioranda by the Native American peoples. The name means "The place where two waters meet".
History
In 1683 New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
merchants Frances Rombout and Gulian Verplanck purchased 85000 acres (344 km²) in Dutchess County from the Wappinger Indians
Wappinger
The Wappinger were an American tribe native to eastern New York. The term "Wappinger" may also refer to:* Wappinger, New York, the Town of Wappinger named for the tribe...
for a quantity of goods including rum, powder, and tobacco. Neither ever lived on the land, intending to use it only for fur trading. The first white settlers were Rombout's daughter, Catharyna and her husband, Roger Brett, who built a mill at the mouth of the Fishkill Creek as it flows into the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
.
Fishkill played an important role in the Revolutionary War when a huge military encampment was established one mile (1.6 km) below the village to guard the mountain pass to the south. Signal fires lay in readiness on tops of the surrounding mountains. The Fishkill encampment became the main supply depot for the northern division of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. The first copies of the New York State Constitution were printed at Fishkill in 1777.
In the 19th century mills and factories sprang up in Glenham and Matteawan brought an influx of skilled weavers from the British Isles. The healthy economy came to an end in the post-Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
depression and the once thriving factories fell into decay. In 1931, Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
purchased the old woolen mill site and established a research center there. Today, the town's industry is mostly technology based.
In 1996, the animal rights group PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
suggested the town change its name to something less suggestive of violence toward fish. The town declined.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 32.0 square miles (82.8 km²), of which, 27.4 square miles (71.0 km²) of it is land and 4.6 square miles (11.8 km²) of it (14.26%) is water. The elevation of the town varies from sea level (Fishkill Waterfront, Fishkill Landing, Dutchess Junction) to 2000 feet (609.6 m) above sea level (Mission Peak, Mount Beacon).
The southern town line is the county line between Dutchess and Putnam
Putnam County, New York
Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the lower Hudson River Valley. Putnam county formed in 1812, when it detached from Dutchess County. , the population was 99,710. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. The county seat is the hamlet of Carmel...
Counties. The western town line is defined by the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
and the City of Beacon
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
. To the north is the town of Wappinger
Wappinger, New York
Wappinger is a town of in Dutchess County, New York in the United States. The population was 26,274 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from the Wappani Indians that inhabited the area...
.
Fishkill Creek gives the town its name and empties into the Hudson River. Interstate 84
Interstate 84 in New York
Interstate 84 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dunmore, Pennsylvania, to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, in the Eastern United States. In New York, I-84 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Port Jervis to the Connecticut state line east of Brewster...
passes through the town, and US 9 passes through both the town and Village of Fishkill.
Dutchess Stadium
Dutchess Stadium
Dutchess Stadium is a stadium in Fishkill, New York. It opened in 1994 and holds 4,500 people. It is located on New York State Route 9D.It is primarily used for baseball, as the home field of the Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball team. The Renegades are the rookie-level team of the...
, home of the Class A Minor League Baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
Team, the Hudson Valley Renegades
Hudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
is in the Town.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 20,258 people, 6,856 households, and 4,264 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 738.9 people per square mile (285.3/km²). There were 7,040 housing units at an average density of 99.1 persons/km² (256.8 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 77.19% White, 14.13% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.19% Native American, 2.99% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.49% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 10.47% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There are 6,856 household
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
s out of which 27.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.1% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 37.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 38.1% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 135.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,745, and the median income for a family was $63,574. Males had a median income of $42,106 versus $32,198 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $22,662. 5.4% of the population and 3.4% of families were below the poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 6.2% are under the age of 18 and 7.5% are 65 or older.
Sports
Fishkill is home to the Hudson Valley RenegadesHudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
, who are a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League
New York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
, and play at Dutchess Stadium
Dutchess Stadium
Dutchess Stadium is a stadium in Fishkill, New York. It opened in 1994 and holds 4,500 people. It is located on New York State Route 9D.It is primarily used for baseball, as the home field of the Hudson Valley Renegades minor league baseball team. The Renegades are the rookie-level team of the...
.
The Hudson Valley Bears
Hudson Valley Bears
The Hudson Valley Bears were an ice hockey team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. They split their home games between the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York and the in Newburgh, New York.-2008-2009:...
are one of four founding members of the Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL)
Eastern Professional Hockey League (2008)
The Eastern Professional Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league. The league was developed by Curtis Russell, Tim Kolpien, Igor Mrotchek, and Jim Riggs, the former commissioner of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League in 2007....
. They play their home games at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center
Mid-Hudson Civic Center
The Mid-Hudson Civic Center is a venue in Poughkeepsie, NY, USA consisting of Mair Hall and the McCann Ice Arena . It was built in the 1970s as part of the general attempt at rehabilitation of the central district of the City of Poughkeepsie...
in nearby Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
.
The Hudson Valley Hawks
Hudson Valley Hawks
The Hudson Valley Hawks are a professional basketball team in the National Professional Basketball League based in Beacon, New York. The Hawks play at Beacon High School....
is a team in the newly formed National Professional Basketball League
National Professional Basketball League (2007-)
The National Professional Basketball League, often abbreviated to the NPBL, was an American men's professional basketball minor league featuring teams from the East Coast of the United States which played for two seasons....
. The team's home court is at Beacon High School, in nearby Beacon
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
.
The Hudson Valley Highlanders of the North American Football League play their home games at Dietz Stadium
Dietz Stadium
Robert Dietz Memorial Stadium is a football stadium in Kingston, New York. Dietz Stadium is the home field of the Kingston High School Tigers football team. It is named for Robert H. Dietz, a medal-of-honor recipient killed in World War II...
in nearby Kingston
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
.