Harrison is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
in
Westchester County
Westchester County is located in the U.S. state of New York. It is the seventh most populous county in the State of New York and the most populous north of New York City. According to the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population ...
,
New York, United States, northeast of
Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...
. The population was 28,218 at the 2020 census.
History
Harrison was established in 1696 by a patent granted by the British government to John Harrison and three others, who had a year earlier bargained with local Native Americans to purchase an area of land above Westchester Path (an old trail that led from Manhattan to Port Chester) and below Rye Lake. Local custom holds that Harrison was given 24 hours to ride his horse around the area he could claim, and the horse couldn't swim or didn't want to get its feet wet, but this is folklore.
In fact, the land below Westchester Path and along Long Island Sound had already been purchased and partly developed by the settlers of Rye, New York.
The area that became Harrison had also been sold in 1661 or 1662, and again in 1666, to Peter Disbrow, John Budd, and other investors or early residents of Rye. Disbrow and Budd evidently lost their paperwork and the land was ultimately granted to Harrison and his co-investors in 1696. So upset were the people of Rye that they seceded to the Colony of Connecticut until 1700, when the King of England ordered Rye to rejoin the Colony of New York.
The first permanent residents of Harrison's Purchase, as it was called, arrived in about 1725, and many early settlers were Quakers, who set up a Friend's Meeting House at a settlement located in the part of Harrison now called
Purchase
Purchasing is the process a business or organization uses to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between ...
.
Harrison's Purchase was administered jointly by the settlers of Rye until it was incorporated as a town on March 7, 1788, by an act of the New York State legislature.
Merritt's Hill in West Harrison was the site of the
Battle of White Plains
The Battle of White Plains was a battle in the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War, fought on October 28, 1776 near White Plains, New York. Following the retreat of George Washington's Continental Army northward f ...
during the
Revolutionary War. Regiment 182 of the
Continental Army, of the 367 regiments there, was the Harrison Regiment, composed solely of people from Harrison.
During the 1830s, David Haviland settled in Harrison where he produced
Haviland China which he sold in his store in New York City before returning to his native France. Today there exists a Haviland Street in the downtown business district, as well as a Haviland Road in the Sterling Ridge neighborhood of Harrison, whose only street sign is of a historic
wrought iron
Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content (less than 0.08%) in contrast to that of cast iron (2.1% to 4%). It is a semi-fused mass of iron with fibrous slag inclusions (up to 2% by weight), which give it a wood-like "grain" ...
design in scrolled shapes, quite older than many others throughout the town.
In 1867 Benjamin Holladay purchased a tract of land, which is now the campus of
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private university in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 at 412 Houston Street in lower Manhattan, it was initially known as Academy of the Sacred Heart, then after 1847 as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart ...
. He constructed an elaborate granite mansion, now known as the college's Reid Castle, and an elaborate
Norman-style Roman Catholic chapel for his wife. The castle hosted the King and Queen of
Siam
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
in the early 1930s. The castle was at one time known as Ophir House, in reference to different owners.
What is now the
Metro-North Railroad's
New Haven Line
The Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line is a commuter rail line running from New Haven, Connecticut to New York City. It joins the Harlem Line at Mount Vernon, New York and continues south to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The New Haven ...
, running from
Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...
, New York City, to
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich (, ) is a town in southwestern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. At the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 63,518. The largest town on Connecticut's Gold Coast, Greenwich is home to many hedge funds and other ...
, first came through Harrison in 1848, though the first station was not built until 1870. Before that time, Harrisonites had to
flag down the train to get a ride. Harrison remained generally free of factories through the
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States, that occurred during the period from around 1760 to about 1820–1840. This transition included going f ...
, while large factory districts grew in the neighboring towns of
White Plains,
Port Chester
Port Chester is a village in the U.S. state of New York and the largest part of the town of Rye in Westchester County by population. At the 2010 U.S. census, the village of Port Chester had a population of 28,967 and was the fifth-most populou ...
and
Mamaroneck
Mamaroneck ( ) is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States.
