New York Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Woodbury, New York

Population: 9,460

Located in Orange County

The region was once called Woodbury Clove ("valley"). The Town of Woodbury was incorporated in 1889 (the town was originally created in 1863, but was dissolved soon afterwards).

The Town of Woodbury, which is comprised of the hamlets of Central Valley and Highland Mills; and the area which was formerly known as the hamlet of Woodbury Falls, was officially created on December 19, 1889 by an act of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The first town meeting was held the following year on March 4th with John A. Patterson presiding as Supervisor. The second Supervisor was James Seaman. Even though the land is no longer used for farming, the Seaman family property can still be identified by a sign which reads “Sweet Clover Farm” along Route 32 on the northern end of town.

The Town of Woodbury was actually created twice - the first time in 1863 when the Board of Supervisors approved the division of Monroe into the three communities of Monroe, Tuxedo and Woodbury. Objections to this arose and two years later the Legislature was asked to overrule the Board's decision which it did by recreating the old Town of Monroe. In 1889 the Board of Supervisors reinstated the original separation and Woodbury was reborn.

In addition to the flour and grist mills, the area's industry was dominated by a large tourism business as well as a famous fly rod (fishing rod) manufacturing business. Woodbury was the home to both the Payne Rod Company and the Leonard Rod Company.

The town's current major means of income comes from the attraction of visitors from around the world who come to shop at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, the larget of all in the world. People visit the area from Japan, China, Europe, and the Americas. This large shopping boom in the area, which began in the 1980's has inspired major construction projects including Wal-Mart, Home Depot, BJ's Wholesale Club, many chain restaurants, car dealerships, other retailers as well as many planned projects in the works. This has brought on much conflict and controversy with the local residents as well as the surrounding municipalities. Regardless, the Town of Woodbury is prospering and profiting from this new economic boom.

On August 11, 2006, residents voted overwhelmingly to incorporate all of the town save that portion in Harriman as a village, in order to better protect against annexations by the neighboring village of Kiryas Joel.

The village is now called Monroe, also referred to as Monroe Woodbury, a name it shares with its school district.

Source: wikipedia.org
Photo Source: rockland.org