West Point, New York

West Point, New York
CDP
Aerial view of West Point (at the center), the Hudson River, Highland Falls (on right), Cold Spring (on left) across the river in Putnam County
Location of West Point in Orange County, New York (right) and of Orange County in New York state (left)
West Point, New York Location in the state of New York
Coordinates: 41°23′42″N 73°57′18″W / 41.39500°N 73.95500°W / 41.39500; -73.95500
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Orange
Town	Highlands
Area [1]
• Total	19.34 sq mi (50.08 km2)
• Land	18.43 sq mi (47.75 km2)
• Water	0.90 sq mi (2.33 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,341
• Density	398.21/sq mi (153.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	10996–10997
Area code	845
FIPS code	36-80747[2]

West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in the United States. Located on the Hudson River in New York, General George Washington stationed his headquarters in West Point in the summer and fall of 1779 during the American Revolutionary War, and later called it "the most important Post in America" in 1781 following the war's end. West Point also was the site of General Benedict Arnold's infamous and failed attempt at treason during the Revolutionary War.

West Point was first occupied by the United States Armed Forces in January 1778, when Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons and his brigade occupied West Point. From then to the present, West Point has been occupied by the United States Army. It comprises 25.1 sq mi (65 km²) land and water including the campus of the United States Military Academy, which is commonly called "West Point" as well.

West Point is a census-designated place (CDP) located in the town of Highlands in Orange County, located on the western bank of the Hudson River. The population was 7,341 at the 2020 census. It is part of the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ–PA Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA Combined Statistical Area.