History Middletown, Orange County, New York

1 history

1.1 history
1.2 growth of middletown
1.3 modern middletown

history

east main street in 1909



the erie railroad s middletown station in 1971, thrall library


early history

john green purchased land delancey patent , settled area around 1744. due location between other settlements, residents adopted name of middletown, changing later south middletown avoid confusion nearby location. dropped word south, using current name when community became village in 1848. village incorporated city in 1888.

the first congregational church of middletown, established in 1785, has highest spire downtown. construction of first building sign of middletown becoming established village. current church building constructed in 1872.

growth of middletown

middletown grew through 19th century, stimulated construction of erie railroad , new york, ontario , western railway (among others). city industrialized, developing factories number of industries, such shoe, lawnmower blade, , furniture. these did through world war ii era.

due industrial restructuring of these businesses had closed 1960s. in 1968, middletown annexed adjacent village of amchir. in 1970s economy of middletown , surrounding communities suffered additional blows due closing of large ford motor company plant in mahwah, new jersey, , downsizing of ibm operations in area.

responding higher housing costs in new york city, 1970s, new york city police officers, firefighters , other workers began move area, local housing offered better value. these long-distance commuters helped bolster economy of area. after 1986, however, new york city required municipal employees reside in city, , middletown lost source of residential development. railroad left in town middletown , new jersey railway, freight line. population has continued grow 21st century, while economy has shifted largely service , retail, regional medical center major employer in area.

modern middletown

the downtown business district of middletown suffered suburbanization drew off retail businesses. miracle mile shopping strip , lloyd s supermarket developed in late 1960s , 2 later shopping malls, located @ eastern edge of town along route 211, near route 17 , interstate 84. orange plaza mall drew several of downtown shops mid-1970s, weakening downtown. east across route 17, galleria @ crystal run opened in 1990s. super-walmart replaced orange plaza mall in 2001. of buildings downtown abandoned or underused. there has long been active downtown bar , restaurant scene.

the downtown area has number of historic churches. middletown city hall , city court located on james street. prosperous neighborhoods include presidential heights. highland avenue lined large victorian houses, of largest of used nursing homes. other neighborhoods show effects of loss of jobs , decline in economy. surrounding countryside devoted partly small dairy farms, family farming has waned since 1980s.

middletown main business address newspaper times herald-record , owner, local media group. mediacom communications corp, cable , other pay tv company, headquartered outside city in town of wallkill. manufacturing location bell flavors & fragrances.