Home to about 28,500 residents, Newburgh is a charming town of eclectic historical buildings and beautiful parks on the western bank of the Hudson River. Front Street on the river has fantastic dining, one of a kind shopping, and vibrant art galleries; surrounding neighborhoods are a stimulating mix of architectural styles, from colonial to Greek Revival to Victorian Gothic and more.
Increasing numbers of folks are relocating to Newburgh, attracted by the relative affordability of its gorgeous historic homes and lovely parks and river views. A ferryboat takes commuters across the Hudson to the Metro-North train on the opposite bank, so commuting to surrounding communities (and even to New York City) is a workable option. Even so, many residents find work right here in town.
Families appreciate the excellence of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, which sees students scoring well in SAT tests district and many going on to top colleges, and they also like the fact that Newburgh is a friendly town with lots of outdoors activities to keep young people healthy and happy
The local arts scene is thriving, with galleries and artists about town, a symphony, a chamber music orchestra, and an opera company—pretty good going for a community-sized town like Newburgh!
Location
Newburgh is on the Hudson River in the easternmost part of Orange County in New York State. The city lies at the intersection of I 84 (journeying west to Pennsylvania and east to Connecticut) and the New York State Thruway (I 87), which travels south to New York City and north to Albany.
Newburgh is about 60 miles north of New York City and 27 miles north east of Ramapo, NY. Jersey City is about 54 miles south along the Hudson. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is just south of Newburgh, about 20 minutes drive away.
Geography
Pretty Newburgh spreads out along the western bank of the Hudson River, with its downtown area along the river bank. Great views are to be had from the heights at the city’s southern end—views of the city looking north and the Southern Hudson, nearby Bannerman’s Island, and the Hudson Highlands, looking south. There are several beautiful wilderness areas around Newburgh, including the Catskills, which are about 30 minutes north by car.
Newburgh is about 3.8 miles square and ranges in elevation from sea level up to 360 feet above.
Jobs
Newburgh has a stable business climate and steadily growing economy, built on a diverse range of industries. Many manufacturing companies are based in Newburgh, and retail trade and commerce also make up a large chunk of the local job market. Educational, health and social services provide about 22% of local employment. Tourism is becoming increasingly lucrative in this charming historic town. Newburgh is close to New York City (about 60 miles away), right on the intersection of two primary transport routes (I 84 and I 87), and close to Montgomery’s Steward International Airport; this supportive infrastructure also makes it easier for commerce to thrive.
Housing
"For anybody who has ever wanted to live in an old mansion but could never afford one, Newburgh offers many options… and, despite sometimes decades of neglect, many homes retain period details like stained-glass windows, marble mantels and plaster medallions. In fact, a home buyer's first stop after signing the deed is typically the historical society..."
— C. J. Hughes, "Living in Newburgh, N.Y." New York Times, Nov. 6, 2005.
Historic Newburgh is chock full of charming period homes, and if you aren’t afraid to pick up a paintbrush you can end up with a very special home for an affordable price. You’ll find a small number of colonial homes and a wide range of nineteenth century styles to choose from---Federal to Greek Revival, Italianate to Gothic, its all here. Queen Anne, Victorian, Second Empire, Romanesque Revival, Gothic Revival, Picturesque, and Shingle… if you want it, chances are you’ll find it in Newburgh!
The East End Historic District is an especially lovely part of Newburgh, with over 4000 buildings of historic interest, and for those who wish, newer homes are to be found on the city’s outer borders. Much real estate is upscale; many beautiful mansions and elegant homes are found along the banks of the Hudson. Leafy Balmville, just north of Newburgh has elegant Tudor mansions on leafy properties, and the 123 year old Powelton Club has exquisite riverside mansions along the river.
Recreation
In keeping with its historic character, Newburgh has a wealth of mature trees, neighborhood parks and civic landscaping. There are also ample large parks and recreation areas in this well planned community.
Historic Downing Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and spreads over 35-acres. Paths meander around a pond (where locals love to ice-skate in winter), past a bandshell, pergola, and shade house, and wander through beautiful landscaped trees, flowers and shrubs.
