Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike
Encyclopedia
The Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike was a turnpike road in southern New York
in the United States. It ran from Newburgh
on the Hudson River
west to Cochecton
on the Delaware River
, where travelers could continue west through Pennsylvania
on the Cochecton and Great Bend Turnpike toward Binghamton. The road operated as a toll road
from 1810 to 1872. It is now mostly maintained by the state, carrying New York State Route 17K (NY 17K) from Newburgh to Bloomingburg
and NY 17B
from Monticello to Fosterdale. Between Bloomingburg and Monticello, the turnpike has been bypassed by the Quickway (NY 17
), and is now maintained by the county; similarly, the route west of Fosterdale to Cochecton is County Route 114 (CR 114). Across the Delaware River, Pennsylvania Route 371 (PA 371) leads west from the Cochecton Bridge.
The Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike began on the eastern bank of the Delaware River
in the hamlet of Cochecton, New York
, where travelers could continue west through Pennsylvania
on the Cochecton and Great Bend Turnpike toward Binghamton. This turnpike became the basis for modern PA 371
. From Cochecton, the turnpike headed generally southeastward to the city of Newburgh
on the Hudson River
by way of Monticello
and Wurtsboro
. The old turnpike path roughly corresponds to what is now CR 114 from Cochecton to Fosterdale, NY 17B
between Fosterdale and Monticello, CR 173, CR 172, and CR 171 from Monticello to Bloomingburg
, and NY 17K
between Bloomingburg and Newburgh. The Quickway (NY 17
) closely parallels the old turnpike alignment between Monticello and Bloomingburg.
at Cochecton
to the then-village of Newburgh
. The company's initial funds came from the village of Newburgh and area residents, who allocated $126,000 to the new company. These funds were used to construct the Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike in 1810. The construction of the toll road
caused the area surrounding the highway to quickly grow in size. At its west end, the influx of workers led to the creation of Sullivan County
in 1809. To the east, the traffic generated by this and other turnpikes sparked a similar period of growth and prosperity in the village of Newburgh. The village became a city in 1865.
The turnpike served as the area's main transport route until 1871, when it was replaced in purpose by the Middletown and Crawford Railroad. Ownership and maintenance of the highway was turned over to the towns it passed through in 1872, effectively dissolving the toll road. In the early 20th century, the state of New York
took over maintenance of the old turnpike from Fosterdale to Newburgh, repurposing the highway as a toll-free state road. Two sections of the highway became part of state routes when the modern New York state route system was established in 1924, and the entire Fosterdale–Newburgh highway was assigned a number as part of the 1930 state highway renumbering. The piece from Monticello
to Bloomingburg
was bypassed by the Quickway in the mid-to-late 1950s; however, the rest of the Fosterdale–Newburgh segment is still state-maintained as parts of NY 17B
and NY 17K
.
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...
in the United States. It ran from Newburgh
Newburgh (city), New York
Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, United States, north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. Newburgh is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes all of Dutchess and Orange counties. The Newburgh area was...
on 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...
west to Cochecton
Cochecton, New York
Cochecton is a town located in west-central Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population was 1,328 at the 2000 census. The name is an aboriginal word for "low land."...
on the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, where travelers could continue west through Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on the Cochecton and Great Bend Turnpike toward Binghamton. The road operated as a toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
from 1810 to 1872. It is now mostly maintained by the state, carrying New York State Route 17K (NY 17K) from Newburgh to Bloomingburg
Bloomingburg, New York
Bloomingburg, previously Bloomingburgh, is a village in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 353 at the 2000 census.The Village of Bloomingburg is in the Town of Mamakating.- History :...
and NY 17B
New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B is a state highway located entirely within Sullivan County, New York. It connects the hamlet of Callicoon at its western end with the Monticello area in the east .-Route description:From its terminus at NY 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon New York State...
from Monticello to Fosterdale. Between Bloomingburg and Monticello, the turnpike has been bypassed by the Quickway (NY 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
), and is now maintained by the county; similarly, the route west of Fosterdale to Cochecton is County Route 114 (CR 114). Across the Delaware River, Pennsylvania Route 371 (PA 371) leads west from the Cochecton Bridge.
Route description
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
in the hamlet of Cochecton, New York
Cochecton, New York
Cochecton is a town located in west-central Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population was 1,328 at the 2000 census. The name is an aboriginal word for "low land."...
