Fishkill, New York

Fishkill is located in the former territory of the Wappinger people. It was part of the Rombout Patent granted to Francis Rombouts, Gulian VerPlanck, and Stephanus Van Cortlandt of New Amsterdam in 1685. The name "Fishkill" evolved from two Dutch words, vis (fish) and kil (stream or creek).[4] In 1714, Dutch immigrants settled in the area. The village of Fishkill was a significant crossroads in the overland transportation network in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Kings Highway, connecting Albany to New York City, intersected with a major overland route from New England to the Hudson River.[5] Among the first to occupy the land now within the village limits were Johannes Ter Boss and Henry Rosecrance.[6]

Perspective map of Fishkill-on-the-Hudson and list of landmarks from 1886 by L.R. Burleigh

The third New York Provincial Congress convened in Fishkill in May 1776. Fishkill became part of one of the largest colonial military encampments during the Revolutionary War. General Washington's aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton took residence here. The Trinity Church, on Hopewell Avenue in the village, was organized in 1756 and the structure built in 1760. It was used as a hospital during the Revolutionary War.[5] The Dutch Reformed church was used as a military prison. American spy Enoch Crosby was held there briefly with Loyalist recruits before beig allowed to escape.[7]

In 1871, construction began for a schoolhouse on Church Street. The site used for the schoolhouse belonged to the Fishkill Reformed Church and was formerly used as pasture land for the pastor's cow.[8] In 1876, a great fire destroyed many of the old wooden buildings, which were then replaced by brick ones.[9]

In 1996, the animal rights group PETA suggested the town (and, presumably, the village as well) change its name to something less suggestive of violence toward fish.[10] The town declined this change because the name is not meant to suggest violence but instead comes from the Dutch who originally settled the land in which "kil" means "creek". Various other communities also contain the word "Kill" with various prefixes, and a creek in the Catskills called Beaver Kill is a tributary of the Delaware River. Both "Catskill" and "Beaver Kill" could be considered to promote animal violence when their names are improperly understood. This led then-mayor George Carter to joke that if Fishkill is renamed, the Catskills should also be renamed, presumably to the Catsave Mountains.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.89 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.[3]

At the 2000 census, there were 1,735 people, 965 households, and 400 families in the village. The population density was 1,978.8 people per square mile (761.2/km²). There were 1,011 housing units at an average density of 443.6 /km² (1,153.0 /sq mi). The racial makeup of the village was 93.72% White, 2.77% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 6.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.9% were of Italian, 20.2% Irish, 11.2% German, 7.3% American and 5.4% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

Of the 965 households 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 6.9% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 58.5% were non-families. 53.9% of households were one person and 32.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.80 and the average family size was 2.74.

The age distribution was 14.1% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 30.5% 65 or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 74.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.3 males.

The median household income was $36,344 and the median family income was $59,737. Males had a median income of $48,750 versus $31,898 for females. The per capita income for the village was $26,504. 8.4% of the population and 4.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 8.8% are under the age of 18 and 8.9% are 65 or older.

Main Street in Fishkill

Van Wyck Municipal Hall on Main Street

U.S. Route 9 leads north 5 miles (8 km) to Wappingers Falls, north 12 miles (19 km) to Poughkeepsie, and south 19 miles (31 km) to Peekskill. New York State Route 52 leads west 5 miles (8 km) to Beacon and east 7 miles (11 km) to the Taconic State Parkway in East Fishkill. Interstate 84 passes 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the village, with access from Exit 44 (NY 52 southwest of the village) and Exit 46 (US 9 south of the village). Via I-84 it is 7 miles (11 km) west to Newburgh across the Hudson River and 31 miles (50 km) southeast to Danbury, Connecticut. New York City is 70 miles (110 km) to the south via the Taconic Parkway or New York State Thruway.

Fishkill is served by the bus routes "A", "B", and "F", operated by Dutchess LOOP.[12][13]

The largest employer in the village is Gap Clothing. In 2000 the facility opened; in 2001 it expanded. In 2014 the company announced plans to add 1,200 jobs over a 5-year period and invest $96 million into the distribution center. However, on 29 August 2016, a massive fire at the Gap distribution center[14] left hundreds of people out of work. 600 employees were safely evacuated from the facility on Merritt Boulevard just before 11 p.m., when the fire appeared to have started on the second floor and quickly spread.

William J. Hutchins (1813–1884), a successful businessman and one-time mayor of Houston, Texas, was born in Fishkill.[15]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fishkill, New York.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Fishkill.

• Village of Fishkill official website
• Blodgett Memorial Library (Fishkill)
• Fishkill Creek Watershed Committee
• Fishkill Fire Department