Editing Orangetown, New York (section)

== History ==
[[File:Michael Salyer Stone House, Orangetown, NY.jpg|thumb|left|Michael Salyer Stone House]]
[[File:DEDERER STONE HOUSE, ORANGETOWN, ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY.jpg|thumb|right|Stonehurst (Granite) - circa 1865]]
Orangetown was first settled around 1680. The first settlers were Dutch men who purchased a tract of land from the Tappan Indians in 1686; their patent of the same year called the place Orange, but it was also known as Orangetown and Tappan (after the first village).<ref name="VanKueren 1902">{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/historicalrecord00tomp | title=A. W. VanKeuren, "Town of Orangetown," in Arthur S. Tompkins, ''Historical Record to the Close of the Nineteenth Century of Rockland County, New York'', pp. 345-414 | publisher=Nyack, NY: Van Deusen & Joyce, 1902 | access-date=June 24, 2012}}</ref>  When the state's first twelve counties were established in 1683, the territory that would become Orangetown lay within Orange County.  It became part of Rockland County when that county was created in 1798.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

Historical material from the Gazetteer of New York, 1860 & 1861:<ref>http://gedcomindex.com/Reference/New_York/new_york570.html [Gazetteer of New York, 1860 & 1861]</ref>
<blockquote>
ORANGETOWN—was formed March 7, 1788, and was named from Orange co., of which it
then formed a part. It lies upon the Hudson, in the S. angle of the co. Its surface is broken by
abrupt and rocky hills in the E. ; but in the center and W. it spreads out into a rolling or moderately
hilly region. The Nyack Hills, extending along the river, are 300 to 500 feet high, with steep,
rocky declivities upon the E., but more gradual slopes upon the W. Their summits are rocky and
covered with a light growth of forest trees. Snake Hill, in the N.E. corner, upon the line of Clarks-
town, is one of the principal peaks. The principal stream is Hackensack River, flowing S. through
the W. part. Pascack Creek flows through the extreme W. angle, and Spar Kil is a tributary
of the Hudson. Near the N. line are several bog or peat meadows, generally well drained
and under cultivation. The red sandstone which crops out on the E. declivities of the hills, within
a few rods of the river, between Piermont and Nyack, is extensively quarried and exported for
building stone. The soil is a reddish, sandy loam intermixed with clay. Fruit growing and
furnishing milk for the New York market have become leading pursuits. Nyack, (p.v.,) upon
the Hudson, in the N.E. corner of the town, contains 5 churches, 5 shoe manufactories, a steam
tub and pail factory, the Rockland Female Institute, and a private academy. Pop. 1,458.
Piermont, (p.v.,) upon the Hudson, in the S. part, was incorp. May 21, 1850. It is the E.
terminus of the Piermont Branch of the N. Y. & Erie R. R.,—the one over which the freight is
carried. Nearly the whole business of the place is connected with the R.R. establishment. A pier
1&nbsp;mi. long has been built into the river, where the freight is transferred to and from the cars and
barges in the river. Upon each end of the pier are extensive offices for the transaction of the busi-
ness of the road. At this place the R.R. co. also have a large iron foundery and extensive repair
shops. Pop. 2,204. Tappantown, (p.v.,) near the N. J. line, contains 2 churches and 30
dwellings. This place was the scene of the trial of Andre, and for a time in 1780 was the head-
quarters of Gen. Washington. Rockland, (Palisades p.o.,) upon the Hudson, in the S. part
of the town, contains 3 churches and 40 dwellings. Orange Mills, Middletown, and
Blauveltville, (p. o.,) a station on the N. Y. & E. R. R., are hamlets. The first settlement is
supposed to have been made by the Dutch, as early as 1680. The first church (Ref. Prot. D.) was
formed Oct. 24, 1694; and the first preacher was Rev. Guilllam Bartholf. The first church edifice
was erected in 1716. There are 16 churches in town.
</blockquote>

The [[Orangetown Resolutions]], a protest of the imposition of duties and the closing of the port of [[Boston]] by the British Parliament, were passed in Tappan on July 4, 1774, a precursor of the [[American Revolution]].