Suffern is a village located in the town of Ramapo in Rockland County, New York. It is located along the border of Bergen County, New Jersey and is about 30 miles north of New York City.

Suffern is a large suburban community that borders the similar New Jersey township of Mahwah to the south. On the local scale, Suffern is surrounded by Rockland communities of Hillburn, Montebello, Airmont and Monsey.

The village of Suffern is a tight knit community full of old world charm and all the best modern amenities. Suffern is the ideal location to call home for anyone, parents with children, young couples, and senior citizens. With so much to offer, Suffern is certainly also popular with visitors as well. Being only a 30 minute commute away from Manhattan, Suffern is the perfect suburb of New York City.

History

For centuries prior to the arrival of Europeans, the site of modern day Suffern was once inhabited by the Munsee Ramapo Indians (Native Americans), after whom the Ramapo mountains are named after. The village name derives from John Suffern, who settled in the Ramapo Mountains in 1773. John Suffern was a skilled and versatile man, with occupations of teacher, farmer, and store owner. In 1796, the village of Suffern was officially founded. Later on, John Suffern became the first judge of Rockland County, serving from 1789 until 1806.

At first, the village was named New Antrim, after John Suffern's hometown in Ireland, to where his Huguenot ancestors had fled from France in 1585. During the American Revolutionary War, New Antrim's location was considered to be strategically important because of the Ramapo Pass. During the Revolutionary War, major figures such as George Washington, Marquis De Lafayette, and comte de Rochambeau all camped in what is now Suffern. Thousands of Revolutionary soldiers followed, and have also camped here.

Other prominent American political figures who visited Suffern include Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Burr, ( third Vice President of the United States, ) General George Clinton (first and longest-serving elected Governor of New York, and then 4th Vice President of the United States.)

With the rise of the railroads starting at the mid 19th century, Suffern became a major stop along important New York trade routes, such as the Erie Railroad. The rich railroad history of Suffern is evident in the village’s logo or crest, which shows a train.

The history of Suffern is well preserved in places such as the Suffern Village Museum and Suffern Railroad Museum. The Washington Avenue Soldier’s Monument and US Post Office of Suffern are both on the National Register of Historic Places. Of course, there are many more landmarks and sites that hold historic significance on the local scale.

Famous People From Suffern

The rich heritage of Suffern is evident from the long list of notable people that were born and lived in the village. Some of the most famous entertainers that are from Suffern include actor Tim Daly and actress Valerie Harper. Famous athletes from Suffern include baseball players Walt Weiss and Tommy Murphy, and NFL players Keith Bulluck and Ryan Grant. Some popular musicians from Suffern include pop singer Gia Farrell and heavy metal guitarist Chris Cafferty. Additionally, Daniel Carter Beard, the founder of Boys Scouts of America resided in Suffern. It’s by no coincidence or surprise that such a diverse crowd of notable people trace their roots to Suffern, New York.

Government & Municipal

Suffern has a local government structure consisting of a mayor and village boards. The current Mayor is John B. Keegan. Suffern has excellent municipal services to offer the best quality of life for local citizens. Village departments of Suffern include attorney, building, public works, recycling, justice court, parking authority, recreation, and clerk. Additionally, the Suffern Police Department and Suffern Fire Department promise safety and order for the village. In fact, Suffern is one of few communities in Rockland County to have its own separate police department. Additional municipal organizations of Suffern include planning boards and Chamber of Commerce.

The Suffern Municipal Building, police headquarters, and multiple fire houses are all located in downtown area of the village, along Washington Avenue. The zip code of Suffern is 10901, with the local Post Office also located in downtown area along Chestnut Street.

Geography

The village of Suffern has a total area of 2.1 square miles. It is located at an elevation of over 300 feet above sea level. The scenic Ramapo Mountains overlook Suffern, with the Ramapo and Mahwah Rivers flowing through the village and further south to New Jersey. From the peaks and summits of the Ramapo Mountains, the entire village of Suffern is clearly seen, along with the skyline of Manhattan. Such breathtaking sights from the top of the mountains remind you that Suffern is its own little world, yet so close to a huge metropolitan city.

