"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately ‰Û_ I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life" -- "Walden," Henry David Thoreau
Walden's roots as a mill town are still evident today, as its 7,000 citizens continue to produce goods and services used nationwide. Thanks to the city's prime location on the Wallkill River, individuals and manufacturers have chosen Walden for their home since the early 1700s. In fact, during the Civil War, Walden was better known to locals as "Knifetown" because most of the cutlery that the Union Army used was made in Walden. Tree-lined streets, water views, and the small-town atmosphere add to the ample economic opportunity present, making Walden just as popular today as it has been over the past 300 years.
Despite Walden's proximity to Manhattan, weather isn't quite so hot
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately ‰Û_ I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life" -- "Walden," Henry David Thoreau
Walden's roots as a mill town are still evident today, as its 7,000 citizens continue to produce goods and services used nationwide. Thanks to the city's prime location on the Wallkill River, individuals and manufacturers have chosen Walden for their home since the early 1700s. In fact, during the Civil War, Walden was better known to locals as "Knifetown" because most of the cutlery that the Union Army used was made in Walden. Tree-lined streets, water views, and the small-town atmosphere add to the ample economic opportunity present, making Walden just as popular today as it has been over the past 300 years.
Despite Walden's proximity to Manhattan, weather isn't quite so hot. Average temperatures in the winter stay above freezing, and summer highs tend towards the high 70s and low 80s. There is snow, but not very much, so moving to Walden means that you will have the thrill of watching seasons change, yet few of the inconveniences that go along with more extreme temperatures.
When you arrive in Walden, you will discover a strong set of village services, including an exclusive police department and a highly effective public works department. The recreation department is constantly devoted to keeping parks and swimming areas clean and user-friendly, and it focuses its efforts on providing a variety of high-quality opportunities for outdoor fun and community building.
Places to live in Walden range from efficiency apartments to three-bedroom apartments, as well as single family homes of every size. Choosing a neighborhood depends on how close you want to live to your neighbors, whether you prefer to walk or drive to shopping and dining, and how much land you need for gardening and outdoor fun at home. There are two primary sections of Walden:
Village Center: The river runs right through Walden's Village Center, and some homes border Bradley Park. The neighborhood has a suburban feel, and prices are lower than in most nearby cities. There are enough vacancies to make finding an apartment easy, yet not so many that Village Center feels abandoned, and you have a choice of small and medium-sized single-family homes for rent. If you need less space, there are small apartment buildings with two-bedroom apartments for rent.
Kaisertown / Coldenham: Walden's Village Center is surrounded by a larger neighborhood with a more rural feel. With a southern edge bordering the Stewart State Forest, some residents of Kaisertown and Coldenham can walk just a few steps to the area's most scenic hiking trails. Finding an apartment to rent isn't very difficult, and prices are still affordable, though a little higher than in the Village Center. Small and medium-sized single-family homes are most common, though there are a variety of mobile homes available as well. The fact that this neighborhood is primarily owner-occupied means stability and a chance to get to know other members of the community.
Getting in and out of Walden, as well as moving around town, is made simple by the two highways that divide the city into neat quarters, running north/south and east/west through the center. The north/south route is NY 208, while the east/west road of Route 52 provides direct access to the Catskills. For those who want to head into Manhattan, it is a quick drive to several stops on the Hudson Line of the Commuter Rail, and there is an Amtrak station just a few miles away in Poughkeepsie. Getting a flight out of town does not require a long commute to New York City, as there are regular global flights in and out of nearby Stewart International Airport.
Excellent use of space has given Walden residents access to a variety of parks, trails, and green spaces. Some of these include the Walden-Wallkill Rail Trail, which is a five kilometer long paved path frequented by walkers, runners, and bicyclists. Bradley Park features a skateboard park, four baseball fields, two tennis courts, and a softball field, while Wooster Grove has basketball courts, ice skating facilities, and a teen center. For swimming and fishing, residents enjoy the James Olley Park.
