For 12 years, Katie Stoeckeler has been a proud resident of Piermont. A native of Ellenville, she was attracted to the riverside Rockland County village for three reasons: accessibility, sense of community, and charm. “I loved its proximity to both the river and the mountains. There’s also a big population of transplants in Piermont. Many of us don’t have family nearby, so we show up to support one another, and I think that’s the most special thing about living here,” she says.

Piermont is also a popular tourist destination, but it wasn’t always. The village was formally incorporated in 1847 after being used as an industrial hub by the Erie Railroad throughout the 1830s. Back then, the area was referred to as Tappan Slote—until the railroad’s owner, Eleazar Lord, renamed it after both the pier his company built and the mountain above the village where he was constructing an estate.
When the railroad moved out, the population dipped, but the village garnered attention once more when the federal government took over the pier during WWII. For more than a million troops, Piermont was known as “Last Stop USA,” as they boarded ships to Europe from the pier—including those that left for France on D-Day.
Family Life
Children living in Piermont attend public schools in the South Orangetown Central School District, which is ranked the third-best district in Rockland County on niche.com. During the 2022–2023 year, the district had a K-12 enrollment of 2,790 students across two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
Per Stoeckeler, “I can’t think of a better place to raise a family. Especially since Covid, so many more families have moved to the area.” Her yoga and mindfulness studio, Peace in Piermont, provides an array of activities for all ages, such as stress reduction classes for teenagers, prenatal yoga, and “Kids Night Out,” a regular weekend event that lets parents drop their children at the studio for glow in the dark yoga and board games.
On the Town
Stoeckeler notes that “people really care about maintaining the village’s charm” and preventing Piermont from becoming an overdeveloped river destination. That said, there are plenty of spots to fill up on food and drink. On Piermont Avenue, you’ll find pastries and espresso sips at Bunbury’s Coffee Shop; brunch options at Café Diem; global eats at Freelance Café & Wine Bar; Mexican dishes at Tequila Sal Y Limon (The Turning Point, a fun venue for live music, is on the lower level); pizza and more at Trattoria Da Vittorio; upscale Greek cuisine at Trata on the River; French fare at Sidewalk Bistro; small plates and paella at Basque Tapas Bar Restaurant; and the seafood-forward Cornetta’s Restaurant & Marina.
Ready to shop? Stroll down Piermont Avenue for clothing and accessories at Tappan Zee Thrift Shop, Wild Lily women’s boutique, Abercorn Place, Ki, and Elisa. Fine jewelry is sold at AB Artisans and La Reine Boutique, and around the corner on Ash Street sits the Piermont Bicycle Connection as well as the Flywheel Gallery.
Get out There
The 687-acre Tallman Mountain State Park sprawls just south of Piermont. In addition to hiking and walking trails, the day-use area contains a running track, tennis courts, picnic areas, scenic overlooks, and, come winter, spots for cross-country skiing.

Smaller parks and walking areas are also scattered throughout the village. The Old Erie Path rail trail skirts the west side of the village, and another path stretches along the river from Flywheel Park to the pier, where anglers cast off. Bring the kids to Kane Park and Playground, and let your pup off leash at the Piermont Community Dog Run.
Stoeckeler’s advice for prospective residents? Don’t hesitate to move in. “I’m so fortunate to be part of the culture here because there’s just an endearing sense of acceptance and welcoming that I’ve never experienced. It’s a different level of being seen and cared for by incredible people.”
Neighborhood Stats
Area
0.7 sq. mi.
Population
2,507
Median value of owner-occupied homes
$695,800
To find a real estate agent in Piermont or any Hudson Valley town check out near-me.hvmag.com/realtors.
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