Tucked against the face of a 500-foot-tall mountain along the rushing waters of Rondout Creek, Rosendale spent more than a century as the cradle of America’s cement industry, churning out a superior, all-natural product that was poured into such landmarks as the Brooklyn Bridge and the base of the Statue of Liberty. No longer an industrial boomtown, the draws to live in this Ulster County community—it's located about halfway between Kingston and New Paltz—are all the more concrete. Colorfully-painted Victorian storefronts form the central business district, nestled amidst a naturally-dramatic setting beneath a spindly railroad viaduct-turned-railway. You’ll find artful boutiques, an all-vegetarian eatery, and a 260-seat independent theater, a hub for performances and screenings alike. The close-knit, neighborly village is well-regarded for its strong sense of community, welcoming all who visit with a natural desire to stay awhile longer.