White Plains, New York White Plains, New York City of White Plains The White Plains horizon The White Plains horizon Official seal of White Plains, New York Location of White Plains in New York Location of White Plains in New York White Plains is a town/city in Westchester County, New York, United States.
It is the governmental center of county and commercial core of Westchester, an well-to-do suburban county just north of New York City that is home to almost one million citizens .
White Plains is positioned in south-central Westchester, with its downtown (Mamaroneck Avenue) 25 miles (40 km) north of Midtown Manhattan.
As of 2013, the city's total populace was estimated to be 57,866, up from 56,853 at the 2010 census. According to the town/city government, the daytime weekday populace is estimated at 250,000. The town/city was ranked third in the top 10 places to live in New York for 2014, as stated to nationwide online real estate brokerage Movoto. At the time of the Dutch settlement of Manhattan in the early 17th century, the region had been used as farmland by the Weckquaeskeck tribe, members of the Mohican country and was called "Quarropas". To early traders it was known as "the White Plains", either from the groves of white balsam which are said to have veiled it, or from the heavy mist that small-town tradition suggests hovered over the swamplands near the Bronx River. The first non-native settlement came in November 1683, when a party of Connecticut Puritans moved westward from an earlier settlement in Rye and bought about 4,400 acres (18 km2), presumably from the Weckquaeskeck. However, John Richbell of Mamaroneck claimed to have earlier title to much of the territory through his purchase of a far larger plot extending 20 miles (32 km) inland, perhaps from a different tribe. The matter wasn't settled until 1721, when a Royal Patent for White Plains was granted by King George II. In 1758, White Plains became the seat of Westchester County when the colonial government for the county left West Chester, which was positioned in what is now the northern part of the borough of the Bronx, in New York City.
The unincorporated village remained part of the Town of Rye until 1788, when the town of White Plains was created. On July 9, 1776, a copy of the Declaration of Independence was bringed to the New York Provincial Congress, which was meeting in the county courthouse.
During September and October 1776, troops led by George Washington took up positions in the hills of the village, hotly pursued by the British under General Sir William Howe, who attacked on October 28. The Battle of White Plains took place primarily on Chatterton Hill, (later known as "Battle Hill," and positioned just west of what was then a swamp but is now the downtown area) and the Bronx River.
But after a several inconclusive skirmishes over the next week Howe withdrew on November 5, leaving White Plains to the Continentals. Ironically, one of Washington's subordinates, Major John Austin, who was probably drunk after having jubilated the enemy's withdrawal, reentered the village with his detachment and proceeded to burn it down.
The first United States Census, conducted in 1790, listed the White Plains populace at 505, of whom 46 were slaves. (New York City's populace at that time was about 33,000.) By 1800, the populace stood at 575 and in 1830, 830. By 1870, 26 years after the arrival of the New York Central Railroad, it had swollen to 2,630 and by 1890 to 4,508.
In the decades that followed the count interval to 7,899 (1900) and 26,425 (1910). White Plains was incorporated as a village in 1866 and as a town/city in 1916.
Main Street in White Plains Early in the 20th century, White Plains' downtown region developed into a dominant suburban shopping precinct and featured branch stores of many famous New York-based department and specialty stores.
Some of these retail locations were the first large-scale suburban stores assembled in the United States, and ushered in the eventual post-World War II building boom. With the assembly of the parkways and expressways in the 1940s and 1960s, White Plains' part as a destination retail locale was only enhanced.
With a town/city opening ceremony Macy's launched a grand White Plains store on Main Street athwart from City Hall in 1949.
As the mayor said at the time, this was a momentous event in the life of White Plains.
White Plains is still a huge retail destination in the region with Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Macy's, Walmart, Burlington Coat Factory, and over 1000 other small and mid-size stores in four malls. During the late 1960s, the town/city of White Plains advanced an extensive urban renewal plan for residentiary, commercial and mixed-use redevelopment that effectively called for the demolition of its entire central company precinct from the Bronx River Parkway east to Mamaroneck Avenue.
