New York Communities

Westchester County, New York

Westchester County, New York is a very prosperous suburban county, home to many New York City commuters. With its county seat in the upscale community of White Plains, it covers a land mass area of 430 square miles.

European exploration of the region began with the voyages of Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524 and of Henry Hudson in 1609. Both these explorers were simply looking for a water route to Asia. But the beauty and rich resources found by the early explorers soon brought other Europeans to settle in the area. Established in 1683, it was named after the town of Chester in England.

By 1914 railroads, trolleys, automobiles, and paved roads had ended the isolation of Westchester's rugged countryside and opened up the county. The Bronx River Parkway, when it opened in 1925, drew worldwide attention to Westchester County, NY and kick-started its growth. Westchester’s image of affluence and elitism is well fueled by the county’s 25 country clubs, and the average price of a home being above $300,000. However, Westchester County, NY is an economically and demographically diverse region.

Westchester County, New York is home to Sing Sing, a maximum security state prison, and a controversial nuclear power plant, Indian Point. Westchester County, NY is among the more densely populated counties in the U.S., having an average of 800 persons per square mile. Westchester County’s White Plains is billed as the ‘birthplace of NY”.

Westchester County, NY covers an area just over 457 square miles. Its geographical setting is a favorable one, with Long Island Sound on the east and the Hudson River on the west. The terrain is largely rolling hills, intersected by three main streams: the Croton, Bronx, and Saw Mill rivers. The county is one of the most heavily forested in New York State. It has retained much of its rural character while adopting the urban and suburban lifestyles dictated by its proximity to New York.

Westchester County, New York had steady population growth of approximately 100,000 people per decade from the 1900’s. As reported by the U.S. Census 2000, Westchester County had increased its population by 50,000 in the previous decade, for a total population of 923,459 in 2000. A 2.1% countywide increase is estimated for the 2004 reporting period with 942,444 persons. This is a slower, more steady, growth, and certainly more manageable for county and municipal planners.

Westchester Count, NY has service from Interstate 87 (the New York State Thruway), Interstate 95, and spurs I-287 and I-684. Parkways in the county include the Bronx River Parkway, the Cross County Parkway, the Hutchinson River Parkway, the Saw Mill River Parkway, the Sprain Brook Parkway and the Taconic State Parkway. The Tappan Zee Bridge connects Tarrytown to Rockland County across the Hudson River. The development corridors in the county have defined sections and follow transportation corridors assuring planned and accessible growth.

Education at all academic levels is paramount in Westchester County, New York with twice the number of private schools over public schools. Westchester County boasts thirteen colleges and universities, including the prestigious Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers and the New York Medical College in Valhalla.