Demographics

According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2000 Suffern has a population of more than 11,000 residents. Accordingly, the village population has been growing at a steady rate in recent years.

The racial demographics of Suffern are 86.83% White, 3.53% African American, 0.26% Native American, 2.83% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 4.52% from other races, and 1.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race are 12.87% of the population.

Suffern has more than 4,500 households, many of which are wealthy. The median income for a household in the village is $59,754, and the median income for a family is $74,937.

Education

Suffern is served by the excellent Ramapo Central School District and is home to Cherry Lane Elementary, RP Connor Elementary School, Montebello Elementary School, Viola Elementary School, Suffern Middle School and Suffern High School. Sacred Heart School is a private religious school in Suffern. The Suffern Library serves the local students and the community with great complimentary educational resources and access.

There are excellent higher education opportunities in and near Suffern. The village of Suffern is home to Rockland Community College , a two year school part of the SUNY (State University Of New York) system. Rockland Community College has more than 6,000 total enrolled students, part time and full time, from local communities and even other foreign countries. Higher education is also available at Ramapo College of New Jersey, a four year college located only a few miles away in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Hospital

Suffern is home to the Good Samaritan Hospital, which has more than 350 beds and provides comprehensive and diverse services ranging from emergency visits and birthing center to specialty cancer and cardiac treatments. The hospital is one of three main hospitals in Rockland County and even provides services for residents of nearby Bergen (NJ) and Orange Counties. Founded in 1902, Good Samaritan Hospital has served Suffern and many other communities for more than a century. Recently, the Suffern Medical Buildings was constructed and opened near the hospital, to offer more spaces for medical offices and services.

Downtown Suffern

Suffern is one of the few urban communities in Rockland County. The urban downtown area along Lafayette Avenue is the focal point of life in Suffern. Downtown Suffern area is approximately a quarter-of-a-mile stretch that is a perfect example of an old-fashioned American main street. On the east side, Downtown Suffern is dramatically overlooked by the modern blue-tinted glass Avon building and the traditional yellow dome with a cross on top, of the Scared Heart Parish church. On the west side, Downtown Suffern is overcastted by the beautiful rising Ramapo Mountains, abundant with green trees. The Washington Avenue Soldier’s Monument and the high rising Greek style columns of the Chase bank add more architectural appeal to Lafayette Avenue. Several American Flags fly high above some of the buildings, and over downtown Suffern. Other beautification of downtown Suffern include two small parks, Gazebo Park and Chestnut Street Park.

Another major landmark that has defined the surroundings of the village of Suffern is the Sheraton hotel of Mahwah, New Jersey. Located right on the border of Suffern, the Sheraton at Mahwah is a high rising luxurious hotel that stands out from a distance, and complements the village of Suffern.

The downtown area of Suffern is both vehicle and pedestrian friendly. There are plenty of parallel parking spots right along Lafayette Avenue. There are also multiple parking lots throughout the downtown district. Parking permits and information can be issued from The Suffern Parking Authority. Downtown Suffern has wide sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, making it easy and enjoyable for people to walk.

Downtown Suffern has dozens of diverse businesses offering shopping, entertainment, dining, and taking care of regular errands. From convenience and hardware stores to tattoo parlors and clothing shops, downtown Suffern has it all.

There are plenty of dining and eating options in Downtown Suffern. With more than a dozen diverse eateries and restaurants, you can expect to find Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Irish and American cuisine. Of course there are the also the local pizzeria shops and popular fast food chain restaurants and franchises. You can always quickly hop into one several food and convenient marts for a quick snack and other items.

Entertainment in downtown Suffern is available at the historic Lafayette Theatre. Built in 1924, the Lafayette Theatre has a classic façade and interior that’s as impressive as it’s entertainment features. Lafayette Theater has a 1,000 seating capacity, where spectators are greeted by live music of the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ, before the start of a movie. The theatre usually only shows a single movie for several weeks. The Lafayette Theatre of Suffern is where you can enjoy the latest movie titles, in a unique cinema experience unmatched by modern jumbo movie theaters at the malls.

In addition to the heavy activity mentioned, Downtown Suffern also hosts several events such as streets fairs, holiday festivals and celebrations, fire and police parades, farmer’s markets, among other things. These are the times when the Suffern community gathers in one place.

