Yorktown, New York

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Yorktown is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the suburbs of New York City about 38 miles north of midtown Manhattan. The population was 36,318 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the Battle of Yorktown near Yorktown, Virginia.

The Town of Yorktown is on the north border of the county.

Contents

[edit] History

The Town of Yorktown has a rich historical heritage beginning with the earliest known inhabitants — Mohegan, Osceola, Amawalk, 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 (320 km²). 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 incorporation in 1788, the township was officially designated as Yorktown in commemoration of the American's decisive victory at Yorktown, Virginia on October 19, 1781.

French Hill Elementary School is named French Hill because George Washington Camped with the French during the Revolutionary War. Cannon balls and other materials have been found there with metal detectors.

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 between the Yorktown of yesterday and the Yorktown of tomorrow.

[edit] 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 (6.57%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 36,318 people, 12,556 households, and 9,831 families residing in the town. The population density was 382.1/km² (989.7/mi²). There were 12,852 housing units at an average density of 135.2/km² (350.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.82% of the population.

There were 12,556 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the town the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $83,819, and the median income for a family was $94,984. Males had a median income of $62,071 versus $43,899 for females. The per capita income for the town was $33,570. About 1.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Additional facts about Yorktown

The Jefferson Valley Mall, in the hamlet of Jefferson Valley, is home to approximately 90 stores, including Sears, Macy*s, H&M, The Dollar Store and Hot Topic. The food court includes Burger King, Wok and Roll, and Subway. The mall opened in 1983.

Yorktown is also the home of the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, designed by the well-known Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen.

Yorktown once had five stations along the New York and Putnam Railroad — Kitchawan, Croton Lake, Croton Heights, Yorktown Heights and Amawalk. The railroad failed, was purchased by the New York Central, and finally abandoned. The old right of way is now part of Westchester County Bike Path which runs North as far as Carmel, NY. (see original station.) There is currently no rail service in Yorktown, but the stations of Croton-Harmon, Mount Kisco or Cortlandt are 15-20 minutes away.

The First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown is said to have a secret underground tunnel beneath it leading to the house beside it and across the parking lot which was formerly where the preacher would have to live. The second house is behind the local sports store called the sports barn and that house is owned by candidate Don Peters who ran in the 2004 elections with a tunnel leading to there. The tunnels were said to be used to hold ammunition and other supplies for the soldiers of the Revolutionary War.[citation needed]

[edit] High School Lacrosse

The Yorktown High School Lacrosse Program is one of the oldest and most successful programs in the Country. Yorktown High School's varsity team has won six state titles and advanced to the sectional final for 27 straight years, winning 25 titles during that stretch. Five of the six coaches in the 2006 sectional finals were Yorktown graduates. The varsity programs at Lakeland (now Lakeland/Panas), Mahopac and John Jay were all founded by coaches who graduated from Yorktown.

Division I coaches hardly need a map to find Yorktown. It's been a must-see stop on the recruiting trail since the NCAA first crowned a national champion in 1971.

The Girls lacrosse team in Yorktown is also very strong. In 2006 Cornhuskers won the Class A state title for the first time since winning three straight from 1996-98.

Five key figures in Yorktown lacrosse history

Charlie Murphy: Murphy, who died on Aug. 19, 2006, at age 93, was the most enduring presence and, in effect, the father of Yorktown lacrosse for more than 40 years. In 1965, he provided financial assistance that helped Yorktown launch its varsity program the following year. Since that time, his Yorktown Heights home was a gathering place for youngsters to work on their lacrosse skills and seek input from former players. The main contest field at Yorktown High School is named in Murphy's honor, as is the annual varsity boys lacrosse game between crosstown rivals Lakeland/Panas and Yorktown known as the Murphy Cup; which Yorktown seems to win year after year.

Jim Turnbull: The Long Island native brought his love for the sport to Yorktown, where he was a social studies teacher. In 1965, Turnbull formed a club team at the high school. It didn't take Turnbull long at all to build Yorktown into a national power that became the model for other teams in the Lower Hudson Valley to follow. In two stints as the Cornhuskers' coach he went 354-52-4 with 18 Section 1 titles before retiring in 1993 at age 54. He also coached Yorktown to five of its state titles, including its first in 1984.