By 1978, the urban renewal program centered around the assembly of the Westchester County Courthouse (1974), the Westchester One office building (1975), the Galleria at White Plains mall (1978), and a number of other office towers, retail centers and lesser commercial buildings. At the time of its construction, the Westchester One building was the biggest office building between New York City and Albany, and east to Hartford. Beginning in the 1950s, many primary corporations based in New York City relocated operations to White Plains and other suburban locations.
At the height of the 1980s, at least 50 Fortune 500 corporations called Westchester County and close-by Fairfield County, CT, home, but with the corporate consolidation s and downsizing of the 1990s many of these companies either reduced their operations in White Plains or left the region completely.
White Plains continues to attract county-wide and nationwide company as well as global headquarters inside it boundaries such as Nine West Group, Allegiance Financial, ITT Corporation, Nokia, Heineken USA, Alliance Bernstein, AT&T and Verizon. White Plains is also home to the Arts Exchange Building, which serves as the command posts of the Westchester Arts Council.
The assembly of the Galleria at White Plains mall in the 1970s ushered in a new era of downtown retail and office development, but by the early 1990s, economic evolution had stagnated, hampered by a deep recession and the overbuilding of the commercial real estate markets. For a time, White Plains had the dubious distinct ion of having one of the highest office vacancy rates in the northeast.
In early 2002, the Saks Fifth Avenue locale was also closed and demolished; it was replaced in 2004 with the large retail complex called The Source at White Plains, featuring the upscale restaurants Morton's of Chicago, The Cheesecake Factory, and the gourmet supermarket chain Whole Foods Markets. Note: As of July 20, 2009, the Fortunoff and Mayrock families re-acquired the Fortunoff brand and intellectual property; all Fortunoff stores are presently closed.
Other primary projects were instead of in the late 1990s and early 2000s that have further altered the urban character of downtown White Plains.
A new courthouse for the Southern District of New York was opened in 1998 and a several large-scale office properties in and near downtown, including the former General Foods command posts building, were retrofitted and leased to accommodate lesser businesses. The Macy's store on Main Street remained vacant for a several years until it was also later completed to make way for the massive City Center at White Plains complex. This large mixed-use evolution features two 35-story apartment and condominium towers, 600,000-square-foot (60,000 m2) of retail, restaurant and entertainment space and new parking facilities.
In 2010, Zanaros closed and was replaced by Buffalo Wild Wings. City Center's opening in 2003 marked the beginning of a new downtown evolution renaissance, and with the grade economy and healthy office leasing activity, White Plains entered the new millennium as the dominant retail and office center in Westchester County. The city's close commuting distance to midtown Manhattan (31 minutes by express train) have also thriving a lot of citizens who commute to New York City for work.
However, in large part because of its adjacency to New York City, the cost of living in White Plains, although lower than that of New York City itself, is by some measures among the highest in the world. White Plains is bordered to the north by the town of North Castle, to the north and east by the town/village of Harrison, to the south by the town/village of Scarsdale, and to the west by the town of Greenburgh.
Enumeration Bureau, White Plains has a territory area of 9.77 square miles (25.3 km2), and a populace density of 5,820.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,247.2/km2). White Plains has a humid continental climate, with four distinct seasons.
The town/city receives approximately 234 clear or partly cloudy days per annum, with October typically being the sunniest month, averaging more than 70 percent of possible sunshine. White Plains is inside USDA hardiness zone 7a. The lowest temperature ever recorded in White Plains since record-keeping began was 14 F ( 25.6 C), and the highest ever was 102 F (38.9 C).
Climate data for White Plains (Westchester County Airport), 1981 2010 Average snowy days 3.6 2.7 2.0 .3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .3 2.3 11.2 White Plains has 35 neighborhoods: Downtown White Plains East White Plains North White Plains The economy of White Plains revolves around large companies that have relocated to the town/city such as ITT, Xylem, Bunge and Combe.
Other companies based in White Plains include Alliance Bernstein, Dannon, Fifth Street Finance Corp., the New York Power Authority, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Krasdale Foods (which supplies products for the C-Town supermarket chain), Nine West, Acadia Realty Trust and Above - Net, as well as the US command posts of Heineken.
At one time Prodigy had its command posts in White Plains Plaza in White Plains. In 2000 the business announced that it would move its command posts to Austin, Texas. Nonprofits based in White Plains include the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the March of Dimes.
