| Katonah | |
| Hamlet | |
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Looking north along Katonah Avenue
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| Name origin: Local Native American Chief Katonah | |
| Country | USA |
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| State | New York |
| Region | Hudson Valley |
| County | Westchester |
| Town | Bedford |
| River | Croton |
| Coordinates | |
| Population | 4,605 (2010) |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Timezone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP Code | 10536 |
| Area code | 914 |
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Location of Katonah within New York
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| Wikimedia Commons: Katonah, New York | |
| Website: KatonahNY.com | |
Katonah, New York is one of three unincorporated hamlets within the town of Bedford, Westchester County, New York, United States.
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Katonah is named for Chief Katonah, an American Indian from whom the land of Bedford was purchased by a group of English colonists. Founded with the name Whitlockville, the town changed its name, and later was moved to its present site in 1897, when its former site (Old Katonah) was flooded by the construction of the Cross River Reservoir. More than 50 buildings were moved from the old site to New Katonah, were rolled on logs pulled by horses. The move was originally ordered to start in 1894, but litigation delayed the process by almost three years. Katonah was not the only village affected by New York City's growing demand for water. The villages of Kirbyville and New Castle Corners were also condemned by the city but were never moved.[1]
The Katonah Village Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[2]
Despite often being referred to as a village, Katonah has no legal status as an administrative jurisdiction. While the Katonah post office serves portions of the towns of Bedford, Lewisboro and Somers, the "hamlet" of Katonah, as a subdivision of the Town of Bedford, was identified as a Census Designated Place (CDP) for the first time in 2010.
According to the 2010 united states census, the CDP, the 'hamlet' of Katonah, in Bedford, had a total population of 4,605 people, compared to 10,739 residents of the Katonah ZIP code, 10536. In 2010, half (5,391, or 50.2%) of the Katonah ZIP code's population resided in the Town of Bedford, 36.9% in Somers and 12.9% in Lewisboro.
With regard to the Katonah CDP, 87% is white, 1% is black, 8% is Hispanic and 2% identify as Asian.
The surrounding countryside includes the John Jay Homestead, the former home of John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nearby is The Harvey School, a private day school which offers 5 day boarding founded in the 19th century, which counts among its alumni "Doonesbury" cartoonist Garry Trudeau. Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren also live in Katonah, just down the road from the John Jay Homestead.
By its residents, Katonah is often styled as a "village". For example, its library is called the Katonah Village Library and other commercial functions and public works incorporate similar terminology. Katonah generally has a concentration of population and businesses which may include portions of several towns. Katonah does have its own ZIP code, 10536, and a Metro-North station. As a result of the town's close proximity to New York City and its immediate connection to the aforementioned railroad station and the interstate, a sizable portion of the town consists of commuters. The area is part of the Katonah-Lewisboro school district.
Andrew Saul, Chairman of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, George Soros, hedge fund manager and the 7th richest man in the United States, jazz legend John Scofield, and former Congresswoman Sue Kelly are other notable residents of Katonah. Author David Barr Kirtley and Apollo Sunshine drummer Jeremy Black both grew up in Katonah. Apollo Sunshine's first album was also recorded in and named after the town.
Katonah is home to Stepping Stones, the historic home of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. and his wife Lois Wilson. The house at 62 Oak Road is on the State and National Register of Historic Places.
The average house price in Katonah, as of 2006, is US$ 912,000.[3]
The Katonah Museum of Art is located in Katonah. The Caramoor International Music Festival, which hosts the Orchestra of St. Luke's, is held annually at Caramoor, within the hamlet's limits.[2] John Jay High School holds its annual commencement ceremony at Caramoor as well. The former home of US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Jay is a state historic site and museum located down the road from Caramoor. The Katonah Poetry Series led by former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins holds readings at Katonah Village Library
In early 2007, groups representing the hamlet came out in opposition to a trademark filed by homemaking mogul Martha Stewart for a new furniture line called the “Katonah Collection”.[4] Stewart purchased a 152-acre (0.62 km2) estate in Katonah in 2000,[5] and it is there that she spent her five months of house arrest following her prison term resulting from charges of "lying to investigators".[6] Representatives stated that Stewart was seeking to “honor the town” and the new furniture line was “...paying homage to this beautiful region.”[7] The pending trademark was contested by the Katonah Village Improvement Society, and Katonah Architectural Hardware along with support from the Ramapough Mountain Indians[8] who foresaw legal conflict should Stewart succeed in trademarking the name for her furniture line.[9] (View current appeals at U.S. Trademark Office)[10][11]
Katonah is a part of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District. It contains Katonah Elementary School, although some residents go to the neighboring Increase Miller Elementary School. Both schools feed into John Jay Middle School and John Jay High School.
Katonah is also home to two private schools, The Montfort Academy, which is affiliated with the Catholic Church, and The Harvey School.
The Record-Review, a weekly newspaper, reports on local issues in Katonah, Bedford, Bedford Hills and Pound Ridge. The newspaper began publishing in 1995.
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