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Orangeburg
was home to Camp Shanks, “Last Stop USA,” the largest World War
II Army embarkation camp, 1.3 million US service personnel enroute
to Europe were processed at a sprawling camp that covered most of
the town. It is also home to what was once one of the world's
largest psychiatric hospitals, Rockland Psychiatric Center, formerly
called Rockland State Hospital. Orangeburg Pipe was once
manufactured here. Before plastic pipes it was the standard
alternative to metal pipes especially for sewer and outdoor drainage
applications.After WWII even through it lies only 19 miles North of
New York City, Orangeburg was a very rural place with few residents
many of whom lived quite modestly in former soldier housing. That
lasted until the late 50's when developers introduced modern
suburban housing to young couples who saw them as a great
alternative to city living. Today, Orangeburg is a suburb of New
York City with housing values that belie its modest past.
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