If you are an aspiring writer, you might find inspiration in Valley Cottage, New York. Some notable authors who once called this little hamlet home include Sigrid de Lima, Anita Shreve, William Styron, Harvey Swados and Isaac Bonewits. Also, Leo Tolstoy's youngest daughter, Alexandra, once lived in this little town.
Valley Cottage is a hamlet of the town of Clarkstown in southwest New York
If you are an aspiring writer, you might find inspiration in Valley Cottage, New York. Some notable authors who once called this little hamlet home include Sigrid de Lima, Anita Shreve, William Styron, Harvey Swados and Isaac Bonewits. Also, Leo Tolstoy's youngest daughter, Alexandra, once lived in this little town.
Valley Cottage is a hamlet of the town of Clarkstown in southwest New York. The population was just over 9,100 in 2010, and at just 4.3 square miles, Valley Cottage gives residents the chance to get to know their neighbors, but they'll also have some space to have some privacy in their everyday lives. During the American Revolution, this little hamlet was known as Storm's Corner, but in 1876, residents decided that it would be more aptly named Valley Cottage. There are two legends regarding the name; one is that it was named for the house nearest the railroad station, and the other is that it was named after a horse. Regardless, the quaint name of Valley Cottage has stuck, and its residents enjoy the charm of this small town to this day.
Moving to Valley Cottage
You may find that it takes more time that you had anticipated to find a rental apartment in Valley Cottage. The reason for this is because most of the homes in the hamlet are owned by their occupants. Still, apartment rentals are not by any means unheard of; you'll just have to do your homework! If you are looking for an apartment complex, you may need to look slightly outside of Valley Cottage and head toward Nyack. Many of the rentals are actually single-family houses, you may find a rental apartment in a larger multi-family home.
An apartment locator or broker might be your best bet if you are looking for something specific, such as an all-bills-paid apartment, a pet-friendly or two-bedroom apartment. If you are a bit more flexible, however, using the Internet to search for private landlords shouldn't be a problem.
Because prices in Valley Cottage tend to be on the high side (but not so high as those in neighboring Nyack or New York City!), you will want to be sure that you have the income to support yourself. Your landlord is also going to want to be sure of this, so do yourself a favor and photocopy paystubs as you get them in the weeks prior to your apartment search. You might also want to print out your bank statements and dig out your last tax return. Check your credit before applying for a rental, too; this way, you can clear up any errors on your credit report before a potential landlord denies your application for something that isn't even accurate. Start your search a couple of months in advance of your projected move-in date; procrastination isn't your pal when you're trying to move to a small New York hamlet like Valley Cottage!
Neighborhoods
Valley Cottage is really a neighborhood all in itself, so anywhere you choose in the hamlet is going to be a good bet. You'll be able to take advantage of the award-winning schools and can relax knowing that your home is in an area with a low crime rate no matter where you live within the town. Living between Old Mill Road and Kings Highway will put you in close proximity to most of the amenities of the area, including Starbucks for your morning wake-up and Dave & Buster's for your nightcap. You'll be just a mile or two from the Palisades Center, where you can take care of any money burning a hole in your pocket. The Walk Score for Valley Cottage is 29, so you may be able to walk to a few businesses, depending on where you live, but overall, you will need a vehicle for your general day-to-day comings and goings.
Living in Valley Cottage
So, what's life like in Valley Cottage? The New York Times describes it as quiet and woodsy, and that seems to be an accurate portrayal. It might seem like a sleepy little suburban community, but don't worry: Nyack is very nearby! This city has the shopping, restaurants and even nightlife that you might be looking for, and the bonus is that you won't have to deal with traffic or noise when living on your winding road in Valley Cottage.
Valley Cottage is also located just 30 miles or so from New York City, so whether you want to see a Broadway show or you're just itching to go on a shopping spree down 5th Avenue, you're in a great location. The New York State Thruway and the Tappan Zee Bridge are just minutes away, and provide access to both the Big Apple and other cities in New York and New Jersey.
