Why is the United States Military Academy called West Point?
The United States Military Academy is called West Point because it is on the western point of an S-turn on the Hudson River.  During the American Revolution, the Revolutionary Army stretched an iron chain across the Hudson at this point because British ships would have to slow down to navigate the S-turn, making them susceptible to cannon fire.  The British never tested the chain, and their Naval forces remained separated in Canada and New York.  Due to its success on the western point of the river, the United States Military Academy has been commonly referred to as "West Point," since the military academy became the first training institution for U.S. Army officers in 1802.