Port Chester

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Port Chester
—  Village  —
Port Chester Location within the state of New York
Coordinates: 41°0′18″N 73°40′8″W / 41.005°N 73.66889°W / 41.005; -73.66889
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Westchester
Area
- Total	2.5 sq mi (6.4 km2)
- Land	2.4 sq mi (6.1 km2)
- Water	0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	27,867
- Density	11,824.7/sq mi (4,565.5/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	10573
Area code(s)	914
FIPS code	36-59223
GNIS feature ID	0977392

Summerfield United Methodist Church

In 1906

Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the Town of Rye. According to the 2006 Census estimate, Port Chester had a population of 28,300.

Port Chester is one of only twelve villages in New York still incorporated under a charter, the other villages having incorporated or re-incorporated under the provisions of Village Law.^[1]

Geography

Port Chester is located at 41°0′18″N 73°40′8″W / 41.005°N 73.66889°W / 41.005; -73.66889 (41.005099, -73.668822)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²), of which, 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (5.22%) is water.

History

See also: The History of the Town of Rye

Early settlement

In 1660, three settlers from Greenwidge (now Greenwich, Connecticut), Thomas Studwell, John Coe, and Peter Disbrow, arranged to buy Manursing Island and the land near the Byram River from the Mohegan Indians. The land that they bought is now Port Chester. The village was originally known as Saw Pit for the saw pits which were in use during the time. Logs were cut in holes in the ground for wood to be used for shipbuilding. The name of Sawpit was used for the first time in 1732. The village eventually outgrew this name and became Port Chester by incorporating as a village in 1868. When Port Chester was first incorporated, it was considered a major seaport.

In 1665, Sawpit was claimed by both New York and Connecticut. However, the land was given back to the New York Colony by Connecticut in 1683. This struggle over the ownership of Sawpit continued for almost 105 years. In 1788, the Legislature of New York ruled that Sawpit was a part of the Town of Rye in New York.

Travel was considered dangerous in the early years of Sawpit as good roads were hard to find. The Boston Post Road, King Street, and Grace Church Streets are some of the early migration paths in the Sawpit/Town of Rye settlement. Other roads were usually dirt which made transportation via water important. The local waterways, the Byram River and the Long Island Sound were a key part of the growth and development of Sawpit/Port Chester. Early residents took part in boat building, farming, and shell fishing.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 27,867 people, 9,531 households, and 6,376 families residing in the city. The population density was 11,824.7 people per square mile (4,559.1/km²). There were 9,772 housing units at an average density of 4,146.5/sq mi (1,598.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.70% White, 6.99% African American, 0.40% Native American, 2.06% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 22.98% from other races, and 6.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46.23% of the population.

There were 9,531 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $45,381, and the median income for a family was $51,025. Males had a median income of $32,848 versus $32,461 for females. The per capita income for the village was $ About 10.1% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Port Chester has many Latino immigrants, in contrast to surrounding towns, such as Rye, Harrison, Mamaroneck, and especially Greenwich, Connecticut which are known for high-income Caucasian populations. Greenwich, which directly borders Port Chester to the east, is one of the wealthiest municipalities in the United States. Mostly thanks to blue-collar business, Port Chester has become a commercial center in recent years. Business grew rapidly with the opening of a Costco branch and "The Waterfront", a large shopping center and movie theater on Main Street and Westchester Avenue. The Waterfront Complex has been in the works since 1982, when the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) began planning for the redevelopment of this area. The IDA was formed in the early 1970s by then Mayor, Joseph Dzaluk. Unfortunately for Port Chester's economy, the development of the downtown area would not take place for almost another 20 years.

• The Life Savers Candy Company operated a factory in Port Chester from 1920 until 1984. The building, now apartments, is one of Port Chester's prominent landmarks.^{[citation needed]}
• Port Chester is the home of Hubba's, known for its Chili Cheesedogs and Hubba Water.
• National Collector's Mint is headquartered there.

