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Welcome to Katonah, one of America’s most charming hamlets, located at the northeastern corner of New York’s Westchester County.

As you discover Katonah, walk along our village green and enjoy over 30 examples of Victorian-era homes. Stroll our quaint village streets, shop in unique stores or share a meal in a cozy restaurant. While you are here, visit the Katonah Museum of Art, enjoy a summer concert at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts or take a tour of historic John Jay Homestead. If you prefer, hike, camp or spend a day bird watching in the over 6,200 wilderness acres protected by the many nature preserves around Katonah.

Our historic downtown is the result of the actions of Katonah villagers over 100 years ago. In the 1890s, the people of Katonah learned that their town had been condemned by the City of New York Water Supply, which was building a dam that would flood the town. Rather than abandoning their beloved hamlet, the people of Katonah hoisted their houses and stores up on soaped rollers and harnessed them to draft horses. Over 50 buildings were relocated over the next fifteen years and now make up the heart of our villages.

Today we are enjoying our second hundred years in this beautiful place, built on the commitment to community – the true spirit of Katonah. We look forward to sharing that spirit with you, as you discover Katonah.

 


At A Glance

Settled: “Old” Katonah: 1680; “New” Katonah: 1897
Location: The Hamlet of Katonah located in the northeastern corner of Westchester County, New York. It is one of three hamlets comprising the Township of Bedford.
Area: The Hamlet of Katonah comprises .8 square miles within the Township of Bedford (totaling 39.3 square miles).
Zip Code: 10536
Population: 1,679 in the Hamlet of Katonah; 17,335 in the Township of Bedford (2010 U.S. Census)
School System: Katonah is part of the Katonah-Lewisboro School System. Schoolchildren attend Katonah Elementary School or Increase Miller Elementary School. Both schools feed into John Jay Middle School and John Jay High School. In addition, Katonah is home to one private school, The Harvey School.
Government: TOB TownSealKatonah, Bedford Hills and Bedford Village are all governed by the Town of Bedford, a five member board, made up of the Supervisor and four Town Board members elected at large. The Town Board functions as the legislative body of the Town and is responsible for the “health, safety and welfare” of its residents. The town government handles such matters as public safetyparkingtown parks and recreational programsbuilding permitsroad maintenance and the Town’s Recycling Center.

The Town of Bedford’s departments are located at 425 Cherry Street, Bedford Hills. Office hours are weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fire Department: Katonah Volunteer Fire Department
Emergency Services: Katonah-Bedford Hills Volunteer Ambulance Corps.


History

Katonah is one of three hamlets within the township of Bedford, New York. Once populated by Native American tribes, the area began to be settled by Europeans in 1680. By 1812, some families were moving down the banks of the Cross River, just above its entrance into Croton River. Squire Wood and John Burr Whitlock set up a mill there and “Whitlockville” came into being.


Whitlockville was a thriving village in 1847, when the railroad pushed its tracks north and attracted business a scant mile to the east. In 1852, this new hamlet was named Katonah in honor of Chief Katonah from whom the land of Bedford had originally been bought by a group of English colonists. The community began to boom with the arrival of train transport. Up until this point, its people were predominantly farmers. With trains, villagers could send perishable produce to New York City. In the 1880’s, dairying grew enormously with two carloads of milk being shipped daily. Livestock waiting for delivery in pens at the railroad station were a common sight. The gristmill in Whitlockville became an iron foundry before becoming an optical factory. A silk mill in Katonah wove ribbons and commercial shirtmaking in the home moved every woman to demand a sewing-machine. A more enjoyable employment for the housewife was the entertaining of summer boarders. Even the well-to-do took in visitors and season after season, the countryside came alive with cycling parties, croquet games, hayrides, fishing, hunting, horseracing and boating.

Moving to the New Katonah

New York City’s “thirst,” however, changed all of this. New York City purchased land for its reservoir system, planning to flood Whitlockville and Katonah villages to make way for the new Croton Dam. Instead of dispersing, these enterprising villagers in 1895 carefully planned a new village that combined residential and commercial areas. Some chose to bring their buildings with them, moving houses, barns and stores over a track made of long timbers and pulled by horses. All in all, 55 buildings were moved in 15 years.

With its new location, Katonah also had a new look. Dairying was no longer the primary industry as more farmers began to sell their land to New York City and White Plains residents for their “summer places.” The population of 312 that Whitlockville had in 1865 has grown to more than 1,600 today.

Katonah’s Historic District, listed in the National registers of Historic Places, encompasses the Bedford Road area, a section of the hamlet designed by landscape architects, G.S. and B.S. Olmstead. Many of the originally moved homes are found along the broad tree-lined residential street of Bedford Road, which parallels the business area of Katonah Avenue where two and three story Victorian buildings are now stores and offices.

Come explore Katonah’s fascinating past by taking the Katonah Village Improvement Society’s walking tour through the charming historic commercial and residential districts. Be sure along your walk to stop in the Katonah Village Library to view old photographs and artifacts.

For an excellent depiction of early Katonah, also check out Frances R. Duncombe’s Katonah: The History of a New York Village and its People available at Kelloggs & Lawrence and Charles Department Store.

Photos courtesy of the Katonah Village Library.


Open Sundays

More and more Katonah businesses, attractions and restaurants are staying open on Sundays for your convenience. Visit Katonah on Sundays and take advantage of an extra day of enjoying and relaxing in our town. Parking is free on weekends in Lot #1 adjacent to the Katonah Train Station, in Lot #2 behind Katonah Avenue and in Lot #3 on Woods Bridge Road.

Katonah Chamber of Commerce

info@katonahchamber.org
PO Box 389, Katonah, NY 10536
www.katonahchamber.org

The Katonah Chamber of Commerce is a 501c3 Not for Profit that has promoted the vitality of Katonah's community and commerce since 1949. Copyright © 2024
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