Townapedia
Smith's Mill dam, Monroe, NY
Smith's Mill dam, Monroe, NY · Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
Rushmore Library, Highland Mills, NY
Rushmore Library, Highland Mills, NY · Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
Checkerboard Inn, Monroe, NY
Checkerboard Inn, Monroe, NY · Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
Smith Clove Meeting House
Smith Clove Meeting House · Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ford Explorer XLT 4WD (2024) (53652312765)
Ford Explorer XLT 4WD (2024) (53652312765) · Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0
Southeast view of the Monroe station (Erie Railroad)
Southeast view of the Monroe station (Erie Railroad) · J.E. Bailey, Public domain

Kiryas Joel, New York

Kiryas Joel is a village of 38,916 people in Orange County, New York, founded in 1977.

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Population38,916 +58.4% since 2019
Elevation843 ft 257 m
Founded1977
Land area1.5 sq mi
ZIP code10950
Nearest airportNew York Stewart International Airport (SWF) 12 mi

Why visit Kiryas Joel

Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 5 parks and trails, 31 places to eat and 3 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Flagship Premium Cinemas, Checkerboard Inn and Rushmore Memorial Library.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85°F; January lows average 21°F, and about 36 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Kiryas Joel

Kiryas Joel (Yiddish: קרית יואל, romanized: Kiryas Yoyel, pronounced [ˈkɪrjəs ˈjɔɪ.əl] ; often locally abbreviated as KJ) is a village coterminous with the Town of Palm Tree in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 32,954 at the 2020 census, approximately 5% of the estimated 712,000 population of the Kiryas Joel–Poughkeepsie–Newburgh metropolitan area. The vast majority of its residents are Yiddish-speaking Hasidic Jews who belong to the worldwide Satmar sect of Hasidism.

From the Wikipedia article Kiryas Joel, New York (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do3

Flagship Premium Cinemas

Cinema and theater · 1.4 mi

34 Millpond Parkway, Monroe

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Adria Hill

Scenic view · 1.4 mi

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Bald Hill

Scenic view · 0.7 mi

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Museums and landmarks8

Checkerboard Inn

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi

Historic building in Monroe, New York, United States

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Rushmore Memorial Library

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi

Historic building in Highland Mills, New York, United States

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Smith Clove Meetinghouse

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi

Meeting house in Woodbury, New York

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Village of Monroe Historic District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi

Historic district in Monroe, New York

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First Settler's House

Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi

315 Stage Road, Monroe

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F-86

Monument and historic site · 1.3 mi

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McGarrah's Inn

Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi

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Mombasha Fire Co.

Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi

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Parks, trails and playgrounds5

Airplane Park

Park · 1.3 mi

Children's playground. Features a Korean War airplane recently renovated by The Cornerstone Masonic Historical society and other members...

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Crane Park;Mill Ponds

Park · 1.3 mi

Also known as the Millponds. Features the Millponds, approximately 1.5 miles in circumference. Great for a walk, jogging or walking the...

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Gonzaga Park

Park · 1.3 mi

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Ruach Hachayim

Park · 1.3 mi

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Smith Clove Park

Park · 1.0 mi

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Restaurants and cafes31

Outback Steakhouse

Restaurant · American, Steak · 1.5 mi

215 Larkin Drive, Monroe

Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-21:00

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Amendola's Pizza & Pasta

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.3 mi

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Captain's Table

Restaurant · 1.5 mi

547 State Route 17M, Monroe

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El Mentado

Restaurant · Mexican · 1.4 mi

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Empire Diner

Restaurant · 1.4 mi

797 State Route 17M, Monroe

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Jake's Wayback Burger

Restaurant · 1.3 mi

816 State Route 17M, Monroe

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Latinos American Grill

Restaurant · Spanish · 1.3 mi

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Planet Pizza

Restaurant · Pizza · 1.4 mi

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Plum House

Restaurant · Japanese · 1.3 mi

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TIN TIN

Restaurant · Chinese · 1.4 mi

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Wallys

Ice cream · 1.3 mi

846 State Route 17M, Monroe

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Barn Star Cafe

Cafe · 1.3 mi

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19 more on the map.

History

Kiryas Joel is named for Joel Teitelbaum, the late rebbe of Satmar and driving spirit behind the project.

The Satmar Hasidim came from Satu Mare, Romania, known when under Hungarian rule as Szatmár. Teitelbaum, originally from Austria-Hungary, rebuilt the Satmar Hasidic dynasty after World War II.

In 1947, Teitelbaum settled with his followers in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, a borough of New York City.

By the 1970s, he decided to move the growing community to the Town of Monroe, a suburban location in Upstate New York that was more secluded from what he considered the harmful influences and immorality of the outside world, yet still close enough to the New York metropolitan area. The land for Kiryas Joel was purchased in the early 1970s, and 14 Satmar families settled there in the summer of 1974. Monroe town officials initially expressed skepticism over Teitelbaum's and his followers' plans to build multi-family housing in Kiryas Joel, but they eventually allowed the village to incorporate in 1976. When he died in 1979, Teitelbaum was the first person to be buried in the village's cemetery. His funeral reportedly brought over 100,000 mourners to Kiryas Joel.

In 2001, Kiryas Joel held a competitive election in which all candidates supported by the grand rebbe were re-elected by a 55–45% margin.

From the History section of Kiryas Joel, New York on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Churches and places of worship7

Shopping8

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Gas and EV charging3

Schools, colleges and libraries17

Healthcare3

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Map of Kiryas Joel

85 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 3.8 in of rainFebruary: 3.0 in of rainMarch: 4.0 in of rainApril: 4.0 in of rainMay: 3.8 in of rainJune: 4.6 in of rainJuly: 4.6 in of rainAugust: 5.0 in of rainSeptember: 4.6 in of rainOctober: 5.3 in of rainNovember: 4.2 in of rainDecember: 4.6 in of rainJanuary: 36°FFebruary: 39°FMarch: 47°FApril: 60°FMay: 72°FJune: 80°FJuly: 85°FAugust: 83°FSeptember: 76°FOctober: 63°FNovember: 51°FDecember: 41°FJanuary: 21°FFebruary: 22°FMarch: 30°FApril: 40°FMay: 51°FJune: 60°FJuly: 65°FAugust: 64°FSeptember: 57°FOctober: 46°FNovember: 36°FDecember: 27°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan36°F21°F3.8 in11.1 in
Feb39°F22°F3.0 in7.1 in
Mar47°F30°F4.0 in9.6 in
Apr60°F40°F4.0 in0.4 in
May72°F51°F3.8 in0.0 in
Jun80°F60°F4.6 in0.0 in
Jul85°F65°F4.6 in0.0 in
Aug83°F64°F5.0 in0.0 in
Sep76°F57°F4.6 in0.0 in
Oct63°F46°F5.3 in0.0 in
Nov51°F36°F4.2 in0.5 in
Dec41°F27°F4.6 in7.0 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for West Point Hcn (11 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$50,032median household income
$758,800median home value
$1,604median monthly rent
15.7median age
5.7%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
33.4%of homes are owner-occupied
18.9 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1855%18 to 3428%35 to 6414%65 and over2%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Orange County has had 26 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2024-11-15: Jennings Creek Fire (Fire)
  • 2023-07-22: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2021-09-05: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
  • 2021-09-02: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida (Hurricane)
  • 2021-08-22: Hurricane Henri (Hurricane)
  • 2020-03-20: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.