Fire Department

Port Chester is protected by a combination professional and volunteer fire department that operates out of four fire stations throughout the village. The Port Chester Fire Department(Volunteer) operates a fire apparatus fleet of five engines, two trucks, one rescue, two utility units, and three command cars. The Port Chester Fire Department(Professional) operates an apparatus fleet of two engines that each share two fire station with the volunteers. The PCFD responds to, on average, around 1,000 emergency calls annually

Fire Stations and Apparatus

• Fire Headquarters-Fire Station # 1-Harry Howard Hook and Ladder Co. 1/Reliance Engine and Hose Co. 1/Port Chester Fire Patrol Co. 1
  • Engine 58(Professional)
  • Engine 60
  • Ladder 31
  • Tower Ladder 2
  • Rescue 40
  • Utility Units
• Fire Station's # 2 and # 3-Putnam Engine and Hose Co. 2/Mellor Engine and Hose Co. 3
  • Engine 61
  • Engine 63
• Fire Station # 4-Washington Engine and Hose Co. 4
  • Engine 59(Professional)
  • Engine 64
• Fire Station # 5-Brooksville Engine and Hose Co. 5
  • Engine 62

Transportation

The Port Chester train station provides commuter rail service to Grand Central Terminal in New York City or Stamford and New Haven-Union Station via the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line. The Bee-Line Bus System provides bus service to Port Chester on routes 13, 61, and 76, and CT Transit Stamford Division provides bus service to Port Chester on routes 11A and 11B.

Education

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Within the city's borders, there is one public school district, the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District.

Enrollment:

• Port Chester Senior High School 1,164
• Port Chester Middle School 867
• John F. Kennedy Magnet School 659
• Thomas Edison Elementary School 623
• Park Avenue Elementary School 614
• King Street Elementary School 607

Port Chester Senior High School History

The high school was built in 1933 on the grounds of what was once the Port Chester Country Club. The initial stages of planning involved acquiring 23 acres of land at a cost of $175,000. The architects, Tooker and Marsh, designed a structure to cost in the vicinity of $1,000,000. Although work began in 1930, occupancy did not take place until February 1932, with the first full graduation exercise taking place in June 1933. The size of the building was in itself astounding. A total of 140,000 square feet was thought to be adequate. Included was a gymnasium measuring 94 by 72 feet, an auditorium seating 1250 persons, 38 classrooms, a library, two study halls, and four shops. A model apartment for the homemaking class and a student cafeteria, and kitchen were also provided. Looking at the exterior, the villagers saw a tower rising 135 feet and faced with a clock seven feet in diameter. An electric master clock synchronizing all individual clocks in the building was also installed. complete radio equipment and an electric fire alarm system completed the plans. A slate and copper roof accentuated the beauty of the Harvard-type brick exterior. The high school is indeed an outstanding masterpiece of design even though it was built in an era of austerity. Despite frequent updating such as new lighting systems and advanced equipment, the past lingers charmingly on. Were our school rebuilt today in (1963)and renovated in 2006-2009, it is estimated that it's cost would be more than three times as much. The motto, so aptly inscribed over the entrance doors, is as timely today as it always was and forever more will be: "TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE ARE THE FRUITS OF LEARNING".

The Port Chester High School's Marching Band is widely renowned and competes in the Musical Arts Conference, USSBA, and in the New York State Field Band Conference. They had appearances in the movies Spiderman 3, and Miracle on 34th Street (1994 film) and have performed in the 2003 Orange Bowl as well as the Disney World Festival of Lights. The band is directed by Robert Vitti who has been a notable alumni of the school, former president of the band, former captain of the football team, and renowned percussionist. The band's history stretches back over 60 years when it was headed by Captain Ken Force who implemented a military style of discipline, which the band holds to this day. Force created a system of marching and the uniforms, which are based on the uniforms of British Marines. The band retains its slogan of being "The Pride of Port Chester".

