Yorktown, New York

Yorktown is a town in Westchester County, New York, about 38 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. The population was 36,318 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the Battle of Yorktown near Yorktown, Virginia.

The Town of Yorktown is on the north border of the county.

History

Town of Yorktown has a rich historical heritage beginning with the earliest known inhabitants -- Mohegan, Osceola, Amwalk, Kitchawan and Mohansic -- all familiar names of local places. The Mohegans of the Algonquin Nation had habitations within the boundary of Yorktown.

In 1683, Stephanus Van Cortlandt, with a license issued by the Royal Governor of New York, made his first purchase of land from the Indians. By 1697, when he confirmed his patent with the authorities, he had acquired roughly 80,000 acres (320 km²). A patent for the Manor of Cortlandt was granted by the British King, William the Third, June 17, 1697. The Manor house was located north of the confluence of the Hudson and Croton Rivers.

After the Revolutionary War and at the time of its incoporation in 1788, the township was officially designated as Yorktown in commemoration of the American's decisive victory at Yorktown, Virginia in October 19, 1781.

During the town's bicentennial in 1988, Yorktowners took stock of their historic heritage including that of the 19th and 20th centuries and commemorated their community's participation in events that led up to the birth and growth of the United States. A Bicentennial Committee reviewed the Town's still remaining historic sites and determined which were to be preserved as a reminder of that past and a link betwee the Yorktown of yesterday and the Yorktown of tomorrow.

Geography

The north town line is the border of Putnam County, New York. Somers borders Yorktown on the east and Cortlandt Manor borders Yorktown on the west. New Castle borders Yorktown on the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 101.7 km² (39.3 mi²). 95.1 km² (36.7 mi²) of it is land and 6.7 km² (2.6 mi²) of it (6.57%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 36,318 people, 12,556 households, and 9,831 families residing in the town. The population density was 382.1/km² (989.7/mi²). There were 12,852 housing units at an average density of 135.2/km² (350.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.64% White, 3.04% African American, 0.14% Native American, 3.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.82% of the population.

There were 12,556 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $83,819, and the median income for a family was $94,984. Males had a median income of $62,071 versus $43,899 for females. The per capita income for the town was $33,570. About 1.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Additional facts about Yorktown

The Jefferson Valley Mall, in the hamlet of Jefferson Valley, is home to over 50 stores, including Sears, Macy*s, H&M, Zales, HSBC Bank, Express, Hallmark and Yankee Candle. The food court includes Burger King, Subway, Desert Moon Cafe and Great American Cookie Company.

Yorktown is also the home of the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, designed by the well-known Finnish-American architect, Eero Saarinen.

Yorktown once had five stations along the New York and Putnam Railroad — Kitchawan, Croton Lake, Croton Heights, Yorktown Heights and Amawalk. The railroad failed, was purchased by the New York Central, and finally abandoned. The old right of way is now part of Westchester County Bike Path which runs North as far as Carmel, NY. (see original station.) There is currently no rail service in Yorktown, but the stations of Croton-Harmon, Mount Kisco or Cortlandt are 15-20 minutes away.

Communities and locations in Yorktown

Amawalk
Crompond
Croton Heights
Croton Lake
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park – A state park near the center of the town.
Jefferson Valley – Business hamlet in the Town of Yorktown
Kitchawan
Osceola Lake
Shrub Oak
Yorktown Heights – Town Hall is located in Yorktown Hgts.

External links

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