Ossining (village), New York
Encyclopedia
Ossining is a village in Westchester County
, New York, United States. The population was 25,060 at the 2010 census. As a village, it is located in the Town of Ossining
.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.4 km2), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) of it is land and 3.1 square miles (8.1 km2) of it (49.37%) is water.
, 0.12% Native American, 3.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races
, and 5.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.08% of the population.
There were 8,227 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the village the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 39.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 117.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $52,185, and the median income for a family was $60,179. Males had a median income of $40,412 versus $36,975 for females. The per capita income for the village was $25,036. About 7.6% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
built a manufacturing facility for his Vegetable Universal Pills which became one of the most successful patent medicines in the United States. Brandreth's business became very successful and his firm was at one point the nation's leading proprietary advertiser. Brandreth became President of the village for many years.
Due to the history of the village, a number of Ossining structures are on the National Register of Historic Places
, and the downtown shopping area is listed as the Downtown Ossining Historic District
. In addition, the Sparta neighborhood has been designated a local historic district. Ossining’s role in New York’s heritage has been recognized by its inclusion, as one of only 14 areas, in an Urban Cultural Park System designed to attract visitors to the State.
Present day Ossining is a vital community with a vast range in types of housing, from the very modest to the luxurious estates, and a diversified population enjoying a healthy racial and religious mix. The Village of Ossining is situated within 3 square miles (8 km²) and according to the U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000 census 24,010 reside in this historic village on the Hudson River.
Ossining is ranked the No.2 best community to live in Westchester by Westchester Magazine, based on criteria such as Diversity, Housing Costs, Parks & Recreation, Property Tax, Proximity to NYC, Safety, Schools, Proximity to Water, Nightlife, Shopping, and Downtown.
Though the Village boasts these shopping centers, there is in fact only one actual shopping area. Other stores of spread throughout the village, but with the exception of grocery shopping most residents leave the Village to shop. The local trade has been a topic of hot debate in local government meetings, but little has changed and there is not much to attract shoppers from outside communities.
provides commuter rail service to Grand Central Terminal
in New York City or Croton-Harmon
and Poughkeepsie
via the Metro-North Railroad's
Hudson Line
. The Bee-Line Bus System
provides bus service to Ossining on routes 11, 13, 13B, 14, and 19. NY Waterway
also operates a ferry between Ossining and Haverstraw
in Rockland County
during the rush hour
s.
, which was in the list of the country’s top 250 best schools in the year 2000, offers students a variety of enrichment opportunities, including two high school programs which offer college level courses. One of these is a free program of advanced placement courses, the other offers college credit courses under the supervision of Syracuse University
.
Ossining High School's former mascot and team name was the Indian however it is represented by the letter O, and does not have a mascot after the Riverhawk was disliked by many after it was discovered by students that the Riverhawk is actually a flower (see Iris (genus)) and not a bird. This is still the subject of controversy today, and many students still wear old Indians jerseys and wear the headdress to games and pep rallies.
There is a satellite campus of the Westchester Community College
, and in nearby Briarcliff Manor
and Pleasantville
there is Pace University
.
The main reading room of Ossining's library is named in honor of longtime Ossining resident, Pulitzer Prize
-winning author John Cheever
. When Cheever died, the flags on Ossining's public buildings were lowered for 10 days.
Ossining is also the home of the worldwide Maryknoll
Catholic missions, as well as the site of the Crotonville Institute, the famous General Electric
leadership training facility, founded in 1956.
's TV series Mad Men
, Ossining is home to lead character Don Draper
and his family, and remains the home of his ex wife, Betty, and their children through much of season 4, they later move to Rye.
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
, New York, United States. The population was 25,060 at the 2010 census. As a village, it is located in the Town of Ossining
Ossining (town), New York
Ossining is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 37,674 at the 2010 census. It contains two villages, the Village of Ossining and part of Briarcliff Manor, the rest of which is located in the Town of Mount Pleasant....
.
Geography
Ossining borders the eastern shores of the widest part of the Hudson RiverHudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.4 km2), of which, 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) of it is land and 3.1 square miles (8.1 km2) of it (49.37%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,010 people, 8,227 households, and 5,339 families residing in the village. The population density was 7,464.8 people per square mile (2,879.0/km2). There were 8,515 housing units at an average density of 2,647.4 per square mile (1,021.0/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 51.26% White, 17.87% Black or African AmericanRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.12% Native American, 3.28% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 5.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.08% of the population.
