New Paltz, Historic village in Hudson Valley, New York, US
New Paltz is a village in Hudson Valley situated along the Wallkill River, with stone houses, local shops, and educational institutions spread throughout the area. The settlement sits at the foot of Shawangunk Ridge, creating a distinctive setting for the community.
French Huguenot settlers founded this village in 1678 after purchasing land from the Esopus tribe, naming it after a region in Germany where they had sheltered earlier. A governing group called the Duzine, consisting of twelve partners with a royal patent, managed the settlement through its early centuries.
Historic Huguenot Street displays seven original stone houses from the 17th century and reveals how early Dutch and French settlers built their community. Walking through this street today, you can see how families organized their homes and arranged their daily lives.
The village has numerous dining options, a State University campus, and easy access to outdoor recreation in the surrounding area. Walking is a practical way to explore the center, and the compact layout makes it easy to move between different areas.
The village maintained the Duzine's governing structure even after the American Revolution, an unusual arrangement stemming from a royal charter. This system of management by a partnership group remained uncommon among settlements of that era.
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