Hawthorne, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hawthorne, New York
Census-designated place
Hawthorne Metro-North station, June 2016
Location of Hawthorne, New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Westchester
Town	Mount Pleasant
Area
• Total	1.10 sq mi (2.84 km2)
• Land	1.10 sq mi (2.84 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	282 ft (86 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,646
• Density	4,231.33/sq mi (1,633.07/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	10532
Area code(s)	914
FIPS code	36-32842
GNIS feature ID	0952426

Hawthorne is a small community, also called a hamlet, located in Westchester County, New York, United States. It's part of the town of Mount Pleasant. In 2020, about 4,646 people lived here.

History of Hawthorne

The area now known as Hawthorne was first called Hammond's Mills. It was part of a large estate owned by Frederick Philipse. A famous event happened here on September 23, 1780. Major John André stopped in Hammond's Mills to ask for directions. He was on his way to New York after meeting with Benedict Arnold during the American Revolutionary War.

From Unionville to Hawthorne

After the Revolutionary War, the village changed its name to Unionville. Most people living there were farmers. In 1818, the Reformed Church of Unionville was built. Later, in 1832, a one-room school house was built for the children.

In 1847, a railroad station was opened. It was part of the New York Central's Harlem Division and was also called Unionville. A post office was set up in 1851 and named Neperan, after the Native American name for the nearby Saw Mill River.

In the early 1890s, a real estate developer named Louis Smadbeck started buying farms in the area. He divided the land into smaller pieces and sold them to working and middle-class people who wanted to live outside the big city.

How Hawthorne Got Its Name

In 1901, a woman named Rose Hawthorne Lathrop founded a special home in Sherman Park (which is now Thornwood). She was also known as Mother Mary Alphonsa. She was the daughter of the famous writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. Her home, called Rosary Hill Home, cared for people suffering from incurable cancer. Mother Mary Alphonsa also started a group of nuns called the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. Soon after the cancer home opened, the hamlet was renamed Hawthorne in her honor. Rosary Hill Home is still run by the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne today.

Famous People Buried Here

Hawthorne is home to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, where many famous people are buried. These include baseball legend Babe Ruth, actor James Cagney, baseball manager Billy Martin, and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen.

Important Landmarks and Events

The Hammond House is a historic building in Hawthorne. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, meaning it's an important place to protect.

On July 12, 2006, a strong F2 tornado hit Hawthorne. It caused a lot of damage to a warehouse and minor injuries to three people. It was the strongest tornado to ever hit Westchester County.

Geography and Location

Hawthorne is located in the middle of Westchester County, New York. It covers an area of about 2.8 square kilometers (1.1 square miles), and it's all land.

Roads and Transportation

Hawthorne is bordered by Route 9A to the west and the Taconic State Parkway to the east. The Sprain Brook Parkway runs right through the middle of the community.

Along Route 9A, you'll find many business parks and plant nurseries. Commerce Street (also known as Route 141) is the main street for shops and businesses. It runs north to south, right next to the Harlem Line train tracks. You can take a train from the Hawthorne station to Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and it takes about 40 minutes.

Education for Students

Students in Hawthorne attend schools in the Mount Pleasant Central School District.

• Hawthorne Elementary School
• Columbus Elementary School (located in Thornwood)
• Westlake Middle School (located in Thornwood)
• Westlake High School (located in Thornwood)

There are also a few other schools in Hawthorne:

• The Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services runs two residential schools: the Hawthorne Cedar Knolls School and the Linden Hill High School. Both are on Linda Avenue.
• Hawthorne Country Day School is located near the border with Valhalla.

The Hawthorne Cedar Knolls School had very successful sports teams in the 1960s and 1970s. Even though they had fewer than thirty students who could play varsity sports (like football, basketball, and baseball), they won many championships in a league called the Tri-State league. They even went undefeated in all three sports and won championships in 1972-1973 and again in 1974–1975!

Emergency Services

Hawthorne has dedicated teams that help keep everyone safe.

• The Mount Pleasant Police Department provides law enforcement.
• The Hawthorne Volunteer Fire Department helps with fires and other emergencies.
• The Mount Pleasant 37 Medic provides ambulance and medical services.

• 

  Fire Department Engine 155, a 1997 Pierce Lance 1500/750

• 

  Fire Department Tower Ladder 12, a 1983 Pierce Arrow/LTI 1500/150/85 ft.

• 

  Fire Department Ladder 56, a 2008 KME Predator 2000/5000/75 ft.

• 

  Fire Department Ambulance 63-B-1, a 2004 Ford/Brawn

Population Facts

As of the census in 2000, there were 5,083 people living in Hawthorne. The population density was about 3,006 people per square mile.

The community had 1,581 households. About 35% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.97 people.

The population was spread out by age:

• 26.9% were under 18 years old.
• 14.0% were 65 years or older.

The average age in Hawthorne was 38 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Hawthorne (Nueva York) para niños