There were 8,227 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the village the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 39.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 117.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $52,185, and the median income for a family was $60,179. Males had a median income of $40,412 versus $36,975 for females. The per capita income for the village was $25,036. About 7.6% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
In 1838 Benjamin BrandrethBenjamin Brandreth
Benjamin Brandreth was a pioneer in the early use of mass advertising to build consumer awareness of his product, a purgative that allegedly cured many ills by purging toxins out of the blood...
built a manufacturing facility for his Vegetable Universal Pills which became one of the most successful patent medicines in the United States. Brandreth's business became very successful and his firm was at one point the nation's leading proprietary advertiser. Brandreth became President of the village for many years.
Due to the history of the village, a number of Ossining structures are on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, and the downtown shopping area is listed as the Downtown Ossining Historic District
Downtown Ossining Historic District
The Downtown Ossining Historic District is located at the central crossroads of Ossining, New York, United States, and the village's traditional business district known as the Crescent. Among its many late 19th- and early 20th-century commercial buildings are many of the village's major...
. In addition, the Sparta neighborhood has been designated a local historic district. Ossining’s role in New York’s heritage has been recognized by its inclusion, as one of only 14 areas, in an Urban Cultural Park System designed to attract visitors to the State.
Present day Ossining is a vital community with a vast range in types of housing, from the very modest to the luxurious estates, and a diversified population enjoying a healthy racial and religious mix. The Village of Ossining is situated within 3 square miles (8 km²) and according to the U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000 census 24,010 reside in this historic village on the Hudson River.
Ossining is ranked the No.2 best community to live in Westchester by Westchester Magazine, based on criteria such as Diversity, Housing Costs, Parks & Recreation, Property Tax, Proximity to NYC, Safety, Schools, Proximity to Water, Nightlife, Shopping, and Downtown.
Shopping
The Village boasts shopping centers;individual stores, and a historic crescent shaped downtown shopping area, which includes a variety of restaurants. The Arcadian Shopping Center contains banks, restaurants, a pharmacy, a supermarket, which caters to a variety of food needs, and stores for home decorating, gifts, toys and many other items. Additionally, the shopping center recently became home to a satellite campus of the Westchester Community College.Though the Village boasts these shopping centers, there is in fact only one actual shopping area. Other stores of spread throughout the village, but with the exception of grocery shopping most residents leave the Village to shop. The local trade has been a topic of hot debate in local government meetings, but little has changed and there is not much to attract shoppers from outside communities.
Recreation
Ossining has an extensive recreational program for all age groups, including a summer day camp for local children. Students and adults enjoy classes, trips, sports and other activities throughout the year. There are programs especially designed for senior citizens such as swimming, art and dance. There is a publicly owned boat and canoe club and boat launching ramp, and two private marinas.Transportation
The Ossining train stationOssining (Metro-North station)
The Ossining Metro-North Railroad station serves residents of Ossining, New York via the Hudson Line and is one of four express stations on that line south of Croton–Harmon seeing most trains minus peak hour trains to/from Poughkeepsie. Trains leave for New York City every 25 to 35 minutes on...
provides commuter rail service to Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
in New York City or Croton-Harmon
Croton-Harmon (Metro-North station)
The Croton–Harmon Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Croton-on-Hudson, New York via the Hudson Line. It is the main transfer point between the Hudson Line's local and express service, and it is also served by almost all Amtrak trains on the line. Metro-North trains leave for New...
and Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (Metro-North station)
The Poughkeepsie Metro-North Railroad station serves Poughkeepsie, New York and surrounding areas as the north end of the Hudson Line. It is also served by many Amtrak trains, which continue north to Albany and points beyond, and south to New York City's Pennsylvania Station. Trains leave for New...
via the Metro-North Railroad's
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
Hudson Line
Hudson Line (Metro-North)
Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line is a commuter rail line running north from New York City along the east shore of the Hudson River. Metro-North service ends at Poughkeepsie, with Amtrak's Empire Corridor trains continuing north to and beyond Albany...
. The Bee-Line Bus System
Bee-Line Bus System
The Bee-Line Bus System, branded on the buses in lowercase as the bee-line system, is a bus system serving Westchester County, New York. The system is owned by the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation and operated, on contract , by Yonkers-based Liberty Lines Transit, Inc...
provides bus service to Ossining on routes 11, 13, 13B, 14, and 19. NY Waterway
NY Waterway
NY Waterway, or New York Waterway, is a private transportation company running ferry and bus service in the Port of New York and New Jersey and in the Hudson Valley...
also operates a ferry between Ossining and Haverstraw
Haverstraw (village), New York
Haverstraw is a village in the town of Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Congers; southeast of West Haverstraw; east of Garnerville, New York; northeast of New City and west of the Hudson River at its widest point...
in Rockland County
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
during the rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
s.
