West Point, New York
West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, West Point was identified by General George Washington as the most important strategic position in America during the American Revolution. Until January 1778, West Point was not occupied by the military. On January 27, 1778, Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons and his brigade crossed the ice on the Hudson River and climbed to the plain on West Point and from that day to the present, West Point has been occupied by the United States Army. It comprises approximately 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) including the campus of the United States Military Academy, which is commonly called "West Point".
West Point, New York | |
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![]() Aerial view of West Point, 2013. West Point is at center on the near (western) side of the Hudson River. Highland Falls is at right; Cold Spring is at left, across the river in Putnam County. | |
![]() Location in Orange County and the state of New York. | |
Coordinates: 41°23′N 73°58′W | |
Country | United States |
State | New York |
County | Orange |
Area | |
• Total | 25.1 sq mi (64.9 km2) |
• Land | 24.3 sq mi (63.0 km2) |
• Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km2) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 6,763 |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes | 10996–10997 |
Area code(s) | 845 |
FIPS code | 36-80747[1] |
West Point is a census-designated place (CDP) located in the town of Highlands in Orange County,[2][3] located on the western bank of the Hudson River. The population was 6,763 at the 2010 census. It is part of the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ–PA Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA Combined Statistical Area.