Transportation

The two main roads passing through Suffern are New York State Route 202 and New York State Route 59, both of which have a significant presence of businesses. Additionally, Suffern is conveniently located near Interstate 287(Exits 14B & 15) which easily leads to upstate New York via I-87, New Jersey via Garden State Parkway, New York City via Palisades Interstate Parkway, and Westchester County through the Tappan Zee Bridge. Public Transportation by bus in Suffern is provided by the trademark green fleet of the Transport of Rockland (TOR.) The Tappan Zeexpress buses travel from Suffern to Westchester County (Tarrytown and White Plains.)

Suffern has a train station (Chestnut street & Ramapo Avenue) along the Port Jervis Line/Main Line operated by Metro North and New Jersey Transit, respectively. The train route leads to midtown Manhattan’s Penn Station via a transfer in Secaucaus, New Jersey. Suffern train station includes a commuter parking lot for more than 100 vehicles, with several other parking lots nearby if needed.

Economy

Suffern is home to a research and development center of the Avon cosmetic Company, considered one of the best employers in Rockland County. Interestingly, the current building was built in 1897 and is the oldest facility of the company. Additionally, Suffern has a branch of the pharmaceutical company Novartis. There is a large quarry in Suffern that’s owned by Tilcon, a producer of asphalt and stone. Operations of the quarry have recently stopped, but the quarry’s presence is still visible and felt in the village.

A large portion of Suffern’s economy is based in the downtown area. All other businesses are located along New York State Route 59, mostly in strip malls and plazas.
The Suffern Chamber of Commerce regulates and promotes business in the village, particularly in the downtown area. Good relationships are built between the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, to benefit consumers, and of course businesses. Anyone thinking of doing businesses in Suffern should contact the Chamber of Commerce.

Recreation

Recreation in the village is available at Suffern Baseball Complex and at the multi-sport fields, tennis courts, and indoor gymnasiums of the local junior high school and high school, which includes a swimming pool. One of the fields at Suffern High School is named after Walt Weiss, a former alumni who turned into a professional baseball player. There are also outdoor sports fields at Rockland Community College, which also includes a large indoor field house with a swimming pool and gymnasium. Suffern Memorial Park includes Lake Antrim, an outdoor community swimming pool, and ball field. The George Parness Community Center in downtown Suffern offers various athletic and cultural indoor activities.

The newly built Joseph St. Lawrence Center in nearby Hillburn is a major recreational and sports center that’s available to the community of Suffern. Harriman State Park, the largest park in Rockland County, borders a large portion of western Suffern. Owned by the town of Ramapo, the Spook Rock Golf Course offers world class golfing opportunities with 18 holes, driving range, pro shop, restaurants, all in a scenic environment spread across more than 150 acres.

Additionally, there are lots of other parks and recreational facilities in neighboring communities of Suffern.

Real Estate

Suffern offers living space for anyone with very diverse real estate. For every budget, there is real estate available in the village of Suffern. There are plenty of single family and multi-family homes, apartments, townhouses and cooperatives in Suffern.

Being one of the oldest and most urbanized communities, Suffern has not experienced any major real estate developments in recent years. Rather, all real estate in Suffern is already established, and there is minimal space for new buildings and development.

South of Route 59 and the Good Samaritan Hospital, Suffern has a large section of apartments, townhouses and condominiums, with at least several hundreds total units. There are also many apartments available right above the downtown Suffern businesses and shops. Some example prices for renting a one bedroom apartment in Suffern would be slightly less than $1000 per month. Of course, the prices vary due to several factors such as locations and condition of the apartments. Purchasing apartments, townhouses, and condominiums is a good option, as these units costs almost half the price of a single family home in Suffern.

The single family homes of Suffern are located in well planned residential suburban neighborhoods, with plenty of surrounding trees and foliage. There is ample space on each property, but the neighborhoods are densely packed with homes, creating a tight-knit community. A typical single family home in Suffern is several decades old, with many homes being much older, reflecting the rich history and established nature of the community. A good price estimate of a Suffern home that has at least 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms would be about $500,000. Real Estate property taxes in Suffern are on average just over $4,500.