Tim Nelson: The 1981 graduate is No. 2 on Yorktown's career scoring list with 392 points — one behind his brother Tom. Both went on to play at Syracuse. Tim Nelson's career marks of 320 points and 221 assists are still No. 1 on the NCAA Division I all-time list, see NCAA Men's Division I Lacrosse Records. He also holds Syracuse records for most assists in a game, season and career. After transferring to Syracuse in 1983 following a season at North Carolina State, he was named Division I's most outstanding attackman all three of his seasons with the Orange.

Roy Colsey: Regarded as one of the top midfielders to ever play the game, the 32-year-old Colsey was among 23 players selected to represent the United States in the 2006 world championships in London, Ontario. A three-time all-American at Syracuse, where he was Division I midfielder of the year, Colsey played on two NCAA championship teams for the Orange and two state-title teams for the 'Huskers. He's played professional lacrosse for nine years in both the NLL and MLL.

Dave Marr: The 1992 Yorktown graduate is just the second former Cornhuskers player to serve as head coach of the varsity team. (Brewster coach Gerry Walsh, who guided the 'Huskers from 1977-1983, was the first.) In his inaugural season in 2003, he became the first coach other than Jim Turnbull to lead the 'Huskers to a state title. An all-America attackman at both Yorktown and Johns Hopkins, Marr is fourth on Yorktown's career scoring list with 308 points. He is also third in all-time assists and fifth in single-season points (behind only the Nelson brothers in both categories). He led Yorktown to a 21-1 record and state title his senior year. Yorktown also won a state title his junior year and was a state finalist when he was a sophomore.

Yorktown High School Boys Lacrosse Records

  • Year Win-Loss Goals For-Goals Against Season End Results
  • 2005 14-4 230-153 Section 1 Champs
  • 2004 16-4 200-115 State Semi-Finalists
  • 2003 19-2 235-116 State Champs
  • 2002 15-6 196-110 State Semi-Finalist
  • 2001 19-2 268-118 State Semi-Finalist
  • 2000 16-4 219-87 Section 1 Champs
  • 1999 14-7 196-125 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1998 15-5 203-110 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1997 16-3 227-112 Section 1 Finalists
  • 1996 19-1 235-96 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1995 17-3 266-87 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1994 15-6 223-111 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1993 21-1 281-105 State Champs
  • 1992 21-1 322-85 State Champs
  • 1991 22-1 375-100 State Champs
  • 1990 17-5 251-114 State Finalists
  • 1989 15-5 260-92 State Champs
  • 1988 18-4 188-86 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1987 19-4 230-84 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1986 20-2 279-77 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1985 21-2 326-90 State Semi-Finalists
  • 1984 22-1 281-92 State Champs
  • 1983 23-1 334-122 State Finalists
  • 1982 22-2 343-121 State Finalists
  • 1981 22-1 413-116 State Finalists
  • 1980 20-3 290-123 State Finalists
  • 1979 8-11 138-142
  • 1978 14-6 196-140 Section 1 Champs
  • 1977 14-4 168-109 Section 1 Champs
  • 1976 14-4 167-97 Section 1 Finalists
  • 1975 12-5 125-91 Section 1 Finalists
  • 1974 16-1 163-62 Section 1 Champs
  • 1973 19-0 181-37 Section 1 & 9 Champs
  • 1972 17-1 152-45 Section 1 Champs
  • 1971 16-2 163-35 Hudson Valley Champs
  • 1970 16-2 124-32 Hudson Valley Champs
  • 1969 16-1 143-37 Hudson Valley Champs
  • 1968 12-4 74-34 Hudson Valley Champs
  • 1967 9-3 96-35 Hudson Valley Champs
  • 1966 8-3 84-42
  • Total Wins 675-127
  • Total GF-GA 8852-3672

[edit] Fire Department

The town of Yorktown is protected by two separate Fire and EMS departments. The Yorktown Heights Engine Company No. 1 (All Volunteer Fire District), Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps (All volunteer ambulance corps with paid paramedic’s service). The Mohegan Volunteer Fire Association (A combination department with both career and volunteer firefighters/EMT providing both Fire and EMS services).

