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Westchester County, New York

One of the original counties of New York State, Westchester County was organized November 1, 1683. It was once the home of the Mohegan Indians, who occupied the land in great numbers. Although parts have been taken from its territory by New York City, it still has an area of 448 square miles, with the Hudson as the west boundary, and Connecticut and Long Island Sound bordering the east and the south. The gently slopes near Hastings rise to a height of more than 1,200 feet at St. Anthony's Nose. The valley of the Bronx River, with the depressions of the dozens of other streams, form the gentle landscapes of the interior. Lakes and reservoirs abound, and to the southeast are the green hills and shores of the sound, with their deep indentations and pleasant islands.

In 1609, Henry Hudson anchored the "Half Moon" off the shores of what is now Yonkers. His reports of the region impressed the Dutch, who came to settle the region. The first purchases of land from the Indians, north of the Harlem River, were made in 1639. Shortly after 1650 Yonkers had become quite a busy port. In 1654 there were English buyers of land on the eastern side of the county; the early settlement of the Connecticut side of Westchester began about that time. Years before the Revolution almost every section of the county was well settled.

During the Revolutionary War many important events took place within here.. It was in the center of the conflict, and suffered from both sides. The southern part was taxed 2,000 Pounds May 6, 1784, to repay Revolutionary expenses. Prior to this period most of the county was embraced in five manors, or covered by five patents: Cortlandt, patent granted 1697; Philipseburgh, 1703; Pelham, 1687; Scarsdale, 1701; and Fordham, 1671. Cortlandt sent a member to the General Assembly, but Philipseburgh was dissolved due to treason during the war.

When the district which is now the town of Westchester was bought from the Indians in 1642, it was known as Vredeland (land of peace). A settlement was made, called by the Dutch Oostdorp, and by the English, Easttown, which was the first civil division in the district, and later came to be called Westchester town. Colendonck (Yonkers) was the second civil division, 1629, but this place was wiped off the map by the massacre of its residents by the Algonquins in September, 1655. The county as such was erected in 1683, Westchester named as the county seat.

Westchester County Useful links

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