The White Plains Public School System, with a 2006 enrollment of over 6,000 pupils, maintains five elementary schools (grades K-5), two middle schools (Eastview for Grade 6, Highlands for Grades 7-8) and one high school (9 12), as well as auxiliary facilities, including a pre-kindergarten program, a improve school (grades 7 12), adult and closing education, and a program for school-age patients at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, whose ground is positioned in the city. White Plains High School, assembled in the late 1950s (when it relocated from The Highlands School) on a 72-acre (29 ha) campus, serves all enhance school students in grades 9 12. The school has a swimming pool that overlooks a small valley which encompassed the track and football field.
The White Plains Recreation Department worked in cooperation with the schools to offer many programs.
Pace University White Plains Campus is home to Pace University School of Law and Pace Graduate School.
This ground originally belonged to Good Counsel College, later titled the College of White Plains (1972 1976).
The College of White Plains consolidated with Pace University in 1976.
The ethnic makeup of the town/city was 48.9% White, 13.2% Black, 0.1% Native American, 6.3% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race and 1.5% from two or more competitions.
The ethnic makeup of the town/city was 64.93% White, 15.91% African American, 4.50% Asian, 0.34% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 10.37% from other competitions, and 3.88% from two or more competitions.
In 2010, Businessweek Magazine titled White Plains one of the quickest burgeoning cities in the United States. Several prominent films and TV series have been filmed in White Plains, including The Departed and Across The Universe.
White Plains was also chose as the initial recording destination for Larry Charles' Borat, but Sacha Baron Cohen insisted the film be shot in New York City instead. The White Plains Performing Arts Center, which can seat up to 410 citizens , serves as a venue for a range of affairs, such as Broadway theatre and concerts. White Plains is home to the Westchester Philharmonic, the sole experienced symphony orchestra in Westchester County. The Philharmonic performs at SUNY Purchase's Performing Arts Center. The White Plains Farmers' Market operates year-round in the city, setting up Downtown at 255 Main Street from May to November, and in the Westchester County Center the rest of the year.
The town/city is also home to USA Rugby League charter the White Plains Wombats. The Cross-Westchester Expressway, or I-287, runs through White Plains, connecting Tarrytown to Rye.
At its end, I-287 meets I-87 and the New York State Thruway on its approach to the Tappan Zee Bridge, which crosses the Hudson River into Rockland County.
Vegetation removals have upset some in the improve but it is reported that the region will be fixed and trees will be replanted when work on the highway comes to an end. The Bronx River Parkway, which runs north-south through White Plains, provides access to New York City and areas in northern Westchester, such as Chappaqua and Yorktown Heights.
Westchester County Airport is positioned in Harrison, about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of downtown White Plains.
Often the airlines and traveling enhance refer to Westchester County Airport as "White Plains." Many citizens instead opt to fly out of one of New York City's three primary airports, two of which are positioned inside an hour's drive of White Plains. White Plains Metro-North Train Station Two Metro-North Railroad stations the White Plains station, positioned downtown at Main Street and the Bronx River, and the North White Plains station, furnish daily train service to Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
Bee Line is Westchester County's enhance bus fitness and a several routes pass through White Plains offering small-town service to many encircling communities.
A several routes serve the Bronx and connect with the New York City subway.
The chief Bee Line core in White Plains is the Trans-Center, adjoining to the Metro-North station.
Other county-wide bus services that serve White Plains include the Tappan ZEExpress to Rockland County; Leprechaun Lines to Poughkeepsie; CT Transit's I-Bus to Stamford, Connecticut; as well as Greyhound, Trailways and Coach USA service to upstate New York and Long Island.
White Plains Fire Department Headquarters The town/city of White Plains is protected by experienced firefighters of the City of White Plains Fire Bureau, part of the Department of Public Safety, but generally referred to as the "Fire Department"(WPFD). The White Plains Fire Department is presently the seventh biggest fire department in the state of New York.
The Journal News, the primary daily journal for the Lower Hudson Valley region, is based in White Plains.
Jacob Purdy House (1721), used as General George Washington's command posts in 1778 and possibly in 1776 amid the Battle of White Plains in the American Revolutionary War.