Port Chester also offers many sports teams including football, baseball, basketball, track, cross country, bowling and soccer;

Football (records by season):

• 2008:2-8
• 2007:0-10
• 2006:2-6
• 2005:3-7
• 2004:3-6
• 2003:4-4
• 2002:6-2 Section 1 Class A East League Champions
• 2001:Semi Finals
• 2000:Semi Finals
• 1999:Semi Finals
• 1998:Semi Finals
• 1997:
• 1996:
• 1995:Section 1 Class B league Champions
• 1994:Section 1 Class B league Champions
• 1993:
• 1992:Section 1 Class B league Champions
• 1991:
• 1990:
• 1989:
• 1988:
• 1987:

Basketball:

• 2008-09:2-3
• 2007-08:18-6 Section 1 Class A Conference II League South League Champions, Section 1 Class A Finals
• 2006-07:11-11 Section 1 Class A Conference Semi-Finals
• 2005-06:18-5 Section 1 Class A Conference II League B League Champions, Section 1 Class A Finals
• 2004-05:20-2 Section 1 Class A Conference II League B League Champions, Section 1 Class A Finals
• 2003-04:
• 2002-03: Section 1 Class A Conference II league Champions

Baseball:

• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• 1999
• 1998
• 1997
• 1996 Section 1 Class A League Champions

Legal challenges to Port Chester's electoral system

To enforce the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the United States Department of Justice brought a lawsuit in 2006 to compel the village government to change from its present allegedly racially discriminatory at-large electoral system to one that is district-based. This lawsuit would halt the scheduled March 2007 elections until the village develops an acceptable plan. In its December 15, 2006 complaint the Justice Department alleged that, "the current at-large system for electing members of the Port Chester Board of Trustees results in Hispanic citizens having less opportunity than white citizens to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of their choice to the Port Chester Board of Trustees." (United States v. Village of Port Chester 6 Civil 15173) Local Latino activist Cesar Ruiz, NYS Assemblyman Peter Rivera and Angelo Falcón, President of the National Institute for Latino Policy held a news conference on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday (January 15, 2007) to display support for the Justice Department's lawsuit and the need to reform the village's electoral system.

The Village Board of Trustees passed a resolution on December 4, 2006 expressing its disagreement with the Department of Justice's decision that the village must reform its election system, claiming that the problem was not discrimination but rather "apathy" in the Hispanic community. Federal authorities believe that the Village's "at large" voting system denies Hispanics representation on the board of trustees and the board of education. According to Reuters, "All voters in town elect each board member, whereas dividing the town into six electoral districts would give Hispanics a majority in at least one of them because they are largely concentrated in one area of town, the suit said." Although Latinos make up 46 percent of Port Chester's population, no Latinos had ever been elected to their Board of Trustees or local school board.

On March 2, 2007, a federal court judge ruled in favor of the Department of Justice and placed an injunction on the March trustee elections scheduled to take place. This ruling did not affect the mayoral election, but it will result in Port Chester being broken down into election districts.

Redevelopment area controversy

In 1999, the Village of Port Chester established a "redevelopment area" and relegated regulatory authority within that area to private developer Gregory Wasser (from G&S Port Chester, LLC), including power to condemn private property.^{[4] [5]} The decision has spawned several lawsuits, including Brody v. Village of Port Chester ^[6], and Didden v. Village of Port Chester. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Notable residents and natives

• Jon Alpert, reporter and documentary filmmaker
• Nick Bianco, Amateur motocross racer
• Elliot del Borgo, American composer
• Edson Buddle, MLS player
• Arnold Diaz, journalist for Fox 5 News
• Meaghan Francella, LPGA player
• George Gallo, Screenwriter and filmmaker
• Arnold Gamson, conductor
• Andre Roy, NHL player
• Ed Sullivan, entertainer; attended Port Chester High School and frequently had the PCHS Football team as guests in his audience
• Peter J. Vita, holder of the world record for the longest working career as a barber
• E.L. Konigsburg, Author, illustrator, Newbery Award winner
• Frank E. "Lank" Leonard, cartoonist and creator of the "Mickey Finn" comic strip
• Paul Costa, Profesional Football Player
• Carl Schmehl, Professional Baseball player

References

External links

• Port Chester official website
• Port Chester Fire Department unofficial website
• The Journal News, the local newspaper
• Your Port Chester Snapshot, a website for the citizens of Port Chester
• School district

• The Town of Rye official website

• Port Chester, New York is at coordinates 41°00′18″N 73°40′08″W / 41.005099°N 73.668822°W / 41.005099; -73.668822 (Port Chester, New York)Coordinates: 41°00′18″N 73°40′08″W / 41.005099°N 73.668822°W / 41.005099; -73.668822 (Port Chester, New York)

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