Peekskill, New York
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Peekskill is a city located in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 22,441.
It is known as the site of the Peekskill Riots, although they technically occurred in the neighboring town of Cortlandt.
Peekskill is the birthplace of current New York Governor George Pataki as well as T.C. Boyle (born 1948), Paul Reubens (a.k.a. Pee-Wee Herman), Mel Gibson, and basketball star Elton Brand. Gov. George Pataki was a Peekskill mayor and was the first upstate Governor since Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, some dispute that claim because Westchester County (even the northern portion) is usually not considered to be Upstate New York, nor is Garrison in Putnam County, where he lived when became governor.
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Geography
Peekskill is located at 41°17'20" North, 73°55'12" West (41.288903, -73.919987)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.2 km² (5.5 mi²). 11.2 km² (4.3 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 20.99% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 22,441 people, 8,696 households, and 5,348 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,005.7/km² (5,189.7/mi²). There are 9,053 housing units at an average density of 809.1/km² (2,093.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 57.12% White, 25.54% African American, 0.42% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 9.83% from other races, and 4.64% from two or more races. 21.92% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 8,696 households out of which 30.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% are married couples living together, 16.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% are non-families. 31.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size is 3.18.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $47,177, and the median income for a family is $52,645. Males have a median income of $38,091 versus $34,757 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,595. 13.7% of the population and 10.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Transport
Peekskill train station provides commuter service to New York City via Metro-North Railroad. A bridge gives road access to Bear Mountain Park across the Hudson River, and to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
History
Peekskill was incorporated as a village within the town of Cortlandt in 1816. It became a city on July 29 1940.
Peekskill was the site of a meteorite fall on Oct. 9, 1992, just before midnight. The fall was recorded on film by at least 16 different people. It is only the fourth meteorite in history for which an exact orbit is known. The meteorite had a mass of 12.4 kg (27.3 lb) and punched through the trunk of Peekskill resident Michelle Knapp's red Malibu coupe as it struck.
External links
- Peekskill official Web site (http://www.ci.peekskill.ny.us/)
- Peekskill Meteorite (http://leroy.cc.uregina.ca/~astro/mb_5.html)