Beacon, New York

Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. Although the city's estimated living population is around 16,000 people, the 2000 census placed the city total population at 13,808. Beacon was so named to commemorate the historic Beacon fires which blazed forth from the summit of the Fishkill Mountains to alert the Revolutionary Armies about British troop movements.

The City of Beacon is located in the southwest corner of Dutchess County, in the fast growing Mid-Hudson Region. It sits just over an hour north of New York City, about 59 miles, in its northern suburbs. It is also located approximately 90 miles south of Albany.

History

The area occupied as Beacon was originally settled as the Villages of Matteawan and Fishkill Landing in 1709, which were among the first communities in the state. Beacon incorporated as a city in 1913, annexing the two villages and a small portion of the Hamlet of Glenham from the Town of Fishkill.

The city served as a focal point during the Revolutionary War. It manufactured war supplies, and served as a fort and signaling point. The city's name came from signal fires that were atop nearby Beacon Mountain. During the 1800s, the city became a factory town and was known as "The Hat Making Capital of the US" with nearly 50 hat factories operating at one time.

During the 1960's "Urban Renewal" many significant buildings were torn down, damaging the city's character. In the late 1970s, the Dutchess Ski area closed, taking away a large tourist attraction. Also in the 1970s, a decline in the economy closed most of the factories. These losses created a dark age in the city from about 1970 to the late 1990s, during which eighty percent of commercial businesses and factories were vacant.

Starting in the late 1990s, with the opening of one of the world's largest contemporary art museums Dia: Beacon, Beacon began to have a rebirth. Beacon is striving to become the art capital of the state, with large commercial businesses, art galleries, and numerous residential developments to support growth. New development continues to enlarge the city. The two largest planned projects are a waterfront hotel and conference center, and "The Rivers and Estuaries Center" on Dennings Point. Both facilities will be LEED certified, showing Beacon's leadership in the GREEN Building industry.

The Mount Beacon Incline Railway

From 1902 to 1975, the Mount Beacon Incline Railway was one of the steepest incline railways in existence (a 65% grade). It took an estimated 3 million people up to the 1,540-foot summit of Mount Beacon. Fire and vandalism destroyed the incline railway. There is now a movement to restore it.

Geography

Beacon is located at 41°30'15" North, 73°57'56" West (41.504243, -73.965576)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.7 km² (4.9 mi²). 12.4 km² (4.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.25% water.

Located on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, Beacon is noted for its proximity to numerous historic sites and large cities. It is located minutes away from Bannerman's Castle and West Point. Beacon also sits with the famous Mount Beacon as its backdrop and the Hudson River as its front door. The city also is located across the river from its larger sister city, Newburgh. Beacon is just 20 minutes south of the Hudson Valley Region Capital City, Poughkeepsie. In addition Danbury, Connecticut is located about 45 minutes away and New York City is located just over an hour to the south.

The city includes the following neighborhoods:

Main Neighborhoods

River Side Section
Mountain Side Section

Secondary Neighborhoods

North Tree Streets
South Tree Streets
Groveville
Business District (Main Street Area)
"Davies" or "The Apartments" (Section of City with a Concentrated Area of Public Housing on South Ave)

Demographics

Although the city's population is estimated to be about 16,000 people, the census² of 2000 placed the city's population at 13,808 people. The census also showed that the city has 5,091 households and 3,360 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,115.3/km² (2,891.6/mi²) based on the census population of 13,808. There are 5,406 housing units at an average density of 436.7/km² (1,132.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 9,440 or 68.37% White and 4,368 or 31.63% Minority. The minority population is dominated by African Americans at 2,713 residents or 19.65%, then followed by Hispanic or Latino which make up 2,334 residents or 16.90% of the city. Smaller minority groups include 956 residents or 6.92% from other races, 181 residents or 1.31% Asian, 43 residents or 0.31% Native American, and 0.00% Pacific Islander. Also the city includes 475 residents or 3.44% from two or more races.

Based on the census; there are 5,091 households out of which 34.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% are married couples living together, 16.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% are non-families. 28.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.23.

In the city the population is spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $45,236, and the median income for a family is $53,811. Males have a median income of $40,949 versus $29,154 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,654. 1,465 residents or 11% of the population and 310 or 9.1% of the families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 834 residents or 11% of those under the age of 18 and 99 residents or 8.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. The city currently is composed of 10% subsidized housing, of which about 400 units are state and federal housing projects.

Places of interest

Professional sports

Hudson Valley Renegades - Class A Minor League Baseball Team for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Team plays out of Dutchess Stadium located in neighboring Fishkill. (3-5 Minutes North of City)

Museums and institutes

Dia:Beacon - Contemporary Arts Museum. (In City)
The Beacon Institute of Rivers and Estuaries - A major river and estuary research institute. (In City)

Historic sites

Madam Brett Homestead — 50 Van Nydeck Avenue — the oldest building in Dutchess County, the home was owned and occupied by one family for seven generations and is on the National Register of Historic Places.^[1]
Lower Main Street Historic District — The first several blocks of Main Street east of its junction with South Street feature many small businesses working out of vintage Italianate-style buildings.

