Haverstraw is a
town in
Rockland County,
New York,
United States, located north of the
Town of Clarkstown and the
Town of Ramapo; east of
Orange County, New York; south of the
Town of Stony Point; and west of the
Hudson River. The town runs from the west to the east border of the county in its northern part. The population was 36,634 at the 2010 census. The name comes from the Dutch word
Haverstroo meaning "oats straw", referring to the grasslands along the river. The town contains three
villages, one of which is also known as
Haverstraw. Haverstraw village is the original seat of government for the town, hosting the area's historic central downtown business district and the densest population in northern Rockland County.