HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
A Rich Historical Tapestry
The history of New York’s Hudson Valley, and the New Paltz Region in particular, is strongly woven into the fabric of our nation’s heritage. The residents of the New Paltz Region welcome you and invite you to explore the rich history of this unique, spectacular area.
The Esopus Indians had already inhabited the New Paltz region for several centuries by the time Dutch explorer Henry Hudson sailed up the Hudson River in 1609 in The Half Moon. In 1677, a group of twelve Huguenots (French Protestants) purchased nearly 40,000 acres of land near the Wallkill River from the Esopus – land that became the “New Paltz Patent.” They established a community in New Paltz the following year and the original twelve patentees, or "Duzine," served as the legislative and judicial body for the settlement. The founding families and their descendants built the stone houses that stand to this day in the National Historic Landmark District along Huguenot Street in the village of New Paltz.
Other ethnic and religious groups subsequently settled in the Mid-Hudson Valley, including the Dutch, the English, Germans, Italians, Latinos, and Quakers; the State University of New York at New Paltz has also contributed to the diversity of the region. African-Americans have played an important role in the growth of the area, as well, starting with the slaves who worked in the area from the time of the founding of New Paltz until the early 19th century, when the New York Manumission Act of 1799 granted them freedom. Perhaps the best-known African American from the area is Sojourner Truth, the former slave who championed the rights of Blacks and women.
Agriculture has played a significant role in the region’s history, as well. The produce industry, and the apple industry in particular, has flourished in the area since the 1700s. Many popular apple varieties were first grown in the New Paltz area, including the Macintosh and the Jonathan. The climate and soil conditions are also quite favorable for growing grapes, which has led to the growth and popularity of wineries and vineyards throughout the region.
Throughout the centuries, the abundant resources of the region, the natural beauty of the area, the hospitable climate, and the proximity to key metropolitan areas in the Northeast, have made New Paltz and the surrounding areas a vibrant, cultural and richly historic place that is welcoming to residents and visitors alike.
What’s in a Name?
New Paltz. The name of the town is derived from the Palatinate, or “Rhineland Pfalz,” which refers to the area along the Rhine River in Germany around Mannheim and Heidelberg, where the town’s founders sought temporary refuge from religious persecution. Early town documents show many variants of this term, including “The Pfalz,” The New Paltz,” and the French, “Nouveau Palatinat.”
Huguenot. While the origins of the term remain obscure, it is generally agreed that Huguenots refer to French-speaking followers of the sixteenth-century Protestant theologian Jean Calvin.
Shawangunk. The term first appears in the 1682 deed from the Esopus Indians to Gertrude Bruyn, where it refers to a parcel of lowland along the Shawangunk Kill in the present-day township of Gardiner. It may have been used by the Esopus Indians to designate their nearby village, known to history as the “New Fort.” It was at this site that Dutch soldiers had rescued 23 women and children (including some New Paltz founders) who were taken captive by the Esopus. The name has been pronounced locally as SHONG-gum for nearly 200 years.
Mohonk. This term appears in early New Paltz legal documents, beginning in 1677, though spelled variably as Moggoneck and Moggonk. It referred to the mounaintop where the Mohonk Tower now stands. That summit, however, soon took on the name of “Paltz Point” with the original name only coming back into use about 1900. Lake Mohonk appears to have gone nameless until 1860.
Provided by Marc B. Fried, author of four books on Ulster County and the Shawangunk region, and Eric J. Roth, Executive Director Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz.
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