, where travelers could continue west through Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on the Cochecton and Great Bend Turnpike toward Binghamton. This turnpike became the basis for modern PA 371
Pennsylvania Route 371
Pennsylvania Route 371 is a 23.45-mile long state highway located in Susquehanna and Wayne Counties. The western terminus is at Route 171 / Route 374 near the community of Union Dale in Herrick Center...
. From Cochecton, the turnpike headed generally southeastward to the city of Newburgh
Newburgh (city), New York
Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, United States, north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. Newburgh is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes all of Dutchess and Orange counties. The Newburgh area was...
on 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...
by way of Monticello
Monticello, New York
Monticello is a village located in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 6,512 at the 2000 census. It is the seat for the Town of Thompson and the county seat of Sullivan County...
and Wurtsboro
Wurtsboro, New York
Wurtsboro is a village located on U.S. Route 209 in the town of Mamakating in Sullivan County, New York, United States, near its junction with New York State Route 17...
. The old turnpike path roughly corresponds to what is now CR 114 from Cochecton to Fosterdale, NY 17B
New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B is a state highway located entirely within Sullivan County, New York. It connects the hamlet of Callicoon at its western end with the Monticello area in the east .-Route description:From its terminus at NY 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon New York State...
between Fosterdale and Monticello, CR 173, CR 172, and CR 171 from Monticello to Bloomingburg
Bloomingburg, New York
Bloomingburg, previously Bloomingburgh, is a village in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 353 at the 2000 census.The Village of Bloomingburg is in the Town of Mamakating.- History :...
, and NY 17K
New York State Route 17K
New York State Route 17K is an east–west state highway located within Orange County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with County Route 76 east of Bloomingburg to a junction with U.S. Route 9W midway across the city of Newburgh...
between Bloomingburg and Newburgh. The Quickway (NY 17
New York State Route 17
New York State Route 17 is a state highway that extends for through the Southern Tier and Downstate regions of New York in the United States...
) closely parallels the old turnpike alignment between Monticello and Bloomingburg.
History
On March 20, 1801, the Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike Company was established, tasked with building a road from the Delaware RiverDelaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
at Cochecton
Cochecton, New York
Cochecton is a town located in west-central Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population was 1,328 at the 2000 census. The name is an aboriginal word for "low land."...
to the then-village of Newburgh
Newburgh (city), New York
Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, United States, north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. Newburgh is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes all of Dutchess and Orange counties. The Newburgh area was...
. The company's initial funds came from the village of Newburgh and area residents, who allocated $126,000 to the new company. These funds were used to construct the Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike in 1810. The construction of the toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
caused the area surrounding the highway to quickly grow in size. At its west end, the influx of workers led to the creation of Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
in 1809. To the east, the traffic generated by this and other turnpikes sparked a similar period of growth and prosperity in the village of Newburgh. The village became a city in 1865.
The turnpike served as the area's main transport route until 1871, when it was replaced in purpose by the Middletown and Crawford Railroad. Ownership and maintenance of the highway was turned over to the towns it passed through in 1872, effectively dissolving the toll road. In the early 20th century, the state of 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...
took over maintenance of the old turnpike from Fosterdale to Newburgh, repurposing the highway as a toll-free state road. Two sections of the highway became part of state routes when the modern New York state route system was established in 1924, and the entire Fosterdale–Newburgh highway was assigned a number as part of the 1930 state highway renumbering. The piece from Monticello
Monticello, New York
Monticello is a village located in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 6,512 at the 2000 census. It is the seat for the Town of Thompson and the county seat of Sullivan County...
to Bloomingburg
Bloomingburg, New York
Bloomingburg, previously Bloomingburgh, is a village in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 353 at the 2000 census.The Village of Bloomingburg is in the Town of Mamakating.- History :...
was bypassed by the Quickway in the mid-to-late 1950s; however, the rest of the Fosterdale–Newburgh segment is still state-maintained as parts of NY 17B
New York State Route 17B
New York State Route 17B is a state highway located entirely within Sullivan County, New York. It connects the hamlet of Callicoon at its western end with the Monticello area in the east .-Route description:From its terminus at NY 97 in the hamlet of Callicoon New York State...
and NY 17K
New York State Route 17K
New York State Route 17K is an east–west state highway located within Orange County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with County Route 76 east of Bloomingburg to a junction with U.S. Route 9W midway across the city of Newburgh...
.