The population was 31,758 at the 2020 United States census over 29,156 at the 2010 census. There are two villages contained within the town: Larchmont and the Village of M ...
.
In 1929, the
Hutchinson River Parkway
The Hutchinson River Parkway (known colloquially as The Hutch) is a north–south parkway in southern New York in the United States. It extends for from the massive Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx to the New York ...
was extended to Harrison.
Sunny Ridge
In 1929, Harrison's former Sunnyridge Farm, located less than a half mile from the train station, was purchased by real estate developer Sidney H. Sonn, of H. & S. Sonn, Co. of New York City, and subdivided into lots for a real estate development. H. & S. Sonn laid out new streets throughout, preserving the farm's private access road to the farm residence as today's Sunny Ridge Road. According to a 1928 New York Times article, "
. & S. Sonnvirtually transformed their part of the old farm into a park, installed winding tree-lined motorways and water, gas, sewers, and electricity, and landscaped the entire 165 acres, then they erected ten english-type houses which were designed by Julius Gregory, one of them being completely furnished by Charles of London."
H. & S. Sonn contracted Julius Gregory to develop house plans for single family houses in their new Sunny Ridge development, as it was termed. A new model was developed to construct homes that were of durable materials, to be resistant to exterior maintenance, using only brick, stone, and old-growth oak timber as exterior materials. The fashionable new neighborhood attracted the attention of New York banking, business, and entertainment elites, attracting Wall Street financier William Harty; then-owner of
Condé Nast
Condé Nast () is a global mass media company founded in 1909 by Condé Montrose Nast, and owned by Advance Publications. Its headquarters are located at One World Trade Center in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan.
The company's media ...
, Joseph J. Lane; Musical star
Louise Groody
Louise Groody (1897–1961) was an American Broadway musical comedy star of the 1920s who introduced to New York audiences the song " Tea for Two" in the musical '' No, No, Nanette''.
Early life
Louise Groody was born on March 27, 1897, in Wac ...
; and
Fitzhugh Green, of Putnam's Publishing House, among the first residents of the new neighborhood.
Sidney Sonn renovated farm's original house, an immense, elaborate, 20-room, 1875
Victorian mansion, into an
English Tudor
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
, designed by renowned architect Julius Gregory, father of the American Tudor-Revival style and movement of the 1920s, as a residence for himself.
Only a small handful of homes were sold and constructed before the economic downturn of the
Great Depression. The remaining vast majority of homes were constructed beginning in the middle-1940s, with the last plots filled during the 1950s. The styles of the newer, 1940s-era homes was primarily of
colonial revival
The Colonial Revival architectural style seeks to revive elements of American colonial architecture.
The beginnings of the Colonial Revival style are often attributed to the Centennial Exhibition of 1876, which reawakened Americans to the archit ...
style, with the newest ranging into
Mid-century-Modern. The older, Tudor homes as a result remain quite notable.
The 1875 Sunny Ridge farm mansion was renovated to include a 14th-century woodcut from Europe, installed into the wall over the living room fireplace, among several other ancient relics, built into the home. The home was sold for the first time since the 1920s renovation in the summer of 2017, and was demolished to make way for two new homes. It was not protected by any state or local
historic preservation
Historic preservation (US), built heritage preservation or built heritage conservation (UK), is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance. It is a philos ...
acts.
Political history
In 1967, 200 residents stated support for a plan to incorporate
Purchase
Purchasing is the process a business or organization uses to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between ...
, a community in Harrison, so that corporations could not build in the community. In response, officials from the Town of Harrison put forward plans to try to become a city to try to stop Purchase from seceding from Harrison. The resolution was for the Town became a hybrid "Town / Village", which it remains today.
John A. Passidomo (1921–2005) was first elected mayor in 1965 by only 67 votes. Re-elected eight times, he served until 1983 when he resigned to become Commissioner of the
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYSDMV or DMV) is the department of the New York state government responsible for vehicle registration, vehicle inspections, driver's licenses, learner’s permits, photo ID cards, and adjudicat ...
