Yorktown, New York
|
|
Yorktown is a town located in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 36,318. The town is named after the Battle of Yorktown.
The Town of Yorktown is on the north border of the county.
| Contents |
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. 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 is water. The total area is 6.57% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 36,318 people, 12,556 households, and 9,831 families residing in the town. The population density is 382.1/km² (989.7/mi²). There are 12,852 housing units at an average density of 135.2/km² (350.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 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. 5.82% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 12,556 households out of which 40.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% are married couples living together, 7.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% are non-families. 19.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.83 and the average family size is 3.26.
In the town the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $83,819, and the median income for a family is $94,984. Males have a median income of $62,071 versus $43,899 for females. The per capita income for the town is $33,570. 2.9% of the population and 1.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
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.
Communities and locations in Yorktown
- Amawalk --
- Croton Heights --
- Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park --
- Jefferson Valley -- Business hamlet in the Town of Yorktown
- Kitchewan --
- Osceola Lake --
- Shrub Oak --
- Yorktown Heights -- Town Hall is located in Yorktown Hgts.
External links
Government:
- Town of Yorktown official website (http://www.yorktownny.org/)
- Yorktown Heights Fire Department (http://www.yorktownfire.com/)
- Yorktown PBA (http://www.yorktownpba.com/)
Community:
- John C. Hart Memorial Library (http://www.wls.lib.ny.us/libs/yorktown/)
- Yorktown Athletic Club (http://www.yacsports.com/)
- Yorktown Chamber of Commerce (http://www.yorktownchamber.org/index.aspx/)
- Yorktown Grange Fair (http://www.yorktowngrangefair.org/)
- Yorktown Historical Society (http://www.yorktownhistory.org/)
- Yorktown Land Trust (http://www.townlink.com/community_web/yorktown/landtrust/)
- Yorktown Stage (http://www.yorktownstage.org/)
- Yorktown Town Museum (http://www.yorktownmuseum.org/)
- Yorktown Youth Soccer Club (http://www.yysc.com/)
Education:
- Center Nursery School of the Yorktown Jewish Center (http://www.yorktownjewishcenter.org/nurseryschool.htm/)
- Our Montessori School (http://www.ourmontessorischool.com/)
- Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES (http://www.pnwboces.org/)
- Seed Daycare Center (http://users.bestweb.net/~baldwin/)
- St. Patrick School (http://www.stpatricks-yorktown.org/ParishSchool.html/)
- Yorktown Central School District (http://www.yorktown.org/)
- Yorktown Christian Academy (http://www.yorktownag.org/)