The Hamlets of Croton Heights, Croton Lake, Kitchawan, Yorktown Heights, and portions of Crompond, and Jefferson’s Valley are considered inside the Yorktown Heights Fire District, and are protected by Yorktown Heights Engine Company No. 1. Yorktown Heights FD operates as Department 253 in Battalion 17 of Westchester County. They are a 100% Volunteer company, responding to 500-600 fire calls annually. YHFD responds to a variety of incidents, including but not limited to: structure fires, vehicle fires, fire alarms, inside/outside smoke investigations, gas leaks, motor vehicle accidents, hazardous materials incidents, vehicle extrications, and CO alarms. YHFD does not respond to EMS calls. Volunteers are alerted to runs via county dispatch (AKA 60 Control). Because of the expansive size of their district, some firefighters may respond directly to the emergency scene in their personal vehicles.

The YHFD responds to a variety of areas, ranging from large industrial facilities, to sparsely populated New York City water supply areas. Their district is primarily residential, with dwellings ranging from modest 1-2 family homes to multi-million dollar mansions. Also included in their first due are 6 Schools/Learning Centers, a 6 mile stretch of the Taconic State Parkway, a theatre, 2 golf courses, and the IBM Watson Research Facility. The Croton Watershed area (NYC Water Supply) comprises a moderate portion of the south end of the district, with minimal development and no water mains. YHFD is responsible for fire protection for approximately 36.2 square miles and 30,000 residents and businesses.

Yorktown Heights Engine Co. No. 1 is also home to Two Special Operations Teams. Many YHFD members have taken their training and experience beyond basic firefighting, and have chosen to also participate in special operations teams. YHFD operates a Dive Rescue Team with 13 divers, and a F.A.S.Team with 18 specially trained firefighters. Many of their members also are on specialized county teams, such as the Westchester County Technical Rescue Team, Westchester County HAZMAT Team, and the Westchester County Cause & Origin Team.

YHFD operates with 4 Engines, 2 Aerial Ladders, 1 Rescue, 1 Tanker, a Dive Team Trailer, Zodiac Rescue Boat, Portable Light Tower Unit, and a Mini-Pumper, a Utility vehicle, and 3 Chiefs Vehicles out of Two Stations.

Station 1 is located at 1916 Commerce Street, and Station 2 is located at 744 Locksley Road.

Station 1 serves as the YHFD Headquarters and is home to Rescue 16, Engine 273, Ladder 51, Tanker 14, and Utility 36.

Station 2 is the YHFD substation that is home to Rescue-Engine 270, Engine 271, Engine 275, Ladder 68, Mini-Attack 8, Dive Team Trailer, Rescue Boat, and Light Tower 51.

Pictures of Apparatus.

The Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps is a not for profit, Basic Life Support provider, which has been providing Emergency Medical Service to the town of Yorktown since 1963. YVAC has the distinct honor of being the very first Ambulance Corps in Westchester County to provide 24 hour 7 day a week EMT-I (Intermediate) service. The town of Yorktown is also protect by 24 hour a day paramedic service provided by Empress EMS, there are two paramedics on staff during the day and one at night time hours that go by call number, 34Medic1, 34Medic2. YVAC responds to over 1,200 EMS calls a year and are dispatched by the Yorktown Police Dept. They respond with 3 New York State Certified Basic Life Support Ambulances, and 1 Paramedics fly car (Staffed by Empress Medics). Their headquarters is located at the corner of Route 202 and Loretta Street. YVAC's response district is drawn in line with the YHFD.

Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Headquarters is located at 2600 Loretta Street in Yorktown Heights and is home to Ambulances 86B1, 86B2, 86B3, and a Paramedic Fly car 34Medic1. It is staffed by volunteers on duty shifts and two paid paramedics during day hours and one Paramedic during night hours that respond in the fly car.