. In his two and a half years at that job, he helped pass one of the nation's first seat-belt laws despite the law's unpopularity.
Harrison's "Platinum Mile", a string of corporate office parks along I-287 in the Purchase section of Harrison, developed under Passidomo. The mayor played an instrumental role in attracting large corporations such as
PepsiCo,
MasterCard and
Texaco
Texaco, Inc. ("The Texas Company") is an American oil brand owned and operated by Chevron Corporation. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owned the Havoline motor oil brand. Texaco was an independent company unt ...
.
In the early 1970s, under Passidomo's supervision, a group in the Purchase section of town, concerned about the town's overdevelopment, attempted to incorporate as a village and thereby separate from the town of Harrison. Creatively, to avoid being served papers that would have begun the legal proceedings for Purchase to incorporate as a village, Passidomo entered his office through the fire escape. He then immediately made sure that the town Harrison became a village but remained as a town to end to the possibility of Purchase's secession, since a village cannot legally be formed in another village.
The list of supervisors/mayors begins at 1965; however, there were mayors before that.
*John Passidomo 1965–1983
*Pat V. Angarano 1983–1990
*Charles Balancia 1990–1994
*Philip A. Marraccini (R) 1994–1998
*Ronald Bianchi (D) 1998–2002
*Stephen Malfitano (R) 2002–2008
*Joan Walsh (D) 2008–2012
*Ronald Belmont (R) 2012–2022
*Richard Dionisio (R) 2022-
Geography
Harrison is a town and village in Westchester County, New York, approximately northeast of Manhattan, New York City. According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the town (and coterminous village) has a total area of , of which is land and , or 3.22%, is water. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.
The distance from
Harrison Station to
Grand Central Terminal in
Midtown Manhattan is about .
Harrison is bordered by
North Castle
North Castle is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 11,841 at the 2010 census. It has three hamlets: Armonk, Banksville, and North White Plains.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the t ...
,
White Plains,
Rye town,
Rye city,
Mamaroneck
Mamaroneck ( ) is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States.
The population was 31,758 at the 2020 United States census over 29,156 at the 2010 census. There are two villages contained within the town: Larchmont and the Village of M ...
, and
Scarsdale. The
New England Thruway
Interstate 95 (I-95) is part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Miami, Florida, to the Canada–United States border near Houlton, Maine. In the U.S. state of New York, I-95 extends from the George Washington Bridge in New Yor ...
(
I-95
Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the Canadia ...
) runs through the town (without any interchanges), as well as the
Cross Westchester Expressway
Interstate 287 (I-287) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the US states of New Jersey and New York. It is a partial beltway around New York City, serving the northern half of New Jersey and the counties of Rockland and Westchester in N ...
and the
Hutchinson River Parkway
The Hutchinson River Parkway (known colloquially as The Hutch) is a north–south parkway in southern New York in the United States. It extends for from the massive Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx to the New York ...
.
I-684
Interstate 684 (I-684) is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway in the state of New York in the United States. There is also a short portion in Connecticut with no junctions. The highway connects I-84 with I-287 and the Hutchinso ...
passes through Harrison and ends at the Cross Westchester Expressway and the Hutchinson Parkway.
Climate
Areas and neighborhoods
The boundaries of the town of Harrison are the approximate shape of a
figure-eight. The southern half is known as simply Harrison, or downtown, while the hamlets of
Purchase
Purchasing is the process a business or organization uses to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between ...
and
West Harrison are located in the northern portion of the town. The "downtown" southern half of Harrison is divided into four general areas: Brentwood Plaza, Sunnyridge, Sterling Ridge/The Trails, and the Village part of Harrison.
