Harriman, New York

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Harriman, New York
Harriman, New York is located in New York
Harriman, New York
Harriman, New York
Location within the state of New York
Coordinates: 41°18′30″N 74°8′50″W﻿ / ﻿41.30833°N 74.14722°W﻿ / 41.30833; -74.14722Coordinates: 41°18′30″N 74°8′50″W﻿ / ﻿41.30833°N 74.14722°W﻿ / 41.30833; -74.14722
Country United States
State New York
County Orange
 • Total 1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
 • Land 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 538 ft (164 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 2,424
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 10926
Area code(s) 845
FIPS code 36-32325
GNIS feature ID 0952253

Harriman is a village in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 2,424 at the 2010 census. It is part of the PoughkeepsieNewburghMiddletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New YorkNewarkBridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.

The Village of Harriman is in the southeast part of the Town of Monroe, with a small part in the Town of Woodbury.


Harriman is located at 41°18′30″N 74°8′50″W﻿ / ﻿41.30833°N 74.14722°W﻿ / 41.30833; -74.14722 (41.308442, -74.147317).[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), of which, 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) of it is land and 1.00% is water.

NY-17, NY-17M and NY-32 connect in the village. New York Route 17, US Route 6, and Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway) connect north of the village.

Harriman State Park is east of the village.


The village is named after E. H. Harriman, former president of the Union Pacific railroad. Previously, it was known as Turner, from the early restaurant of Peter Turner.

Edward Henry Harriman attended school in New York and New Jersey, but dropped out when he was 14 years old and took on the job of being a Wall Street message boy. He swiftly became a managing clerk, and then at the age of 22 he became a stockbroker with a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. He married Mary Williamson Averell and by 1881 his career as a rebuilder of bankrupt tracks began on the Lake Ontario Southern railroad which Harriman fixed up and sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad for an outstanding profit. He became one of the most powerful men in America from owning various railroads with aspirations of owning all of them. Harriman went on a voyage which became known as the Harriman Alaska Expedition. In 1899, Harriman along with a superior group of scientists, photographers, artists, and naturalists set out to explore the coast of Alaska. This was a two month expedition traveling from Seattle to Siberia, and then back again. He visited and documented several different places along the Alaskan coast with various discoveries he brought back to Seattle at the end of the voyage on July 30. E.H. Harriman died September 9, at his home at age 62.

In 1950, Harriman had a population of 676.[2]


As of the census of 2010, there was total population of 2,424 people consisting of 1,177 males making up 48.6% and 1,247 females at 51.4%. There was a 7.6% increase in total population from a decade ago. The median resident age was 37.1 years old. The estimated median household income in 2009 was $68,731 with an estimated capita income of 37,795.

White resident population recorded: 1,621 Black or African American resident population recorded: 325 American Indian and Alaska native resident population recorded: 18 Asian resident population recorded: 251 Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander resident population recorded: 1 Hispanic or Latino of any race resident population recorded: 439 Resident population of some other race recorded: 125 Resident population of two or more races recorded: 83

51.54% of the residents are Democratic, 47.4% are Republican, and the remaining 1.062% are Independent.

Income, Earnings, and Education

The estimated median house or condo value in 2009 was $244.914. The median gross rent in 2009 was $1,163.

For population 25 years and over in Harriman High school or higher: 87.0% Bachelor's degree or higher: 30.0% Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% Unemployed: 6.3% Marital Status Never married: 27.5% Now married: 52.6% Separated: 4.3% Widowed: 5.6% Divorced: 9.9% 276 residents are foreign born with 4.3% Asian, 4.2% Latin American, and 2.9% European.

The Unemployment Rate in August 2012 was 8.7%.

Religion 53.1% of Harriman is religious with the majority being Catholic at 35.48%. The next popular is Jewish making a percentage of 6.45 of the community. Baptist, LDS, Episcopalian, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, other Christian, Eastern, and Islam make up the remainder of the religious percentage.


Harriman is part of the Monroe-Woodbury school district with most of the children in the town attend either Saphire or Smith Clove which covers kindergarten through first grade. From there the children go to Central Valley, North Main, or Pinetree for elementary school for grades 2-5. Next Harriman kids then enter Monroe-Woodbury Middle School for grades 6-8. The Middle School consists of four houses named Green, Red, Yellow, and Blue and same with the High School with A, B, C, and D House. The Monroe-Woodbury High School is directly to the left of the middle school and here is where most adolescents go to school for grades 9-12.


Harriman State Park[edit]

Harriman State Park, just east of the village, is the second biggest state park in New York. The park is located in Orange and Rockland counties 30 miles north of the city. The park is known for its 31 lakes, vistas, and public camping areas. Harriman State Park borders Bear Mountain State Park and the United States Military Academy’s forest reserve, as well as partially bordering Sterling Forest to the southwest. E.H. and Mary Harriman owned 30,000 acres of land on part of their estate in Arden, New York. The state made a decision to build a prison at Bear Mountain. The Harrimans opposed this action and wanted to donate some of their land to the state in order to build a park. Once E.H. passed away, Mary made a proposal to the Governor that she would make a donation of 10,000 acres and $1 million for the establishment of a new state park. The state must stop the plan to build the prison with $2.5 million to gain more land and construct park facilities. By 1913, Major William A. Welch began constructing the road from Bear Mountain to Sloatsburg, which is known today as Seven Lakes Drive. Several roads were being created around Bear Mountain in order to make it easier for the public to get to the new park. There was even a steamboat service from Manhattan that would transport people back and forth with the cost of 85 cents for adults and 45 cents for children.

There are more than 40 known hiking trails located in Harriman, as well as over 30 lakes and ponds.

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets[edit]

The Woodbury Common Premium Outlets is a major tourist attraction in New York. This is a shopping center located in Central Valley, New York which is only 5 minutes from Harriman when traveling north on route 17. The outlet opened in 1985, expanded 8 years later, and again in 1998. The center has 220 stores covering over 800,000 square feet of land and is one of the largest outlet centers in the world. Because of the immense size, there are different sections that are arranged by colors to make it easier for the public to find the store they are looking for. On the weekend there is a trolley service that is available to transport shoppers around the center and from the parking lots. Woodbury Commons is a major attraction for foreign tourists visiting the area. The most common tourists are Japanese because the outlet has cheaper prices than if the people were to get the same item in the country. Some stores claim that 40-50% of the profit they make comes from Japanese tourists. There are shuttle buses from New York City that make the trip to the commons. This outlet goes down in history as one of the most popular centers for tourism in the United States.

Harriman Engine Company[edit]

The Harriman Engine Company (HECO) is a volunteer fire department that serves the Village of Harriman and parts of the Town of Monroe. HECO was established in 1928 when there was a need in the community for fire protection. This engine company has two separate sides - the Firematic side and the Civil side. The Firematic side is headed by a Chief, two Assistant Chiefs, one Captain, and one Lieutenant who is in charge of all Firematic operations. Responding to emergency incidents, training, and leading the firefighters in their duty performance are what these specific people are responsible for. The Civil Side is headed by the President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, as well as three Trustees who perform the company operations and also provide fire service to the Village and Town.


  2. ^ Columbia-Lippincott Gazeteer, p. 760

External links[edit]