Cornwall-on-Hudson is a smalll village with rich nature and arts
Cornwall-on-Hudson’s riverside location in the Hudson Highlands has historically made the village a haven for artists and nature lovers. Storm King Art Center, the world-class sculpture park, is only about 10 minutes away, and the riverfront village sits next to expansive woodlands on the water. “It has a great little-town feel, nice restaurants within town, and it's a walking town where you can actually walk around. You don’t get that in [Upstate] New York too much,” says Haakim Byrd, leader of the Byrd Pro Sales Team. Cornwall-on-Hudson’s population of just over 3,000 has been steadily increasing as retirees and remote workers look for a quiet retreat about an hour’s drive from New York City. Education, the arts and a lively small business scene are among its main employers, and restored 19th-century homes add historic character to the small but growing village.
The Hudson Highlands have attracted old poets and modern nature lovers
The Hudson Valley has countless miles of nature to explore. Nathaniel Parker Willis, a member of Poe and Longfellow’s literary circle, gave the name Storm King to one of Cornwall’s most prominent peaks due to its majestic appearance in the morning fog. Today, it’s the centerpiece of a 1,884-acre state park full of valley viewpoints. “You’ve also got Plum Point, a nice river park. It’s a beautiful park with river views and river walks,” Byrd says. Donahue Memorial Park, on Cornwall’s waterfront, is locally known as a trainspotting venue and the put-in point for Hudson River kayaking. Within the village, Riverlight Park has baseball fields, a wading pool, a playground, and courts for tennis and basketball.
Hillside homes offer sweeping Hudson River vistas
Cornwall's mix of housing styles tells the story of a Gilded Age artist retreat transforming into a New York City exurb. Restored Second Empire houses built in the 1860s sell for the highest prices, from $950,000 to $1,200,000. Bungalows, Colonial Revivals and ranch-style homes built from the 1890s to 1960 sell for $330,000 to $640,000. Properties built since 1960 include New Traditionals and contemporary-style homes that sell for $520,000 to $740,000. “Depending on the home, you get river views and can enjoy Bannerman’s Island not too far from there,” Byrd says. Residential areas closer to downtown branch off from main avenues and often feature medium-sized lawns. Sidewalks are rare outside Cornwall-on-Hudson’s downtown retail district. With a CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, Cornwall-on-Hudson has a crime risk lower than the national average of 4.
Historic downtown includes diverse eateries and cafes
River, Idlewild and Duncan avenues intersect with Hudson Street to form Cornwall’s historic downtown. “They have a restaurant called Painter’s Tavern that has local art in it,” Byrd says. “It’s been there a long time. It’s a big staple in Cornwall.” The Storm King Lounge & Fare serves fine dining fare in an Art Deco setting. Cornwall’s small business scene also includes boutique eateries like the 2 Alices Coffee Lounge, the colorful Las Margaritas Mexican restaurant and the Chez Ana ice cream shop. Neighboring Firthcliffe has a DG Market, while New Windsor offers Hannaford, Price Chopper and ShopRite supermarket options less than 3 miles away.
A-rated schools offer competitive sports
Students can start at Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary School before attending Cornwall Middle School and Cornwall Central High School, all of which receive A ratings from Niche. Cornwall Central High received a National Blue Ribbon Award in recognition of its strong academics, and it recently received an award from the state interscholastic sports authority for its scholar-athlete program. “Cornwall is a big sports town with great school sports and a lot of school pride out there,” Byrd says. The Storm King School, a prestigious private boarding school, is also in the area. It receives an A-plus from Niche.
Artistic traditions are on full display at local events
Cornwall-on-Hudson has community activities for nearly every season, starting with a weekly farmers market every Wednesday from May 21 to November 5. In June, RiverFest sees Donahue Park become a venue for family fun through live music, craft shows and trackless train rides along the riverfront. The Fall Festival, held in late September, inaugurates the autumn months with even more music and crafts, this time taking over Main Street.
Cornwall-on-Hudson has quick access to citybound roads
River Road connects Cornwall-on-Hudson to the regional hub of Newburgh, 5 miles to the north. New York commuters can drive down the Palisades Interstate Parkway and into Manhattan within a 55-mile journey. Train routes to New York City are on both sides of the river. St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital is less than 2 miles from downtown Cornwall-on-Hudson.
Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