West Harrison is an isolated community, lodged between a tall hill bordered by a lake, Interstate 287, a tall relatively steep hill, and a cliff at the northern edge. Because of this, there is a general lack of street entrances. There is really only one road into it, although there are a few other "back" ways into it. The road is called Lake Street, flanked on one side by Silver Lake Park, bordering the lake, and by a small business district on the other side of the street. West Harrison contains the Passidomo Veterans Memorial Park and Pool and the Leo Mintzer Center. West Harrison also contains the site of the
Battle of White Plains
The Battle of White Plains was a battle in the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War, fought on October 28, 1776 near White Plains, New York. Following the retreat of George Washington's Continental Army northward f ...
from the
Revolutionary War. Silver Lake is also the home of Buckout Road, which was said to have been a home of witches, albinos, and slaughters.
Purchase is a more secluded area of Harrison, with winding roads and deep woods. The houses are larger, in often cases whole swaths of land developed in the late twentieth century, and early 2000s, comparably younger in age to the rest of the town.
Downtown is split into the four sections mentioned above, and is flanked by
Interstate 95, the
Hutchinson River Parkway
The Hutchinson River Parkway (known colloquially as The Hutch) is a north–south parkway in southern New York in the United States. It extends for from the massive Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx to the New York ...
, and the
Metro-North Railroad. The manmade lines create isolation to areas, with few areas to cross each. Harrison's only middle school, Louis M. Klein Middle School, and only High School,
Harrison High School Harrison High School may refer to:
in the United States ''(by state)''
*Harrison High School (Harrison, Arkansas), listed on the National Register of Historic Places
* Harrison High School (Colorado Springs) — Colorado Springs, Colorado
* Har ...
, are located in the "downtown" area. The four areas of downtown, as separated by the boundaries of Interstate 95 and the
railroad tracks
A railway track (British English and UIC terminology) or railroad track (American English), also known as permanent way or simply track, is the structure on a railway or railroad consisting of the rails, fasteners, railroad ties (sleepers, ...
as well as separated by wealth gaps, are very diverse. Despite its name, "Downtown" is not in any sense a business district, it is much rather a residential enclave, featuring houses of every wealth level.
Demographics
2000 census
At the 2000 census,
there were 24,154 people, 8,394 households and 6,186 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,435.2 per square mile (554.1/km
2). There were 8,680 housing units at an average density of 515.8 per square mile (199.1/km
2). The racial makeup of the village was 89.78%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 1.43%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...
or
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.09%
Native American, 5.44%
Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 1.59% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.67% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 6.70% of the population.
Harrison is also known for its large Italian American population.
There were 8,394 households, of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.20.
24.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
According to a 2009 estimate, the
median household income
The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways o ...
was $104,640, and the median family income was $130,224. The per capita income for the village was $63,742. About 4.2% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
In the 2010 census the population was 76.9 percent
non-Hispanic white, 2.4 percent
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 7.5 percent
Asian, and 11.7%
Hispanic or Latino
''Hispanic'' and '' Latino'' are ethnonyms used to refer collectively to the inhabitants of the United States who are of Spanish or Latin American ancestry (). While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, for example, by the United States ...
of any descent.
Economy
Companies based in Harrison include
Transamerica Retirement Solutions,
MasterCard, and
PepsiCo, on the renowned ''platinum mile''.
Corporate headquarters
These include the
MasterCard headquarters,
MasterCard International Global Headquarters
The Mastercard International Global Headquarters is an office building located at 2000 Purchase Street in the hamlet of Purchase, New York. It was constructed in the early 1980s as part of a movement of large corporations onto suburban estate sett ...
,
PepsiCo, and
Central National-Gottesman
Central National-Gottesman Inc. (CNG) is one of the world's largest distributors of pulp, paper, packaging, nonwovens & fibers, tissue, metals and wood products. The company employs over 3,000 staff in more than 150 locations in 48 cities across ...
.
Atlas Air
Atlas Air, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, is a major American cargo airline, passenger charter airline, and aircraft lessor based in Purchase, New York. Atlas Air is the world's largest operator of the Boei ...
and subsidiary
Polar Air Cargo
Polar Air Cargo Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, is a cargo airline based in Purchase, New York, United States. It operates scheduled all-cargo services to North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Its main ...
have their headquarters in Purchase.
Texaco
Texaco, Inc. ("The Texas Company") is an American oil brand owned and operated by Chevron Corporation. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owned the Havoline motor oil brand. Texaco was an independent company unt ...
