- For the Native American tribe, see Wappani.
Wappingers Falls is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The name is derived from the local Wappinger Indians. One half of the village is in the town ofWappinger and the other half is in the town of Poughkeepsie, with Wappinger Creek forming the dividing line between the towns.
The population was 4,929 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.
The Village of Wappingers Falls also holds claim to New York State's 6th oldest library, the Grinnell Library.[citation needed] US 9 passes through the village, as well as NY 9D.
History
The area was part of the Rombout Patent. The community was founded around 1659. The village of Wappingers Falls was incorporated in 1871 and included the adjacent community of Channingville.
The local waterfall was important for early industrial development.
In 1987, Wappingers Falls gained national prominence when then resident Tawana Brawley was perportedly raped in the encompassing town of Wappinger. The allegations proved to be false. Years later, the former assistant district attorney that was falsely accused in the rape allegations successfully sued Al Sharpton, who had exploited and fueled the media coverage.[3]
Geography
Wappingers Falls is located at 41°35′57″N 73°55′5″W / 41.59917°N 73.91806°W / 41.59917; -73.91806 (41.599093, -73.918077)[4].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (3.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (4.96%) is water.
Wappinger Creek flows through the village.
As mentioned above, a portion of the village of Wappingers Falls is located within the town of Wappinger. However the large post office which services both municipalities is located in the village of Wappingers Falls. Thus both the village of Wappingers Falls and the town of Wappinger (as well as portions of Fishkill, East Fishkill, Poughkeepsie and Lagrange) all have the same ZIP code: "WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590". This often results in confusion. The town of Wappinger is 28 square miles (73 km2). Truckers and travelers often attempt to locate an address in the 1.2-square-mile (3.1 km2) village of Wappingers Falls when the location they are actually seeking is somewhere in the much larger town of Wappinger (or portions of Fishkill, East Fishkill, Poughkeepsie and Lagrange).
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,929 people, 1,980 households, and 1,191 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,321.4 people per square mile (1,669.4/km²). There were 2,119 housing units at an average density of 1,857.8/sq mi (717.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 82.02% White, 5.98% African American, 0.26% Native American, 3.04% Asian, 5.64% from other races, and 3.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.05% of the population.
There were 1,980 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $39,123, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $38,147 versus $26,607 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,491. About 10.4% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Places of worship
There are five places of worship within the village of Wappingers Falls. The First Presbyterian Church is located on South Avenue along with the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. The United Methodist Church of Wappingers is located on East Main Street as is the Zion Episcopal Church. St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church is located on Clinton Street.
Entertainment and the arts
County Players Falls Theater, a volunteer, non-profit community theatre is located on West Main Street in the Village, in the former Academy Theater building.
Fictional links
In Ward Moore's 1953 alternate history novel Bring the Jubilee, the protagonist, Hodgins M. Backmaker, is a native of Wappingers Falls.
Books
- Gianpaolo Zeni, En Merica! L'emigrazione della gente di Magasa e Valvestino in America, Cooperativa Il Chiese, Storo 2005.
References
External links