Community services
The fire department and the ambulance corps, which includes an Advance Life Support Program, are made up of volunteers. There are services for seniors ranging from a nutritional program to club activities and trips. Open Door Family Medical Centers has a sliding fee structure based on patient income. The Community Action Program (CAP) actively supports the interests of minorities and the poor, and the Interfaith Council for Action (IFCA) is involved in the rehabilitation of housing. The Ossining Historical Society Museum contains a wealth of information about the community and is staffed with knowledgeable and helpful volunteers. A unique edition of the history of the Jewish community of Ossining is available at the Ossining Historical Society Museum and the Ossining Public Library. In addition, there are many other numerous volunteer organizations that serve the community.Education
In addition to Ossining’s public schools, there are three parochial schools in the area that include kindergarten through eighth grade. The Ossining High SchoolOssining High School
Ossining High School is public high school, located in Ossining, New York, colloquially known as OHS. Its building is located within the boundaries of the Downtown Ossining Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989....
, which was in the list of the country’s top 250 best schools in the year 2000, offers students a variety of enrichment opportunities, including two high school programs which offer college level courses. One of these is a free program of advanced placement courses, the other offers college credit courses under the supervision of Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
.
Ossining High School's former mascot and team name was the Indian however it is represented by the letter O, and does not have a mascot after the Riverhawk was disliked by many after it was discovered by students that the Riverhawk is actually a flower (see Iris (genus)) and not a bird. This is still the subject of controversy today, and many students still wear old Indians jerseys and wear the headdress to games and pep rallies.
There is a satellite campus of the Westchester Community College
Westchester Community College
Westchester Community College is a public, two-year community college in Valhalla, New York, sponsored by Westchester County, New York, and the State University of New York . The college is one of 30 community colleges affiliated with SUNY....
, and in nearby Briarcliff Manor
Briarcliff Manor, New York
Briarcliff Manor is a village in Westchester County in the state of New York. It is shared between the towns of Mount Pleasant and Ossining, and lies entirely within the ZIP code of 10510...
and Pleasantville
Pleasantville, New York
Pleasantville is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 7,019 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Pleasantville is home to a campus of Pace University and to the Jacob Burns Film Center...
there is Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
.
Ossining Public Library
The Ossining Public Library, originally chartered in 1893 as the Sing Sing Public Library, serves the residents of the Village and Town of Ossining, and parts of Briarcliff Manor, Yorktown, and New Castle. The current collections of the library include over 110,000 books, 25,000 non-print items, and 300 newspaper and magazine titles. As a charter member of the 38-member Westchester Library System, the Ossining Public Library can also offer its patrons access to the 1 million+ holdings of the other county libraries. An ambitious ($15.8 million) building program was started in 2005 to replace its 1960s-era facility with a new 48000 square feet (4,459.3 m²) building. The new Ossining Public Library opened in March, 2007 and added many new or enhanced services, including over 50 public Internet terminals, a 250-seat theater, an art gallery, a cafe, and the county's first radio frequency (RFID) circulation system.The main reading room of Ossining's library is named in honor of longtime Ossining resident, Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning author John Cheever
John Cheever
John William Cheever was an American novelist and short story writer. He is sometimes called "the Chekhov of the suburbs." His fiction is mostly set in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the Westchester suburbs, old New England villages based on various South Shore towns around Quincy,...
. When Cheever died, the flags on Ossining's public buildings were lowered for 10 days.
Notable buildings
Ossining is known as the home of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, one of the most famous prisons in New York State.Ossining is also the home of the worldwide Maryknoll
Maryknoll
Maryknoll is a name shared by three organizations that are part of the Roman Catholic Church and whose joint focus is on the overseas mission activity of the Catholic Church in the United States...
Catholic missions, as well as the site of the Crotonville Institute, the famous General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
leadership training facility, founded in 1956.
In fiction
In seasons 1–3 of AMCAMC (TV network)
AMC is a cable television specialty channel that primarily airs movies, along with a limited amount of original programming. The letters originally stood for American Movie Classics; however since 2002, the full name has been deemphasized as a result of a major shift in programming...
's TV series Mad Men
Mad Men
Mad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, Ossining is home to lead character Don Draper
Don Draper
Donald "Don" Draper is a fictional character and the protagonist of AMC's television series Mad Men. He is portrayed by 2008 Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm. Until the third season finale, Draper was Creative Director of Manhattan advertising firm Sterling Cooper...
and his family, and remains the home of his ex wife, Betty, and their children through much of season 4, they later move to Rye.