's headquarters, a building, was in Harrison.
[Brenner, Elsa.]
IN BUSINESS; Morgan Stanley Seals Deal on Texaco Headquarters
" ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
''. Sunday March 31, 2002. Retrieved on October 3, 2009. In 2002, after
Chevron
Chevron (often relating to V-shaped patterns) may refer to:
Science and technology
* Chevron (aerospace), sawtooth patterns on some jet engines
* Chevron (anatomy), a bone
* '' Eulithis testata'', a moth
* Chevron (geology), a fold in rock ...
and Texaco merged, Chevron sold the former Texaco headquarters to
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment management and financial services company headquartered at 1585 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. With offices in more than 41 countries and more than 75,000 employees, the fir ...
. Morgan Stanley bought the building and the surrounding for $42 million.
Previously,
Lenovo had its U.S. headquarters in Purchase. In 2006, the company announced it was moving to
Morrisville, North Carolina
Morrisville is a town located primarily in Wake County, North Carolina, United States (a small portion extends into neighboring Durham County). The population was 18,576 at the 2010 census. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the town's population t ...
.
[Hogan, Patrick. "Lenovo shifting U.S. headquarters to Morrisville, but will cut 300-350 Triangle jobs." '']Triangle Business Journal
American City Business Journals, Inc. (ACBJ) is an American newspaper publisher based in Charlotte, North Carolina. ACBJ publishes The Business Journals, which contains local business news for 44 markets in the United States, Hemmings Motor News ...
''. Thursday March 16, 2006. Updated Friday March 17, 2006
p.1
Retrieved on October 12, 2012.
Education
Public
Harrison Central School District operates
Harrison High School Harrison High School may refer to:
in the United States ''(by state)''
*Harrison High School (Harrison, Arkansas), listed on the National Register of Historic Places
* Harrison High School (Colorado Springs) — Colorado Springs, Colorado
* Har ...
, and
Louis M. Klein Middle School, both located in the Downtown area. Additionally, the district also operates four public elementary schools. Purchase School serves Purchase, Preston School serves West Harrison, and Parsons School serves South Downtown. The fourth school, Harrison Avenue School, serves the remaining area of "Downtown", Sunnyridge, Sterling Ridge/The Trails, and The Brentwood.
Private
The
Keio Academy of New York
is a private high school in Purchase, Harrison, New York in the New York City metropolitan area. It is sponsored by Keio University,Lyman, Rick.THE JAPANESE WAY IN A QUIET NEW YORK SCHOOL, 463 CHILDREN OF \ JAPAN'S CORPORATE ELITE GET A PROPER EDU ...
is a private high school located in
Purchase
Purchasing is the process a business or organization uses to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between ...
.
The Windward School's Westchester campus is located nearby in White Plains, New York.
Colleges and universities
The
State University of New York at Purchase and
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private university in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 at 412 Houston Street in lower Manhattan, it was initially known as Academy of the Sacred Heart, then after 1847 as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart ...
are located in Purchase. In 2008,
Fordham University opened its Westchester campus in West Harrison on 32 landscaped acres with a stream and pond.
Transportation
Roads
Harrison is traversed by several of Westchester County's major arteries.
* (Cross-Westchester Expressway) traverses the center of the town, between Purchase and Downtown. West Harrison is served by Exit 8 (
NY 127). Downtown and Purchase are served by Exits 9 (
Hutchinson River Parkway
The Hutchinson River Parkway (known colloquially as The Hutch) is a north–south parkway in southern New York in the United States. It extends for from the massive Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx to the New York ...
) and 10 (
NY 120/
NY 120A).
* (New England Thruway) crosses downtown, although no interchanges are located within Harrison.
* travels north from Interstate 287, and forms a border between West Harrison and Purchase. Harrison is served by exit 2 (
Westchester County Airport
Westchester County Airport is a county-owned airport in Westchester County, New York, three miles (6 km) northeast of downtown White Plains, with territory in the towns of North Castle and Harrison, New York, and village of Rye Brook, N ...
