History
Some of the earliest Dutch settlers— eager to escape "city life" in the New Amsterdam colony—moved to Rockland (then part of Orange County) in the early 1600s. Together with a sprinkling of Huguenot and English families they farmed, hunted, fished and trapped prosperously. During the first half of the century, they cleared the land, built homes, schools and churches. They erected saw mills and grist mills along the numerous creeks. General stores were opened at Haverstraw and the Tappan Slote. They also formed local government, erecting the first county courthouse in Tappan in 1691. It was burned down by the Tories in the early pre-Revolutionary War years and the county seat was moved to New City. Rockland County became its own entity when it separated from Orange in 1798. Rockland's rich history is immortalized by the Stony Point battlefield and more than 50 historical markers in every part of the county. It is made even more real by historic churches and historic farms—many in the same family since the 1600s. There are several museums starting with the 1700 DeWint House, our oldest standing residence. Orangeburg's new Camp Shanks Museum memorializes the site where more than a million G.I.s were processed for embarkation to World War ll fronts.
Download our Driving History brochure featuring historic markers and map, or call 1(800) 295-5723 to have a copy mailed to you.
Check out the Ice Industry of Rockland County brochure.
