Crossed from north to south by the Palisades Interstate Parkway and east to west by the New York State Thruway, Rockland is New York's smallest county. Filled with history, Rockland's 175 square miles was a small, sleepy county on the the Hudson River until the mid-1950's. With the construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge, above, this Triangle became an easily accessible commute to the whole tri-state area, with the Hudson River and the Palisades Mountains on the east, New Jersey to the south and the Ramapo Mountains and Orange County to the west and north.

Lifestyle
A vibrant, young population with a median age of 34, Rockland's communities have a small-town ambience with tree-lined streets, boutiques and antique shops, well-laid out residential developments of single-family homes and turn-of-the-century Victorian homes along the river. The five towns of Orangetown, Clarkstown, Ramapo, Haverstraw and Stony Point are broken up into numerous hamlets and villages each with its own distinctive flair - from New City, the county seat; to the river towns of Nyack, Piermont, Grandview and Haverstraw; and the more rural areas of Suffern, Pomona and Stony Point.

Housing
Homes range in style and price. They include village residences within walking distance of shops and transportation, mansions overlooking the Hudson River, beautiful new construction, and townhouse and condominium complexes.

Education
A highly education-conscious county, Rockland's top-rated eight school districts have an average of 78% of its students going on to further education. Extracurricular activities range from marching bands to award-winning athletic teams. There are nine institutions of higher learning, including 3 four-year colleges.

Services
Public services include: 4 hospitals, 19 libraries and volunteer ambulance and fire departments. Each town has its own recreational facilities, including parks, pools and sports fields. Golfers enjoy 4 public and 2 private golf courses with Spook Rock Golf Course being ranked as one of the top 25 nationally. Over 30% parkland offers some of the best outdoor recreation possibilities in the metropolitan area with trails for hiking, biking, skiing and jogging. Bear Mountain State Park is open year-round with open-air Shakespeare, a Blue Crab Festival, an Easter Sunrise Service and the annual Christmas Festival. Parades, antique and craft fairs, farmers markets and apple picking at local orchards are all part of the Rockland County scene.

The Arts
The Rockland Center for the Arts and the Arts Council of Rockland promote art and cultural events. Playhouses, repertory companies, choral societies, the Rockland Symphony and a Children's Theater are all supported actively and financially by the business community.

Commuting
Cars and car pooling are a way of life in Rockland, but local bus service includes buses for the physically handicapped and senior citizens. Because of its accessibility to New York City and the corporate complexes of Westchester and New Jersey, 75% of Rocklanders are commuters to their workplace. Just 20 miles from its southernmost point to the George Washington Bridge, Rockland County has taken its place amongst the most desirable suburbs of the New York metropolitan area.