), which is located in
North Castle
North Castle is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 11,841 at the 2010 census. It has three hamlets: Armonk, Banksville, and North White Plains.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the t ...
. Additionally, Harrison is served by the Manhattanville Road exit off the connector road between I-684 and the Hutchinson River Parkway.
* runs along the western edge of Downtown, forming a border between Harrison and White Plains. North of Interstate 287, the parkway turns eastward towards
Rye Brook and
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich (, ) is a town in southwestern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. At the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 63,518. The largest town on Connecticut's Gold Coast, Greenwich is home to many hedge funds and other ...
. Downtown is served by exits 23 (Mamaroneck Avenue), and 25 (
NY 127/North Street). Purchase is served by exits 27 (
NY 120), and 28 (Lincoln Avenue).
Harrison is served by several other significant roads.
* enters Harrison from the east near Rye's central business district. The route parallels the western edge of I-287 for several blocks, to Westchester Avenue, where NY 120 meets the southern end of
NY 120A, an alternate route through Rye Brook. NY 120 follows Westchester Avenue, which forms
collector/distributor roads running along I-287. About a half-mile west, NY 120 turns north, and passes through Purchase, where it intersects the Hutchinson River Parkway at exit 27. Continuing north, the route runs along the eastern edge of the campus of
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private university in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 at 412 Houston Street in lower Manhattan, it was initially known as Academy of the Sacred Heart, then after 1847 as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart ...
, and passes a short distance west of the
State University of New York at Purchase. The route continues north towards Westchester County Airport, and North Castle, as well as an intersection with I-684 at exit 2.
* terminates just inside of Harrison along Westchester Avenue.
* runs across downtown as Harrison Avenue and North Street. The route enters from
Mamaroneck
Mamaroneck ( ) is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States.
The population was 31,758 at the 2020 United States census over 29,156 at the 2010 census. There are two villages contained within the town: Larchmont and the Village of M ...
as Harrison Avenue, a short distance from its terminus at
US 1
U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs from Key West, Florida, north to Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, making ...
. Some distance north, the route intersects Halstead Avenue, Downtown's main business strip. The route also intersects the
New Haven Line
The Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line is a commuter rail line running from New Haven, Connecticut to New York City. It joins the Harlem Line at Mount Vernon, New York and continues south to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The New Haven ...
, and has an intersection with the
Hutchinson River Parkway
The Hutchinson River Parkway (known colloquially as The Hutch) is a north–south parkway in southern New York in the United States. It extends for from the massive Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx to the New York ...
on the
White Plains/Harrison line (exit 25).
Bus
Harrison is served by several
Bee-Line Bus routes.
Rail
Harrison is served by the
New Haven Line
The Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line is a commuter rail line running from New Haven, Connecticut to New York City. It joins the Harlem Line at Mount Vernon, New York and continues south to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The New Haven ...
of the
Metro-North Railroad at the
Harrison
Harrison may refer to:
People
* Harrison (name)
* Harrison family of Virginia, United States
Places
In Australia:
* Harrison, Australian Capital Territory, suburb in the Canberra district of Gungahlin
In Canada:
* Inukjuak, Quebec, or " ...
station, near the intersection of
NY 127/Harrison Avenue and Halstead Avenue downtown.
Airport
Harrison is served by
Westchester County Airport
Westchester County Airport is a county-owned airport in Westchester County, New York, three miles (6 km) northeast of downtown White Plains, with territory in the towns of North Castle and Harrison, New York, and village of Rye Brook, N ...
, which is partially located in
Purchase
Purchasing is the process a business or organization uses to acquire goods or services to accomplish its goals. Although there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly between ...
.
Points of interest
Places of worship
Places of worship in Harrison include:
Roman Catholic
* St. Gregory the Great Church in Harrison
* St. Anthony of Padua Church in West Harrison
Orthodox Christians
* Greek Orthodox Church of Our Savior
Episcopalian
* All Saints Church in Harrison
Presbyterian
* Harrison Presbyterian Church in Harrison
Jewish
* Young Israel of Harrison
* Harrison Jewish Community Center
Cemeteries
There are several cemeteries in the downtown, including many small family plots dating back to the 17th century and before.