Pictures of 2 of the 3 Ambulances of YVAC [2] [3]

Picture of Yorktown Medic Fly Car- (Emtbravo.com)[4]

The Northern portion of Yorktown including the Hamlets of Osceola Lake, Lake Mohegan, Shrub Oak, portions of Crompond, and Jefferson Valley, as well as the Town of Cortland is protected by the Mohegan Volunteer Fire Association. The Mohegan Volunteer Fire Association operates as department 226 in Battalion 17 and is dedicated to the safety of those living, working, and visiting their community and to the protection of the environment from natural and man-made disasters through Education, Prevention, Fire Suppression, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services. The Mohegan Volunteer Fire Association provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services within the Lake Mohegan Fire District, a 40 square mile area in northern Westchester County, New York in the towns of Cortlandt and Yorktown. Nearly 150 dedicated and highly trained volunteer firefighters and ambulance corps members along with 28 full time career firefighters/EMT’s respond to over a thousand emergency calls annually, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, these volunteers spend numerous hours each week in training, fire prevention, and fire education activities. LMFD is also home to a Firefighter Assistance Search Team (FAST) like Yorktown Heights. Both departments routinely work with one another at the scene of emergences. The LMFD responds with 5 Rescue-Engines, 1 Tele-Squirt Engine, 2 Aerial Ladders, 5 Utility Vehicles, 3 Chiefs Vehicles, and 1 Small Rescue Boat. The MVFA-VAC operates 3 Ambulances, Utility, and Injury Prevention Trailer and the MVFA utilizes 1 pick-up truck to tow the 2 Fire Prevention Trailers. The LMFD has four Fire Stations with 1 Career firefighter at Three Sub-Stations and 2-3 Career firefighters at Headquarters which is also where their central dispatch center is located.

Mohegan Station 1 and Fire Headquarters as well as Volunteer Ambulance corps Headquarters is located at 1975 East Main St in Mohegan Lake it is home to Utility 40, Engine 258, Ladder 35, Ambulances 69B1, 69B2, 69B3, and Mohegan VAC Utility Vehicle. This station is staffed by 2-3 career firefighters/EMT

Station 2 is the Jefferson Valley Fire Station located on Lee Blvd in Yorktown and is home to Engine 253, Ladder 10, and Utility 75 and is staffed by one (1) Career Firefighter/EMT.

Station 3 is the Furnace Woods Fire Station located at 260 Croton Ave in Cortlandt Manor and is home to Engine 254, Engine 250 (tele-squirt Engine), Utility 80 and 18, and is staffed by one (1) Career Firefighter/EMT.

Station 4 is the Hollowbrook Fire Station located at 1130 Oregon Rd in Cortlandt Manor and is home to Engine 255, Engine 257, as well as other units and Utility Vehicels, and is staffed by One (1) Career Firefighter/EMT.

Pictures of Apparatus.

Pictures of 2 Mohegan FD VAC Ambulances [6] [7] [8] [9]

Information about the Firefighter Assist and Search Teams in Both Yorktown Heights and Lake Mohegan.[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefighter Assist and Search Team]]

[edit] Police Department

One of the most important functions of Town government is to provide for public safety. The Yorktown Police Department presently has an authorized strength of 52 sworn police officers and 8 civilian employees, including 3 police dispatchers, 4 police office assistants, and 1 Animal Control Officer. Additionally, the Police Department has support personnel from Building & Grounds and Central Garage for building and vehicle maintenance. The Yorktown Police Department operates out of one central station located on 2281 Crompond Road also known as Route 202. The Yorktown Police Department responded to 12,919 calls in the year 2005.

The department is broken down into three Divisions the Patrol Division, a Staff Division, and a Detective Division.

The largest of the three the Patrol Division is comprised of about 40 sworn police officers and supervisors who patrol the Town of Yorktown 24 hours a day 7 days a week. To best protect the people of Yorktown the town is broken down into “Sectors” which are based on geography with a given number of officers assigned to patrol those areas. There is a minimum of four patrol officers and supervisor on patrol during day hours and a minimum three officers and a supervisor on patrol during night hours.

The Staff Division is charged with the many business aspects of the department such as records management, communications (both radio and landline telephone), payroll, permits, headquarters maintenance, equipment and supplies, department vehicle service and upkeep, and animal control. This division is comprised of both sworn law enforcement officials and civilian employees.

