Millwood, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Millwood, New York
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 Millwood, New York
Location in New York
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Westchester |
| Town | New Castle |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 1,210 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 914 |
Millwood is a small community called a hamlet in New York. It is located in Westchester County, within the town of New Castle. In the year 2000, about 1,210 people lived here.
Millwood was first known as Sarlesville. On old maps from the 1800s, parts of Millwood were called Merritt's Corners and Rockdale Mills. Merritt's Corners is now where two main roads, NY 100 and NY 120, meet.
A famous person, Vanessa Williams, who was Miss America in 1984, grew up in Millwood. She is also an actress and singer.
A historic building called Sarles' Tavern, also known as Granite House, was added to the list of important places in 1979.
Contents
Learning in Millwood: Schools and Education
Most students in Millwood attend schools in the Chappaqua Central School District. This district has several schools for different age groups.
Elementary and Middle Schools
For younger students, there are elementary schools like Roaring Brook, Westorchard, and Douglas Grafflin. After elementary school, students go to middle schools such as Seven Bridges and Robert E. Bell. Most Millwood students attend Westorchard for elementary school and Seven Bridges for middle school.
Horace Greeley High School
Older students from Millwood go to Horace Greeley High School. This high school is well-known for its strong academics. More than 94% of students who graduate from Horace Greeley High School go on to attend four-year colleges.
Getting Around: Roads and Transportation
Millwood has important roads that connect it to other towns and cities. These roads help people travel for work, school, and fun.
Major Highways in Millwood
- The Taconic State Parkway goes north towards Albany and south towards Hawthorne.
- NY Route 100 travels north to Somers and south to Yonkers.
- NY Route 133 goes east to Mount Kisco and west to Ossining.
- NY Route 120 ends in Millwood and goes south to Rye.
Millwood's Train History
Millwood once had its own train station. This station was part of the Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad. The last passenger train ran on this line in 1958. Freight trains stopped running in 1962, and the train tracks were removed.
The original station building burned down in 1888. A baggage car was used as the station for a while. Later, in 1910, an old station building from Briarcliff Manor was moved to Millwood. This station building was taken down in 2012. Today, the old train path is a popular bicycle and pedestrian path.
Closest Train Station Today
The closest train station for Millwood residents today is the Chappaqua station. It is part of the Metro-North Railroad's Harlem Line.
Millwood Fire Department: Protecting the Community
The Millwood Fire Department is made up of volunteers who work hard to keep the community safe from fires and other emergencies.
How the Fire Department Started
The idea for the Millwood Fire Department began in 1924. A legend says that lightning struck the Millwood train station, causing a big fire. Local people tried to put it out, but they didn't have the right tools or enough people. The Chappaqua fire department had to come help. This event showed everyone how important it was for Millwood to have its own quick-response fire department. Soon after, about a dozen families met to start the Millwood Fire Company.
Building the First Firehouse
The first firehouse, called Station #1, was built on Route 120. The people who started the Fire Company gave money and asked others in the community for donations. Many residents who were carpenters and tradesmen helped build the firehouse for free. They also bought their first fire truck, a 1924 Brockway chemical pumper.
How Firefighters Are Alerted
In the early days, firefighters were called to emergencies by ringing a large bell in front of Station #1. This bell can still be seen today. Later, an air horn was used, and now an electronic siren is used.
When a fire was reported by telephone, special phones in ten different places would ring. These included Station #1, local gas stations, and the homes of fire officers. Each of these phones could sound the air horn. Today, people call 911 to report a fire. Firefighters are then alerted by portable radio pagers and an alarm at the firehouse.
Current Fire Department Operations
The Millwood Fire Company now has two locations: Station #1 on Route 120 and Station #2 on Route 134. There are about 50 volunteers who respond to over 300 calls each year.
The volunteer company has six main firefighting vehicles:
- Two Engines (E-247, E-248)
- A Tanker (T-15)
- A Ladder truck (L-52), which is also a quint (meaning it has a pump, water tank, hose, aerial ladder, and ground ladders)
- A Rescue-Engine (R-36)
- A Mini-Attack vehicle (MA-10)
- Two utility vehicles (U-44, U-145)
