Rockland County was established in 1798 when it was separated from the County of Orange, a move necessitated by the problems inherent in trying to govern a large county that also was physically divided by the Ramapo Mountain Range. The great rock outcroppings jutting up through the earth and out over the mountainsides along the Hudson River gave Rockland its name.
The early Dutch and Huguenot settlers fished, farmed, hunted and trapped, then found it necessary to rebuild and restore their county after it had been ravaged by Colonial and British soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The county became an important brick-making, mining and ship-building center, with agriculture gradually becoming less and less prominent.
Today Rockland County's industrial base is made up of many small, diverse firms. With natural features such as mountains, lakes, ponds, streams and parks, Rockland County provides many recreational opportunities as well as a vast amount of water resources. A large portion of the county's relatively small area is devoted to parklands and recreation areas.
Until 1970, Rockland County was governed by a Board of Supervisors. Pursuant to the direction of the Supreme Court, the county adopted a reapportionment plan, and, as a result thereof, there was created in place of the Board of Supervisors an elected County Legislature. At a referendum held Nov. 6, 1984, the voters of Rockland County approved a Charter for the government of the county. On Jan. 1, 1986, the Charter and a new Administrative Code went into effect, which provided for an elected County Executive and Legislature.
The County of Rockland has, over the years, passed through a process of legislative change common to many American communities. While only a few simple laws were necessary at the time of the establishment of the county, subsequent growth of the community, together with the complexity of modern life, has created the need for new and more detailed legislation for the proper function and government of the county.
The current County Legislature has 17 members. Harriet Cornell is chairwoman of the Legislature.