Tuxedo Park

Tuxedo Park - Affluent Village Is Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Located in the Ramapo Mountains and along the Ramapo River, Tuxedo exudes old world charm. The land mass is 49.4 miles which includes Sterling Forest Ski Area, home each summer to the Renaissance Faire. The town’s name, which is the main component of black-tie dressing, was associated with the affluence of Tuxedo Park, a planned community within the town that opened in the late 1800s.

The village of Tuxedo Park was planned in the 1880s as a private hunting and fishing reserve. However, the project grew so popular among New York City’s affluent that the Tuxedo Club was established. The connection between Tuxedo and Tuxedo Park has been long standing with the affluent residents of Tuxedo Park providing funds to the town for a railroad station, hospital and more.

Tuxedo Park separated from the town of Tuxedo in 1952 and became its own village within the town. Today, Tuxedo Park comprises 2,050 acres which includes the Club, three lakes and approximately 330 residences. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Tuxedo Park owes its existence to the vision and energy of Pierre Lorillard IV. His grandfather Peter acquired the property surrounding Tuxedo Lake from the Townsend family shortly after Solomon Townsend’s death in 1813. After the Tuxedo property had been held by his family for more than 70 years, Pierre IV decided to develop it into an exclusive hunting and fishing club for wealthy members of New York society. Assisted by architect Bruce Price and engineers Trowbridge and Livingston, and with labor supplied by hundreds of Italian and Slovak immigrants, Lorillard built roads, a water and sewer system, a clubhouse and some 15 “cottages” within a gated community in a few months. Tuxedo’s combination of rustic charm and easy rail access from New York City quickly attracted many of New York’s elite, and as Tuxedo Park grew rapidly, it soon gained importance as a setting, especially during the summer, for events on the social calendar of prominent New Yorkers.

JUST THE FACTS

The village is located in Orange County near its border with Rockland County, New York, and is in the Ramapo Mountains. The area known as Tuxedo Park separated from the Town of Tuxedo and became incorporated in 1952, adopting the village form of government. The evening dress for men now popularly known in America as a tuxedo, takes its name from Tuxedo Park. It was brought there by James Brown Potter, who had been introduced to the garment by the Prince of Wales.

POPULATION: 591MEDIAN AGE: 50.7

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $145,250

MEDIAN PROPERTY VALUE: $1.1 million

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE: 85% COMMUTING TIME: 34.2 minutes Sources: Data USA and Wikipedia