The town of Plattekill, whose name is derived from a stream located in the southern part of the area, the Platte Kill, is a 300 year old town whose first settlement occurred after this nations Revolutionary War – in 1776. Early on the area was renowned for the farming of grapes and fruit because of its unique soil – a fine quality sandy and gravelly loam. It still is seen that way today with many beautiful farms and orchards operating throughout the area. Home buyers are attracted to the area by an inventory of relatively new homes, with the majority being built between the 1970s and late 1980s, and another growth spurt in the early half of the 1990s. However there are also quite a few earlier, classic farm houses, graceful Victorians and even Colonial-era properties from a much earlier era. These homes occasionally make it to the real estate market. With the availability of a quality housing stock, access to outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing and hiking along the Shawangunk Ridge, boating activities in the nearby Hudson River and connecting estuaries, as well as nearby rail trails, the town is regarded as a popular place to call home.