Purchase, New York facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Purchase
Hamlet
Purchase Location in New York
Country	United States
State	New York
County	Westchester
Town	Harrison
Named for	John Harrison's purchase
Population  (2014)
• Total	5,391
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	10577

Purchase is a small community called a hamlet in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of Harrison.

A popular story says that Purchase got its name from a deal made by John Harrison. He was allowed to claim as much land as he could ride across in one day. Today, Purchase is known for being home to important colleges like State University of New York at Purchase and Manhattanville College. It is also one of the wealthiest communities on the East Coast.

History of Purchase

In 1695, a man named John Harrison, who was a Quaker from Flushing, bought a large piece of land from the local Native Americans. This land was about nine miles long and three miles wide. The Native Americans kept the right to use certain trees for making canoes.

Many Quaker families came to live in this new area. They called it "Harrison's Purchase" or simply "The Purchase." This is how the community got its name, and it is still known as Purchase, NY, today. A Quaker meeting house, which is a place for worship, was built there in 1727.

In 1967, about 200 residents of Purchase wanted their community to become its own separate town. This was to prevent large companies from building there. In response, officials from the Town of Harrison tried to make Harrison a city. This was an effort to stop Purchase from leaving the town.

Historic Places in Purchase

Purchase has many interesting historic sites. The grave of Revolutionary War General Thomas Thomas is located on the land of SUNY Purchase. This land was once a dairy farm called Strathglass Farms.

The Quaker Friends Meeting house was first built in the 1700s. The original building was destroyed by fire, but the current one is a careful copy. Before the main office of Pepsi was built, the Blind Brook Polo Club was on that same spot. The famous pilot Amelia Earhart even flew her plane from these polo grounds.

Over the last 30 years, many old colonial homes and natural forests have been replaced by new houses. The Old Oaks Country Club was originally a grand house called 'Hill Crest'. It was built in the late 1880s by a wealthy man named Trenor Luther Park. His father, Trenor William Park, was also a very successful businessman. He helped fund the Panama Railway and was involved in the California Gold Rush.

In 1974, Reid Hall, Manhattanville College was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.

Economy and Business in Purchase

Purchase is home to the main offices of several big companies. These include Mastercard, PepsiCo, Atlas Air, and its part-company Polar Air Cargo. Other companies like Central National-Gottesman and Teladoc Health also have their main offices here. Pernod Ricard has offices in Purchase as well.

Lenovo, a computer company, used to have its U.S. main office in Purchase. However, in 2006, the company moved to Morrisville, North Carolina.

The average income for families in Purchase is very high, around $352,000. The area's ZIP Code (10577) is ranked as one of the wealthiest in the United States.

In the summer of 2018, the TV show The Sinner filmed a lot of its second season in Purchase. The Cobble Stone Restaurant was one of the places featured in the show.

Education in Purchase

Purchase offers various educational options for students.

Public Schools in Purchase

Purchase School is the local elementary school for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Harrison Central School District.

Harrison High School is the local high school. It offers the IB Diploma Programme, which is a special program for advanced students. Harrison High School is the only high school run by the Harrison Central School District. It serves all students in the Town of Harrison, including those from different economic backgrounds. In 2010, the leader of the Harrison Central School District, Louis N. Wool, was named Superintendent of the Year in New York State.

Private Schools in Purchase

Keio Academy of New York, a Japanese international boarding school, is located in Purchase. Students live at this school while they study.

Colleges and Universities in Purchase

Purchase is a center for higher education. It is home to the State University of New York at Purchase and Manhattanville University. The Westchester Campus of Fordham University, a private jesuit research university, is also located here. Keio University also runs a high school called Keio Academy of New York in the area.

Media and Culture in Purchase

Purchase is known for the Purchase Community House (PCH). This center hosts the Purchase Day Camp (PDC) during the summer. It also offers after-school activities throughout the rest of the year. The PCH property has four swimming pools and many sports fields. The Purchase Free Library is also located on the PCH property.

The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at the PepsiCo headquarters is a beautiful outdoor art collection. The Neuberger Museum of Art at Purchase College is another important art collection in the community.

During the 1980s, Purchase hosted a festival called Pepsico Summerfare. This festival was famous for its opera performances. Today, SUNY Purchase continues to produce two operas each year.

Notable People

• Hassan Abbas, a scholar and professor
• Skylar Brandt, a ballet dancer
• Kenneth Cole, a fashion designer
• Eddy Curry, a former professional basketball player
• James Badge Dale, an actor
• Joe Girardi, a former professional baseball player and manager
• Sunny Hostin, a lawyer and TV host
• Alfred A. Knopf Sr., a book publisher
• Indra Nooyi, a business executive
• Scott Shannon, a radio disc jockey
• Regina Spektor, a singer and songwriter who went to Purchase College
• Sy Sternberg, a business executive
• Herman Tarnower, a heart doctor and author

See also

In Spanish: Purchase (Nueva York) para niños