Pomona

Pomona---named after the Roman goddess of orchards, gardens and fruit trees---was created due to the many farms and orchards in the area, and today is an inviting, family-friendly, community-oriented village of about 3,000 residents in Rockland County, NY. (Don't be confused by the fact that it is shared between two towns, Haverstraw and Ramapo---it is its own unique little area that has a special presence all its own). It's a lovely little town that focuses on activities and festivities that help bring its people together, with inspiring gatherings that will bring others in as well to enjoy the beautiful scenery and friendly, wonderfully close-knit atmosphere.

Just visit Pomona's cultural center, with its awesome art exhibits and family-friendly events and workshops, or listen to local artists at the Pomona Music Festival, and you'll see why Pomona is a great place to live. In addition to three parks that are a great place to bring kids, family and friends, Harriman State Park is also close by, offering one of the oldest, largest protected lands in NY state for many enjoyable outdoor activities. Personally, I think that Secor Park, with its 3.6 acres of beautiful lucious trees and land, benches for relaxing and enjoying the placid surroundings, and even a fishing pond and a bridge, is one of the best parks in the Village itself. There's even an annual tournament here for kids to compete with each other in a friendly environment for which they can be awarded with fantastic prizes. Kids who live in Pomona attend East Ramapo School District, which is pretty good, and very nurturing! (Just yet another reason to raise your kids in Pomona, NY)!

Pomona is a great place for middle-class families, or people who wish to live very simply in a community-oriented environment. Housing begins around $140,000 which is very reasonable for Rockland County, NY. Nearby transportation can be found in neighboring town of Spring Valley with its train station. Taxi service can be fund in multiple surrounding areas. I would recommend that you have a car to get around most places, as it's very rural and people here like it that way. Pomona has a few good shops like the Down to Earth Nursery for all your gardening and landscaping needs, a Stop & Shop Supermarket, David's Bagels (an awesome place to have lunch), Mount Ivy Diner, and a few others. Mount Ivy also runs a cafe, and the Chuggin Rhino, Pomona Chop House, and Ocean Empire are all quite good places to come out and eat. Overall Pomona is a great place to work, live and raise your kids---as well as visit for good times, great art, excellent music, relaxing vistas, and fantastic food of all different kinds!