Pocantico Hills, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pocantico Hills, New York
|
|
|---|---|
|
Hamlet
|
|
Pocantico Hills in Autumn
|
|
 Pocantico Hills, New York
Location in New York
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Westchester County |
| Town | Mount Pleasant |
| Elevation | 541 ft (165 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
10591
|
| Area code(s) | 914 |
Pocantico Hills is a small community, known as a hamlet, located in Westchester County, New York. It is part of the town of Mount Pleasant.
This area is well-known for being home to the famous Rockefeller family estate. This estate includes Kykuit, which was the main home of John D. Rockefeller Sr.. Right next to it, you'll find the beautiful Rockefeller State Park Preserve.
Contents
History of Pocantico Hills
Early Beginnings and Native Americans
The land where Pocantico Hills now stands was first settled by Native American tribes called the Wecquaesgeek. The name "Pocantico" comes from their language. It means "stream between two hills," which describes the winding Pocantico River that flows through the area.
Long ago, this hamlet was also part of a large estate known as Philipsburg Manor. For a time, the area was even called Beeckmantown. This name came from the Beeckman family, who lived on the highest ground in the area.
The Rockefeller Family's Influence
John D. Rockefeller, a very successful businessman, started buying land in Pocantico Hills in 1893. His family's presence would greatly shape the future of the area.
The "Old Put" Railroad and Its Changes
In 1880, a train line called "The Old Put" Railroad ran from New York City to Brewster. A part of this track, between East View and Pocantico Hills, crossed a tall, 80-foot-high bridge over a marshy valley.
Because this bridge was tricky and trains had to slow down a lot, the railroad track was moved in 1881. The old bridge was taken down in 1883, and the valley it crossed became the Tarrytown Reservoir.
The railroad line later ran right through the Rockefeller family's property. In 1928, John D. Rockefeller Jr. worked with the New York Central Railroad to move the tracks again. He paid $200,000 to have the line moved to follow the Saw Mill River.
Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture
The Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture was created in Pocantico Hills in 2003. It's a special place that teaches people about different ways to farm sustainably. This means growing food and raising animals in a way that protects the environment. The center is also home to the Blue Hill restaurant, which uses fresh ingredients grown right there on the farm.
Education in Pocantico Hills
Pocantico Hills has its own school district, called the Pocantico Hills Central School District. The main school is the Pocantico Hills School, which teaches students from kindergarten through 8th grade.
This school serves a wide area, including parts of nearby towns and villages like Sleepy Hollow, Pleasantville, Briarcliff Manor, and Elmsford. After finishing 8th grade, students from Pocantico Hills School can choose to attend high school at Sleepy Hollow, Briarcliff, or Pleasantville High School.
Churches in Pocantico Hills
Parish of the Magdalene
The Roman Catholic Parish of the Magdalene started in 1893. It began as a small mission church connected to St. Teresa of Avila parish in North Tarrytown. It was built to serve about 40 families in Pocantico Hills and Eastview. The church was officially opened in September 1895. A generous supporter of this church was James Butler, a wealthy grocery store owner from Eastview.
Union Church of Pocantico Hills
The Union Church of Pocantico Hills was built by the Rockefeller family in 1921. This church is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were created by two very famous artists: Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall.
The Matisse window was actually the last piece of art he made before he passed away in 1954. It was ordered by Nelson A. Rockefeller to honor his mother, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. She was one of the people who helped start the Museum of Modern Art.
Notable People from Pocantico Hills
- Marianne Hagan (born 1968), an actress and writer, grew up in Pocantico Hills.
- David Rockefeller (1915–2017), a well-known businessman and leader of Chase Manhattan Bank, lived and passed away in Pocantico Hills on March 20, 2017.