There are 15 additional parks in Newburgh, including pretty Unico Park and Broadway Park (also known locally as “Peace Park”), both on the river front.
Newburgh also has good tennis courts, basketball courts, a boat launch, marina, and landing, an excellent aquatic center, and a 2000-seat baseball stadium at the Delano-Hitch Recreation Park. The city coordinates a wide range of recreational events for its youthful citizens, and most are held during summer.
While residents enjoy boating, fishing, and water sports on the Hudson, they also have the use of nearby Lake Chadwick, a great place for boating in summer and ice-skating in winter. Additional ice skating practice and lessons are available Ice Time Sports Complex in town.
Horseback riding lessons are available locally; trained teachers give both group and private lessons.
There are several superb nature areas near Newburgh, including Lake Mahopac,
Clarence Fahnestock State Park, and Catskill Park.
Fahnestock State Park has over 14,000 acres of hiking trails, pretty picnic areas, a lake with a beautiful beach, a scenic campground, the Taconic Outdoor Education Center, and the Fahnestock Winter Park, which includes 15 kilometers of groomed trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and a sledding area.
Catskill Park is world famous for its beauty and offers all kinds of recreation, from hiking and camping to kayaking and tubing in summer and cross country skiing to downhill sledding in winter.
Special Attractions/Events
Newburgh is a beautiful town of historic buildings, lovely old parks, and pretty riverfront restaurant and retail areas. Front Street on the Hudson has some superb restaurants and fantastic shopping and nearby Unico Park hosts many community events and is a great place for a picnic. You can take a relaxing river boat cruise on the Hudson, or do what many local residents prefer and take your own boat out.
Newburgh is a great arts town. Despite its relatively small population of 28,000, the town has its own symphony orchestra, the Greater Newburgh Symphony, now in its eleventh year. Thanks to private support, the symphony is able to perform several free local concerts annually. Newburgh Chamber Music performs throughout the year in various historic spaces, and the Opera Company of the Highlands, formed in 2005, has been going from strength to strength.
Newburgh’s Yellow Bird Gallery is a sophisticated presence in town and one that serves the growing numbers of local artists here. On the last Saturday of every month, local artists have open studios and also show their work on the River Arts Walk along downtown’s pretty waterfront.
The City of Newburgh participates in “Art Along the Hudson”, an arts festival that runs on Saturdays from June to October in Newburgh and three neighboring cities.
The Karpeles Manuscript Museum on the corner of Broadway and Liberty Street is well worth a visit and is popular with history buffs from around the state.
The museum at the George Washington house is excellent (General Washington lived in Newburgh for the last 18 months of the Revolutionary War).
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Charming Newburgh has a long history whose presence may be felt in the many lovely old homes and buildings around town. An aimless stroll yields many architectural delights in Newburgh.
On South Liberty Street you can see George Washington’s Revolutionary War headquarters from 1782 to 1783. New York State’s first historic site, the house has been kept as it was during Washington’s time and includes an excellent museum, the 1887 Freedom Tower, and a gently sloping park with lovely views of the Hudson. A short drive south to the end of Liberty Street takes you to “The Heights”, the most elevated part of town, with fantastic historic homes and a great view south over the Hudson.
Grand and Montgomery streets have some of the city’s best Victorian architecture, including a stunning 1835 former Dutch Reformed Church, a National Historic Landmark designed by noted architect Alexander Jackson Davis in the Greek Revival style. Just across the street sits the Old Courthouse, designed by Thornton Niven, who worked as a mason on the Dutch Reformed Church, and a block away on First Street stand a row of Federal style townhouses from the early nineteen hundreds, known locally as “Quality Row”. On Grand and South you’ll find the Old Town Cemetery that is well worth a look. The cemetery holds all kinds of curiosities, like an Egyptian Revival tomb.
One of the few twentieth century housing districts in Newburgh, the Colonial Terraces were built during the First World War as housing for shipyard workers. Now a quaint region of cottages, Colonial Terraces is now designated a city Design District.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