Elijah Miller House (1738), is a historic home in North White Plains, Westchester County, New York.
The home is an 18th-century Rhode Island-style farmhouse that was occupied by General George Washington on three occasions, most prominently as a command posts command post amid the Battle of White Plains.
White Plains Armory (1910), erected on the site of the first Westchester County Courthouse.
White Plains Rural Cemetery, incorporated 1854, although in use as a cemetery from 1797.
The cemetery office is situated in the structure that was the first Methodist Church in White Plains (1795, rebuilt in 1797 after a fire on the day of its initial dedication).
In addition to the above, the Bar Building, Good Counsel Complex, Leo Friedlander Studio, Mapleton, Peoples National Bank and Trust Company Building, Presbyterian Rest for Convalescents, Soundview Manor, and Woman's Club of White Plains are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Adam Bradley, mayor of White Plains from 2010 to 2011 Frank Enea, musician and composer, was born in White Plains Erin Cardillo, actress, was born in White Plains Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr., resident killed by White Plains police after his medical alert necklace was accidentally triggered Dan Duryea, actor, was born in White Plains and graduated from White Plains High School in 1924 Open champion, was born in White Plains Noah Fleiss, actor, was born in White Plains Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman, hip-hop record executive of Duck Down Music Inc., born and raised in White Plains Deacon Jones, MLB infielder, born in White Plains Kennedy, Jr., born in White Plains Alison Lurie, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, interval up in White Plains Jesse Mc - Cartney, singer-songwriter and actor, lived in White Plains Art Monk, NFL Hall of Famer (wide receiver) played football for White Plains Senior High School "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): White Plains city, New York".
Fernanda Santos, New York Times: Crimes in White Plains Decline to Record Lows, January 25, 2008.
"The 10 Best Places In New York - statistical analysis by Movoto".
Karen Odom, Westchester Magazine: Welcome (Back) to White Plains, June 11, 2007 Yesterday in White Plains, a Picture History of a Vanished Era, Second Edition, Privately Published, 1984.
Available from the White Plains, NY Public Library and other sources.
"Buffalo Wild Wings Going into Old Zanaros Space in White Plains".
"White Plains (city) Quick - Facts from the US Enumeration Bureau".
"White Plains, Westchester County New York Environment Health and Safety Information Know before you buy".
"White Plains Westchester County NY historical weather trends".
"New York USDA Hardiness Zone Map".
"White Plains Historic Weather Averages in New York (10605)" (Table).
"White Plains's tallest buildings Top 20".
"Article: Prodigy takes 340,000 sf at White Plains Plaza.
Renews lease of commercial space in White Plains, New York)." White Plains Public Schools.
"White Plains High School".
"Pace University in the City of New York and Westchester County | Pace University".
"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015".
"2010 Enumeration data for White Plains, NY".
"White Plains, NY Population - Enumeration 2010 and 2000 Interactive Map, Demographics, Statistics, Quick Facts - Enumeration - Viewer".
"New York State Department of Transportation I287 Highway / Cross Westchester Expressway Project".
"City of White Plains Department of Public Safety".
James Feron, New York Times: A Strategic Retreat for Headquarters of Washington, August 10, 1973 Tessa Melvin, New York Times: A Washington Memorial Renovated, June 22, 1980 "Assault Charge for White Plains Mayor".
"The Percy Grainger House in White Plains, New York," The International Percy Grainger Society.
"Republicans Announce Hyland as Their Candidate for Mayor", White Plains Patch, March 13, 2011 Wikimedia Commons has media related to White Plains, New York.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for White Plains.
Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclop dia article White Plains.
White Plains official website White Plains Downtown Residents Assoc.
White Plains Public Library White Plains Public Schools White Plains Times White Plains Historical Society White Plains On Line A searchable compilation of White Plains enhance agency meeting agendas, minutes, budgets, and charters.
WPNY.us Portal for knowledge about White Plains.
Information about White Plains White Plains, New York Municipalities and communities of Westchester County, New York, United States
Categories:
White Plains, New York - Cities in New York - County seats in New York - Populated places established in 1683 - Cities in Westchester County, New York - Cities in the New York urbane region - 1683 establishments in New York
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