Goshen

Growing up in Orange County I am quite familiar with the town and now that I live here I am really falling in love! Downtown is perfect with all the little shops and cafes but just 2 minutes outside of town there are sprawling horse farms and quite neighborhoods. The school district is small but not too small with 4 schools (elementary, intermediate, middle and high). We just moved here about 8 months ago (Nov '12) and I am excited to raise a family here!

Passing through town (or village?) of Goshen, you might think it’s just a quiet little town nestled amongst the hills in Orange County, NY. It might come as a surprise that this little town was bustling with activity during the Revolutionary War days, and that the outlaw Claudius Smith was hanged here and buried in an undisclosed location on the land of one of the town’s many churches, the Old Presbyterian Church. (It’s rumored that Claudius and his partner Brandt buried their stolen goods in Goshen’s hills for later recovery, but of course this is just an urban legend, as most tales of its kind usually are.) Besides ridding the county of old-time villains, Goshen is famous for being the home of America’s oldest racing track for horses, and visitors and residents can now enjoy the track as a museum, where the history of the races will come alive for new generations to explore. (The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame is a great place to start.)

Taking a walk through town will make you feel like you’re taking a trip back in time. It’s very easy to go from place to place here on foot, which only adds to the old-time charm of the place. You won’t miss the large, Greek-revival style courthouse, which has been here since the 1800’s, and the middle of town is studded with revolutionary war monuments, as Goshen was home to the Orange Blossoms regiment that once fought the British here.

In fact, if you’re hungry, you can blend history and fine dining together with a visit to the t, which is conveniently located directly right across the street from the harness track. Limoncello is a northern Italian and American restaurant that was once the Orange Inn, where George Washington once resided during his stay in Goshen, and there were also slaves who escaped to safety here during the Civil War. Residents and visitors alike will also recommend Dave’s BBQ, where you can grab southern-style BBQ (something the whole family will love), and there’s also American staples like Friendly’s, which is famous for its ice-cream, burgers and fries. Personally, I recommend Grandma’s Irish Soda Bread, found at Lilly’s Bistro on Main Street (winner of the Best in the Hudson Valley in 2011).

Goshen is a great place to enjoy the arts. There’s an annual Jazz festival held right in town, as well as the Great American Weekend festival (where you can enjoy arts and crafts booths as well as great music and food). There’s a dance, music and art school in the area, as well as the home for the Conservation for Performing Arts in Orange County. There’s also wonderful hiking trails (Orange Heritage Trail) and JFK Memorial Park is a great place for playing sports, hiking or simply taking the dog for a walk.

That said it’s easy to see why people like living here. Seniors and families can find affordable housing at some apartments (although people looking to rent 2 or 3 bedroom apartments might find the rates a little high. The cost of living is fair here, but it depends on what you’re looking for---you might find a home between $200,000 and $300,000, but there are also many mansion-style homes in the higher end part of town. Schools are excellent with a high graduation rate (82.6%, and it gets higher every year). Orange County’s BOCES branch is located here as well. There’s a noticeable Hispanic population which gives the area some diversity, but it’s a mainly White population and otherwise not very ethnic. There’s lots of medical facilities within easy reach from town, and nearby Hamptonburgh has the Campbell Hall Train Station, which uses the Port Jervis line that can take you to nearby NJ.

In general, Goshen is a lovely little town that’s rich in history, an exciting atmosphere that’s filled with entertainment, and lots of great restaurants. There’s shops like CVS and Bloomingdale’s to keep buyers busy, and “Lawyer’s Row” is part of a thriving business district. You’ll feel right at home here and you’ll learn a lot about what makes Orange County a great place to visit as well as live in. Enjoy!