Parks

Memorial Park - Located in the center of the city and serves as the city's "Central Park". It is the city's primary park and many events are hosted in the park. (In city)
Riverfront Park - City's riverfront park that is a peninsula into the Hudson River. A very active park that hosts numerous events. (In City)
Green Street Park - A neighborhood park located in the Mountain Side Section of the city (In city)
Hammond Field - A neighborhood park located in the River Side Section of the City that is primarily used for the city school districts functions. Is the home of the "Beacon Bulldogs" Track and Football venues. (In city)
South Ave Park - A housing project park for the Forrestal Heights Houses. Primarily used for the Beacon Hoops program, a city youth basketball program. (In city)
Hudson Highlands State Park - The state park located behind and just south of the city. A very large state park that covers Mount Beacon. (1-3 minutes east and south of city)

Transportation

Beacon's most major route is Interstate 84, which passes through the city's northside, providing a connection that is minutes to the Taconic State Parkway, New York State Thruway, and Stewart International Airport. The city also has the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge which carries the interstate over the Hudson River.

Although Interstate 84 is the city's most major route, NY Route 9D serves as the city's arterial. It starts at the city's northside where it intersects with Interstate 84 as the Interstate's Exit 11 and wraps around the city to its southside. The city also has New York State Route 52 Business that runs down the middle of the city and begins in the city's westside at NY Route 9D.

Commuter service to New York City is available via the MTA Beacon Train Station, served by Metro-North Railroad.

Beacon is also serviced weekdays by a commuter ferry, The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry, over the Hudson between both cities to help alleviate traffic to the Beacon Train Station from Orange County commuters. The ferry docks between Beacon City Harbor and Newburgh City Waterfront.

In nearby Wappingers Falls, the Dutchess County Airport services local commuter flights. The nearest major airport to Beacon is Stewart International Airport about 10 minutes away, in Newburgh.

Municipal bus service is provided by the county's Dutchess County LOOP Bus System, which provides commuter service throughout the county. Its main line from Beacon travels from Main & NY Route 9D up Route 9D to the Poughkeepsie Galleria and South Hills Mall in the Town Of Poughkeepsie.

Notable people

Born and Raised

James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy 1944-1947 and Secretary of Defense from 1947-1949. One of the city's four elementary schools and one of its federal housing projects is named in his honor.
Melio Bettina [1], World Light Heavyweight Champion Boxer in 1939. A small street in the city's center is named in his honor.
Robert Montgomery, famous actor who served as head of the Screen Actors Guild in 1935 and 1946. He also was a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during WWII.
Digger Phelps, head basketball coach at Notre Dame (1972-91), won more games (393) than any coach in Irish history. Coached junior varsity basketball in Beacon before moving away. A small street off west Main Street is named in his honor.
Wallace E. Conkling, (1896-1979), 7th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, was born October 25, 1896, in Matteawan, now part of Beacon and grew up there.

Residents at one time

Clifford Shull ^[2], Nobel Prize winning American physicist.
Joseph Howland, civil war officer and philanthropist.
Bruce Molsky, old-time fiddler, guitarist, and singer
Kevin Baggaley, artist, philosopher
Gloria Swanson, famous actress who was filmed in Airport (1974) and Killer Bees (1974).

Movies Filmed in Town

Major Motion Pictures

War of the World's (2005) - The movie's production studio, Paramont, claims that a scene was shot in the city during its 2004 filming, unsure where though. Confirmed via the IMDb Movie Database that a scene was shot in the city.
Drowning Mona - The movie's production studio, Code Entertainment, claims that the movie was based and partially filmed in the city during its 1999 filming. Confirmed via the IMDb Movie Database that the movie was based in the city and scenes were shot in the city.
Super Troopers - Film was based in the city and the "Town Cop" scenes as well as most of the inside scenes were filmed in the city in 1999. Started out as an underground film and then became a very popular "teen comedy" movie.
Nobody's Fool - Filmed largely in part in the home of the Schneider family. Many scenes were filmed in the city in 1994, most notably were 3 or 4 scenes that showed Main Street's "Main St USA" appeal. The movie featured an all-star cast with Paul Newman and Bruce Willis; it was also Jessica Tandy's last film.

Short Length B&W Pictures

The Red Man's View - A cowboy and indian movie filmed entirley on Mt Beacon in 1909.
Down the Mountainside, Turning Panorama of Mt Beacon, A Stern Chase, and Down the Mountainside - A release of 1902 B&W short films of views from the "World's Steepest Incline Railway", Mt Beacon's Incline Railway.

References

^ "Guide to Museums, Historical Organizations, Local Historians, Libraries / Dutchess - Orange - Putnam - Rockland - Ulster - Westchester - Bronx", published by the Lower Hudson Conference in Elmsford, N.Y., second edition, 1989,
^ Clifford Shull autobiography on Nobel Prize website

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Beacon, New York

Coordinates: 41.50472° N 73.97° W

Municipalities and communities of Dutchess County, New York
County seat: Poughkeepsie (city)
Cities	Beacon \| Poughkeepsie
Towns	Amenia \| Beekman \| Clinton \| Dover \| East Fishkill \| Fishkill \| Hyde Park \| LaGrange \| Milan \| North East \| Pawling \| Pine Plains \| Pleasant Valley \| Poughkeepsie \| Red Hook \| Rhinebeck \| Stanford \| Union Vale \| Wappinger \| Washington
Villages	Fishkill \| Millbrook \| Millerton \| Pawling \| Red Hook \| Rhinebeck \| Tivoli \| Wappingers Falls
Communities and CDPs	Amenia \| Annadale-on-Hudson \| Arlington \| Brinckerhoff \| Crown Heights \| Dover Plains \| Fairview \| Haviland \| Hillside Lake \| Hopewell Junction \| Myers Corner \| New Hamburg \| Pine Plains \| Red Oaks Mill \| Rhinecliff \| Salt Point \| Shekomeko \| Spackenkill \| Staatsburg \| Wassaic

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