The town forms a conurbation with adjoining Bayt Jālā, to the northwest, and Bayt Sāḥūr, to the southeast.
Years ago, the residents of this town formed an alliance with the Americans who had moved into the airport and renamed it Speicher Base.
Three years ago, Grand County, which encompasses the town, formed a "Trail Mix Committee," composed of county commissioners, business people, bicyclists and representatives of the Bureau of Land Management.
Both the village (settled as Stoutenburgh in 1741) and town (formed in 1821) bear the name of a local estate honouring Edward Hyde, Viscount Cornbury, who was governor of New York (1702 08).
And last year, a group of friends from one of the seven Orthodox synagogues in town formed a Jewish cigar and gun club (the group has yet to have an official outing to the shooting range).
Fortunately, Ilyas Khan, a millionaire merchant banker who grew up in the town, formed a more fundamental part of that stabilisation project, his career switch from Hong Kong to London coinciding with the club's hour of need.
Of obscure origin, the town formed part of the duchy of Benevento and of the principality of Salerno and was occupied successively by the Normans, the Aragonese, and the Orsini.
"We're here largely today because of that situation where that Blacks Town formed, that gave people a safety, gave them a way to have their children and their culture and keep everybody together.
Geologically the town forms the part of Indo-Gangetic alluvium, which consist of sand, clay, Kankar and reh.
On October 26, the town formed a committee to raise funds for the distressed families.