The Detective Division is comprised of a group of police officers hand picked by the Chief of Police. This division is responsible for the prevention of crime and investigation of criminal cases in the town, the detection and arrest of criminals and location of missing persons, the recovery of lost and stolen property, insuring the proper cooperation with other agencies, and the proper conduct of fugitive requisition proceedings.

The Yorktown Police Department also offers some specialized services to better serve and protect the people of Yorktown.

The Yorktown Police Department (YPD) has a specially trained K-9 Unit with two trained patrol dogs and officer/handlers. These units are used to assist regular patrol officers by using a physiological deterrent, superior speed, and unparallel scenting ability that allow officers to better patrol the community. Due to Yorktown’s vast amount of rural and wooded areas creates a challenge for officers trying to locate a person or evidence. The K-9 unit has been called frequently to work with both the New York State Police K-9 Unit and Westchester County K-9 unit both in Yorktown and surrounding communities.

The YPD also houses a Traffic Unit that has a fleet of “Slick Top” and “unmarked” Patrol Cars that is responsible for aggressive enforcement of both state and local traffic laws.

Many Yorktown Police Officers and Detectives have taken training to create an Accident Investigation Unit. Comprised of four (4) police officers, Detective, and Detective Sergeant trained to investigate serious personal injuries that resulted in the an accident that resulted in serious injury or death as well as all fatal accidents. They accomplish this through recreating an accident, including contributing factors, and obtain existing evidence.

The Town of Yorktown employees a community service worker utilized for animal related incidents as well as enforcing state and town code regulations.

The YPD is very active in the two school districts in Yorktown. The department has a Drug Abuse Resistance Education or D.A.R.E. officer that works with both the Yorktown and Lakeland Central School Districts 5th and 6th graders. Also the YPD has placed a Police officer or School Resource Officer in both Yorktown High School and Lakeland High School.

Other Law Enforcement Agencies in Yorktown

With many state roadways as well as a very long and busy stretch of the Taconic State Parkway running through Yorktown and being the primary law enforcement agency in the neighboring Town of Cortland the New York State Police is frequently spotted on these roadways as well as working side by side with Yorktown Police Officers.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police or as they are commonly called DEP Police are located in Yorktown on Route 129 alongside the croton reservoir. They are responsible for the protection and enforcement of all New York City watershed areas which encompasses most of Yorktown.

The New York State Park Police although not as widely known as the State Police or Yorktown Police are responsible for the enforcement and security FDR State Park as well as other State Owned parks in Yorktown.

Although the Westchester County Police, Metro Transit Authority Police (MTA Police) and New York State Department of Conservation police (NYS DEC Police) are not commonly seen in Yorktown they occasionally have been seen on patrol through portions of Yorktown.

Some information courtesy of the Yorktown Police Department Webpage

[edit] Famous residents of Yorktown

  • Writer Clifford A. Pickover. In his book, The Mobius Strip, he models the fictional New Devonshire on Yorktown.
  • Famous Singer/Songwriter Dave Matthews and family migrated to Yorktown before moving to Virgina.

[edit] Communities and locations in Yorktown

[edit] External links

Safety Organizations/Government:

Community:

Education:

Religious organizations:

  v • d • e Westchester County, New York
County Seat: White Plains
Cities

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Communities and CDPs

Amawalk | Armonk | Baldwin Place | Banksville | Bedford | Bedford Hills | Bedford Village | Chappaqua | Cortlandt Manor | Crompond | Cross River | Croton Falls | Crugers | Eastchester | Eastview | Fairview | Golden's Bridge | Granite Springs | Greenville/Edgemont | Hartsdale | Hawthorne | Heritage Hills | Jefferson Valley-Yorktown | Katonah | Lake Mohegan | Lincolndale | Millwood | Montrose | Peach Lake | Pocantico Hills | Purchase | Purdys | Salem Center | Scotts Corners | Shenorock | Shrub Oak | Somers | South Salem | Thornwood | Tompkins Corners | Valhalla | Verplanck | Vista | Waccabuc | Yorktown Heights


Coordinates: 41°17′44″N, 73°48′29″W

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