Greenwood Union Cemetery is a cemetery shared by the city of Rye. There is also the Small Roman Catholic Cemetery dating back to when Harrison was first discovered in the 17th century. It is located right on the border of Rye and Harrison. This was a domain for Indian burials.
Country clubs
The
Westchester Country Club
Westchester Country Club is a private country club located in Town of Harrison, New York. Founded in 1922 as destination for sportsmen, it was known to professional golf players and spectators for more than four decades as the home of the "Westche ...
,
Apawamis Golf Club,and Harrison Meadows Country Club, are all located in Harrison. All three of them are next to each other in the southern half ("downtown") portion of the town. A portion of Apawamis, including its entrance is located in
Rye, New York
Rye is a coastal suburb of New York City in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is separate from the Town of Rye, which has more land area than the city. The City of Rye, formerly the Village of Rye, was part of the Town until it r ...
. Harrison Meadows Country Club is a publicly owned club with membership open to all town residents.
The Purchase section of Harrison has Old oaks Country Club and Purchase Country Club along Purchase Street, Braeburn Country Club off Braeburn Drive, and Century Country Club along Anderson Hill Road.
Post offices
Harrison contains two post offices; one is located in the downtown section on Halstead Avenue, and the other is in Purchase, facing
Purchase Street, near the intersection with Anderson Hill Road.
Historic sites
Harrison is home to several structures and sites listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
:
The
Hadden-Margolis House
Hadden-Margolis House is a historic home located at Harrison, Westchester County, New York. It was originally built about 1750 with later modifications in the 19th century in the Italianate style and early 20th century Colonial Revival style. It ...
A pre-revolutionary home, originally constructed around 1750, and added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 2008.
Stony Hill Cemetery
An African-American burial ground in use during the 19th century, added to the National Register in 1999.
United States Post Office
The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...
A stone,
Greek-revival building, featuring the
Doric Order
The Doric order was one of the three orders of ancient Greek and later Roman architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian. The Doric is most easily recognized by the simple circular capitals at the top of c ...
, built in 1938, and featuring a
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration (WPA; renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to carry out public works projects, i ...
mural by Harold Goodwin
It was added to the National Register in 1989.
Revolutionary War Battle of North White Plains Battlefield
Fire department
Harrison is protected by one combination and two all-volunteer fire districts. The Harrison Fire Department being the combination department, the West Harrison Fire Department, and the Purchase Fire Department being all volunteer. The total fire apparatus amount in the town/village are three trucks, nine engines, two rescues, and many other special units. Altogether, there are 4 fire departments that protect Harrison.
Filming location
Harrison was used as a filming location in the movie ''
Riding In Cars With Boys
''Riding in Cars with Boys'' is a 2001 American biographical film based on the autobiography of the same name by Beverly Donofrio, about a woman who overcame difficulties, including being a teen mother, and who later earned a master's degree. The ...
'', the TV show ''
Girls
A girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is accurately described as a ''woman''. However, the term ''girl'' is also used for other meanings, including ''young woman'',Dictionary.c ...
'', the movie ''
The English Teacher''. In 1973, the cult pornographic movie
The Devil in Miss Jones
''The Devil in Miss Jones'' is a 1973 pornographic film, written, directed and produced by Gerard Damiano and starring Georgina Spelvin and Harry Reems. It is widely regarded as a classic adult film, released during the Golden Age of Porn (19 ...
was filmed in a private house on Park Drive South. Other movies include:
*''Unfaithful'' (2002)
*''The Beaver'' (2011)
*''The Wolf of Wall Street'' (2013)
Notable people
*
Lou Bender
Louis "Lulu" Bender (March 8, 1910 – September 10, 2009)Mallozzii, Vincent M ''The New York Times'', September 12, 2009. Accessed September 13, 2009. was an American basketball player who helped turn the sport into a popular success in New Yo ...
