Greenwood Lake has long been a popular summer resort. The 7.3-mile lake, which straddles the New York and New Jersey border, is the largest in Orange County. The Village was originally settled as a farming community in the 1700s.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, vacationers from New York City traveled to the lake by rail or horse and buggy. Then they boarded steamboats in Sterling Forest which transported them to the large Victorian resorts dotting the shoreline. In the ensuing years many famous people, such as Babe Ruth and Greta Garbo, regularly visited the resort. The village incorporated in 1924.
Today, Greenwood Lake, attracts many visitors who come to boat, swim, ice skate, fish, or simply enjoy the spectacular scenery.