At the entrance to Goshen, a serene town square hugs the five-point intersection.  This tableau is a perfect example of Goshen itself, a commuter-friendly part of small town America.

At its west entrance of the park, pennies glitter from the bottom of a fountain, surrounded by stone benches and brick paths.  A trellised arbor invites those coming from the First Presbyterian Church, whose dramatic steeple graces the background.  The square feels like an intimate Central Park lawn in the midst of a quintessential small town.  People sit on benches and lawn chairs basking in the September sun.  A bronze statue, purportedly a composite of the most beautiful women in Goshen, stands at its center, bearing the names of Orange County soldiers who died during the Civil War.  Nineteenth-century homes, some showing evidence of a revival in Greek architecture, sit tucked under the full trees and period streetlights that line Main Street.

Beneath this picture-perfect facade, Goshen is experiencing the common problems familiar to the fastest growing county in the state: rising housing costs, encroaching development, and disappearing farmland.  Located less than 10 miles southeast of Middletown and 60 miles from New York City, Goshen appears to be the next rung on the ladder for city commuters, especially from Westchester, Rockland, and Bergen counties, moving north to find the perfect small town still accessible to the city.

A close-knit village of 5,600 residents living within 3.2 square miles, Goshen is still very much the all-American town.  During Fourth of July, Goshen is host to the "All American Weekend," which draws people from all over the country.  A community barn dance is held in October.

But Goshen is also the hub of the county government.  The county courthouse and the Orange County Government Center, as well as a long stretch of Main Street called Lawyers' Row, draws a young professional crowd during the week.  At lunchtime, the Goshen Gourmet Café could be a deli on Wall Street, except everyone knows each other.  Shiny loafers, as well as work boots, flood the small shop packed with affordable fare.  Owner Rose Shevchuk just expanded the space to accommodate Goshen's growing population.  Howell's Deli Café across the street has more of an old-fashioned feel with a larger communal room.  Elsie's Luncheonette, Redendo's Pizzeria, and the Pickle Barrel Deli are also popular.  The self-described "refined, but never snobby" Church Street Café nearby competes with white dining cloths in an intimate French bistro setting.

Many of the new locals admit they go to the city for a larger dose of culture; ethnic restaurants and modern art are not abundant in Goshen.  Nor is there a real supermarket here; the nearest is in Chester, seven miles away.  Main Street is still dominated by independent, old-fashioned stores, such as the hardware store, a Joe FixIts Shop, a clock repair store, and an old-fashioned pharmacy.

Goshen's Police Station

Residents seem most proud of the Orange Heritage Trail, a converted rail bed of the Erie Railroad, extending from Goshen to Harriman.  Now 11.5 miles, when completed the trail will extend 20 miles to Middletown and pass through a bird and wildlife sanctuary, historic landmarks, blooming meadows, and winding streams.  Residents hike, bike, and roller blade the trail, which crosses Goshen on South Street, and was recently named one of the top trails in the country on which to see fall foliage by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.  Locals also talk about the weekly farmers market and the annual Jazz Festival when they talk about why they love this town.

Goshen was established in the early 18th century as an outpost of a colonial government and the center of a prosperous agricultural region.  It was here that harness racing was developed and Goshen became the "trotting capital of the world."  Just down the street from Village Hall is the Harness Racing Museum and the Historic Track, a National Landmark where the Hambletonian Stakes, the premiere event of harness racing, originated.  Races are still held during the summer.