Mount Kisco, New York

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Mount Kisco (often spelled Mt. Kisco) is both a village and a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 9,983 at the 2000 census.

[edit] History

The Village of Mount Kisco was incorporated in 1875 and was partly in the towns of Bedford and New Castle. In 1978, the village chose to become a town in its own right and joins several villages in the state that have made a like choice. The Town of Mount Kisco is coterminous with the village.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 9,983 people, 3,993 households, and 2,447 families residing in the village. The population density was 3,194.0 people per square mile (1,231.5/km²). There were 4,103 housing units at an average density of 1,312.7/sq mi (506.1/km²). The large number of small businesses, retail stores, and financial and medical offices swells the daytime population to more than 20,000. The racial makeup of the village was 77.79% White, 5.99% African American, 0.28% Native American, 4.24% Asian, 9.03% from other races, and 2.67% from two or more races. 24.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,993 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 31.7% 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 2.49 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the village the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $55,420, and the median income for a family was $68,219. Males had a median income of $45,428 versus $40,040 for females. The per capita income for the village was $32,424. About 7.4% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Mt. Kisco is widely known for its diversity of economic classes and residences,ranging from newly constructed upper-class duplexs,condominiums, and townhouses, to large-scale apartment complexes and Co-ops, in addition to traditional free standing suburban homes.

[edit] Village government

The coterminous Village/Town of Mount Kisco is governed by a Mayor and four trustees (one of whom is appointed Deputy Mayor by the Mayor at the beginning of each term). They are Mount Kisco's legislative branch and are responsible for government administration, budget approval and taxes, appointing Village/Town officials and specialized board members and act as Mount Kisco's Board of Police Commissioners. The current Mayor is J. Michael Cindrich. The current Deputy Mayor is Peter DiChiara. The other Trustees are George L. Griffin, Peter Grunthal and Anthony C. Markus.

[edit] Police Service

The Village/Town of Mount Kisco Police Department has been responsible for law enforcement and investigations within Mount Kisco since 1875. It is comprised of 35 sworn members who concentrate their efforts in improving the quality of life of the public as well as implementing proactive methods of crime reduction. As a result of the Mt Kisco Police Officer's efforts, residents of Mount Kisco now enjoy a vastly improved quality of life and low crime rate. The Mt Kisco Police Department has a bicycle unit, motorcycle unit, domestic violence unit, youth bureau and a detective division.

[edit] Family Town

In April 2007, Mount Kisco was named the best family town in Westchester by InTown Magazine. InTown Magazine wrote that "while the town earns points for making the glamorous life so convenient, it’s the down-to-earth vibe that launched this woodsy hamlet to the top".

InTown Magazine also wrote that: "While there’s no shortage of big-city sophistication, Mount Kisco is a small town at heart. Unlike other Westchester ’burbs, you don’t have to be a millionaire to live here—though, with home prices averaging around $500,000, a few extra zeros in your bank account never hurt. While so much of suburbia seems set on becoming yet another version of white-picket-fence utopia, Mount Kisco has opened the doors to upscale businesses while still managing to be real. About 25 percent of the population is Hispanic, which means kids get a lesson on diversity before they ever see a classroom. And speaking of classrooms, the school district here is excellent; Newsweek put Fox Lane High School on its best list in May 2005. (Incidentally, almost 80 percent of students go on to college.) While education is one reason families plant roots here, it’s the barn-raising community spirit that keeps them grounded forever."

[edit] Commercial hub

Situated in the center of northern Westchester County, Mount Kisco is often referred to as "the commercial hub" of northern Westchester. Often, people from surrounding towns and counties come to shop at the village's array of stores. It has been said that the population of the village doubles on key shopping days.

The shopping corridors are on South Moger Avenue, Main Street/Route 117, and the site of the former Manufacturer's Outlet Center, which today houses a Target, an A&P grocery store and several small businesses that were temporarily displaced by the construction of Target and A&P. One side effect of the village's commercial viability has been its steady increase in car traffic since the mid-1990's. This is in addition to an increase in development in the surrounding towns. Congestion is a common complaint among village residents.

Recently there has been controversy over the eviction of several popular stores and eateries in the South Moger Avenue district. Raised rents forced the vacancy of Villarina's, an Italian deli, which moved to Chappaqua, due to the less expensive availability of store space. Mount Kisco Kosher, a kosher deli, moved to White Plains (the storefront space has since been replaced with an Ann Taylor, which combined the former deli's square-footage with that of the recently-departed Tanos). Sam Goody, the Woodworker's Toy Store, Round the Corner Cafe and Smilkstein's,a clothing store with everything from shoes to hats for men, women and children, based on a total 3 floors, now a Mini Mall and home to Audio Outlet, closed their doors with no relocation possible. A Bank of America replaced Sam Goody's former space, and acquired the square footage formerly occupied by Villarina's. At the center of the controversy is New York City-based Friedland Properties, which claims that it is following normal market values, while critics have alleged that it is throwing out decent stores in search for more upscale shops. Other chain stores along South Moger Avenue now include Starbucks, Banana Republic, Gap, Baby Gap, Kids Gap, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Cosi Restaurant, and a Sprint Nextel/ATT Phone Store.

Mount Kisco is also the home of the Mount Kisco Medical Group and Northern Westchester Hospital, which serve to make it the hub of healthcare in Northern Westchester County.

[edit] Famous residents

[edit] Trivia

• The well known American Girl "Samantha" possesses a house in the American Girl book series which is based upon a home on Route 133 in Mount Kisco.
• The movie Ragtime was filmed in Mount Kisco, featuring the very same house on Route 133.
• The movie Fatal Attraction had scenes filmed inside the actual Mount Kisco Police Department headquarters.
• Hillary Clinton's campaign video, a spoof of the Sopranos ending, was filmed at the Mount Kisco Diner.

[edit] See also

• Mount Kisco (Metro-North station)

[edit] References

1. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce
• InTown Westchester Magazine
• The Journal News, the local newspaper

• Mount Kisco, New York is at coordinates 41°12′15″N 73°43′50″W? / ?41.204027, -73.730458? (Mount Kisco, New York)Coordinates: 41°12′15″N 73°43′50″W? / ?41.204027, -73.730458? (Mount Kisco, New York)