Balmville

Balmville, NY is mostly known as being the ritziest part of Newburgh, NY (one of Orange County's three cities). It's home to the upper-class citizens of Orange County who live on roads with affluent names like “Commonwealth” and “Sloane”, and houses which you know cost more than most people in Orange County can afford.

However, besides from the being the richest place in town, Balmville is home to Orange County's oldest tree---lovingly known as “The Miracle Tree”---as it is more than 300 years old and still going strong! This beautiful tree was named “The Balmville Tree” because the older residents mistook it as a tree named “The Balm of Gilead”, an ancient poplar tree that's hard to find in America, when in fact it is one of America's most ancient, eastern cottonwoods. The tree was what gave Balmville its name (even though it was a mistake on part of the original settlers), and people still flock to Balmville to take in the site of this majestic marvel.

In addition to America's nationally historic tree, Balmville is also home to the Powelton Country Club, which offers its members everything under the sun one could possibly want in a club (oh yes there is a pool of course, too). Students who live in Balmville attend the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, which is pretty okay as far as school districts go. Due to their wealthy family backgrounds, many students go on to Ivy League schools (such as Princeton, Yale or Harvard). As the area is right by West Point, this is where those students who wish to join the Military will probably go when they graduate high school.

There's not many amenities in Balmville itself as it is primarily residential. However, you have all the amenities of Newburgh proper, which offers you such delights as Adam's Fairacre Farms (a gourmet food superstore, which has its own bakery, cafe and garden center) as well as Barnes & Noble Booksellers and others; restaurants include such fantastic eateries as The Wherehouse, which is open until midnight Fridays and Saturdays and offers its customers organic meat dishes and vegetarian options as well; there's also Macchu Picchu Peruvian, Yobo Oriental, The River Grill and Torches on the Hudson, all elegant choices whether with friends, family, or a romantic time with your loved one, some offering beautiful, breathtaking views of the Hudson River to boot.

Balmville can be reached via Interstate 84 and the Newburgh Beacon Bridge and is home to more than 3,000 residents. It's pretty expensive and has a bit of a “gated” feel. Most people would probably come here to visit friends if they don't live here, or otherwise discover it on their way to the rest of Newburgh and beyond. Don't forget to hug the Tree before you leave...but who knows, maybe it'll be around for another three hundred years!