(1910–2009), pioneer player with the
Columbia Lions
The Columbia University Lions are the collective athletic teams and their members from Columbia University, an Ivy League institution in New York City, United States. The current director of athletics is Peter Pilling.
Ivy League athletics
Th ...
and in early pro basketball, who was later a successful trial attorney.
*
Amelia Earhart (1897–1937), the aviator lived in Harrison in a home on what is now Amelia Earhart Lane off Locust Avenue while she was married to publisher George Putnam. A monument consisting of a bronze plaque with a propeller attached to a stone, was laid in a small park in Harrison after she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
*
Tex Fletcher (1909–1987), a singing cowboy with credits as a recording artist, Broadway and movie actor, night club performer, and radio and television personality.
*
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen (born April 4, 1947) is a former American football coach. He was most recently the special assistant coach for Rutgers in 2015 after serving as their offensive coordinator in the 2014 season. He was the head coach at the U ...
(born 1947), former head football coach at the
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of M ...
from 2001 to 2010.
*
Bobby Gonzalez, former men's basketball coach for the
Seton Hall Pirates
The Seton Hall Pirates are the intercollegiate athletic sports teams representing Seton Hall University, located in South Orange, New Jersey. The Pirates compete as a member of the NCAA Division I level (non-football sub-level), primarily compet ...
.}
*
Fitzhugh Green, of Putnam's Publishing House.
*
Louise Groody
Louise Groody (1897–1961) was an American Broadway musical comedy star of the 1920s who introduced to New York audiences the song " Tea for Two" in the musical '' No, No, Nanette''.
Early life
Louise Groody was born on March 27, 1897, in Wac ...
, musical star and actress, resided in Harrison beginning in 1928.
*
Bobby Jordan (1923–1965), one of the
Dead End Kids
The Dead End Kids were a group of young actors from New York City who appeared in Sidney Kingsley's Broadway play '' Dead End'' in 1935. In 1937, producer Samuel Goldwyn brought all of them to Hollywood and turned the play into a film. They prov ...
*
Rick Marotta
Richard Thomas Marotta (born January 7, 1948) is an American drummer and percussionist. He has appeared on recordings by leading artists such as Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Paul Simon, John Lennon, Hall & Oates, Ste ...
, drummer and composer of the theme song for ''
Everybody Loves Raymond
''Everybody Loves Raymond'' is an American sitcom television series created by Philip Rosenthal that aired on CBS from September 13, 1996, to May 16, 2005, with a total of 210 episodes spanning nine seasons. It was produced by Where's Lunch an ...
''.
*
John McGillicuddy (1930–2009), CEO of
Manufacturer's Hanover Trust and then, after its merger with Chemical Bank, its CEO in the 1990s.
*
George P. Putnam (1887–1950), publisher and husband of Amelia Earhart.
*
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera (born November 29, 1969) is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, from 1995 to 2013. Nicknamed "Mo" and "Sandman", he spent most ...
(born 1969), pitcher with the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
.
*
Scott Rogowsky
Scott Rogowsky (born December 4, 1984) is an American comedian and television personality. He is best known for his time hosting HQ Trivia, a mobile game show.
Early life
Rogowsky was born in Manhattan and raised in Harrison, New York. He grad ...
, host of HQ Trivia.
* Brothers Eric and Jeff Rosenthal, the hip-hop sketch comedians collectively known as
ItsTheReal.
*
Gene Sarazen (1902–1999, born Eugenio Saraceni) American golfer.
*
Kenneth Cole (born 1954) fashion designer and entrepreneur
[Akiko Mastuda. ‘â]
What’s for sale in the Northeast’s richest ZIP code
€™â€™. lohud. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
Notes
References
;Bibliography
*
External links
Town/Village of Harrison official website
{{authority control
Towns in Westchester County, New York
Towns in the New York metropolitan area
Villages in Westchester County, New York
Populated places established in 1696
1696 establishments in the Province of New York
Villages in New York (state)