Town and village..any big difference?

I am researching different areas upstate and almost every area either says town or village. Does anyone know the difference in that? I would say town would be closer to stores the the like but my mom says I am wrong. Do you think one is better than the other?

Re: Town and village..any big difference?

I would think like on LI, that villages are smaller - and there may be a village tax to go with it.

Re: Town and village..any big difference?

I live in the "Town of Haverstraw" ---it encompasses approx 30 square miles.....however, the "Village of Haverstraw" only includes the downtown area where all of the old storefronts, post offices, Town Halls, etc...are located. The "Village" is about 2 square miles. Of course, the "Town" now has it's own strip malls, and other places of business, however those areas are not considered part of the Village.


Basically, when the upstate areas were developed---way back when---the people built, lived, worked, and socialized in a very small radius of land. After some time, they realized they could buy land on the "outskirts" of the "village" and own a lot of land, but have to travel in order to get to back there. However, they still wanted to live in the "same named town" (does it start to make sense now?)

Then in more recent years, for tax, property, and law enforcement purposes, the entire "area" in whatever square mile radius was designated the "Town of _____" while the originally founded areas were classified as the "Village of _____"

So, if you're looking at Whispering Hills, you'll be in the Town of Chester.....however, you won't live in the Village.

If you look into Nyack and were to buy an older home on Main St.....you would live in the "Village of Nyack" BUT also in either the Town of Clarkstown or the Town of Orangetown. Depending on what side of the street you were on would decide what police department would cover your house.

So, to give you an idea....

The Town of Clarkstown includes the Villages and Hamlets of Bardonia, Central Nyack, Congers, Nanuet, New City, Rockland Lake, Valley Cottage, West Nyack, all of the Village of Upper Nyack, and portions of the Villages of Nyack and Spring Valley

The Town of Haverstraw includes the Village of Haverstraw, the Village of West Haverstraw, the Village of Pomona, Hamlets of Thiells, and Garnerville.

The Town of Chester includes the Village of Chester, East Chester, Goose Pond Park, Sugar Loaf, & Walton Park.

Hope this helps....so, yes....Mom was right

Message edited 1/13/2007 6:03:36 AM.