New York Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Larchmont, New York

Population: 6,485

Located in Westchester County

Village of Larchmont
 Larchmont Village (only 1 square mile) has a population of about 7,000 residents, and the unincorporated Town of Mamaroneck (outside the village) has an additional 13,000 residents. Larchmont is situated less than 20 miles from New York City. "I know a village..." where a cosmopolitan citizenry has a distinct European flavor...where young and old blend into a relaxed yet sophisticated community...where people of the arts, sports enthusiasts and executives seek to live...where parks, beaches, noted private clubs and recreational facilities connote the luxurious and charming life of a waterfront community.

Recreational Facilities
A walk through Larchmont's historic waterfront "Manor Park" offers beautiful year-round scenic views of Long Island Sound. There are summer concerts outdoors at Flint Park, children's art, music and theater groups, the Larchmont Playhouse movie theater and many fine local restaurants. The Emelin Theatre for Performing Arts is located adjacent to the nearby Mamaroneck Free Library and presents over 200 performances a year of quality and diversified entertainment from jazz and classical concerts to drama and dance. This theatre accommodates an audience of 286 and is fully air-conditioned.

Educational Facilities
The Mamaroneck Union Free School District includes the Village of Larchmont, the unincorporated area of the Town of Mamaroneck and part of the Village of Mamaroneck. It has four elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and The French American School-Private School. The community has a long history of supporting quality public school education. In addition to a comprehensive academic program, the system provides enrichment, accelerated and remedial special education programs, cultural arts and music programs and physical education programs.

Houses of Worship
Include St. Augustine's Church, Sts. John & Paul Church, Beth Emeth Synagogue, Larchmont Temple, Larchmont Avenue Presbyterian Church and St. John's Episcopal Church.

History of Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Rye
The Boston Post Road, which was opened in 1672 and runs from New York City to Boston, brought many travelers and stage coaches through Larchmont. A milestone is mounted and displayed near the Larchmont Village Hall reading 21 miles from New York. Across the street and west are two old cemeteries which date back to the seventeenth century when many Quakers came to the area. Larchmont has three private boating clubs; the Larchmont Yacht Club, Larchmont Shore Club and Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club.

Rye is located east of Mamaroneck, on the Long Island Sound. It is about 32 miles north of New York City. In 1660, John Coe, Thomas Studwell and Peter Disbrow traveled from Greenwich and settled Rye. A year later, John Budd of Long Island joined them. The four men purchased all the land between the Byram and Mamaroneck Rivers and far inland from the Long Island Sound. Rye was an agricultural community and during the Revolutionary War was neutral ground when both the British and Americans entered the city. In the 1800's wealthy New Yorkers began moving into the area and building grand homes. These included Peter Augustus Jay, son of the first Supreme Court Justice John Jay, who built a Greek Revival Mansion in 1838. In 1904, Rye separated itself from the village of Port Chester and the unincorporated Town of Rye. In 1942, it became Westchester County's smallest city.

Shore Acres Point is situated in the Rye Neck section of the Mamaroneck Village bordered by two salt marshes known as the Guion and Otter Creeks. These precious wetlands are a haven for birds, waterfowl, migratory and wintering birds, small animals, fish and shellfish. Both the Guion and Otter Creeks are protected by the New York State Salt Water Wetlands Act of 1973. Greenhaven, adjacent to Shore Acres Point, is where Dutchman Theodore Van Amitrage built the first local grist mill to grind corn and, later, pumice for paints. It is here one can find Mill Pond, a 25 acre sanctuary for fish, land birds, shellfish, waterfowl and other wildlife, some of which are quite rare species.

Larchmont, which lies within the Town of Mamaroneck, has a history dating back to September 23, 1661. On that day John Richbell, a prosperous trader, acquired three necks of land on the Westchester Path from Chiefs Wappaquewam and his brother Manhatahan. Larchmont, which was the middle of the three necks of land, was purchased in 1701 by Samuel Palmer who lived there with his family until about 1790 when most of it was purchased by Peter Jay Munro, nephew of John Jay. Thomas J. S. Flint, the next owner of the property, formed the Larchmont Manor Company with the idea of developing the property into a suburban community. Larchmont Manor became home to many wealthy New Yorkers who thought of Larchmont as a summer colony. Flint reserved six acres of waterfront land and named it Larchmont Manor Park. Manor Park, which is open to the public, is one of the most scenic spots in Larchmont with breathtaking views of the Long Island Sound, Gazebo and walking path. By the late 1800's, Larchmont had begun to attract many permanent year-round residents as well as theatrical figures like Actor Michael O'Keefe, playwright Edward Albee, Jean and Walter Kerr and F.W. Proctor.

Points of Interest in Rye: Rye Beach Playland, a truly unique art deco-style amusement park on 60 acres of waterfront. Built in the 1930's, Ferry services would dock in Rye bringing visitors from New York City to the park. The Boston Post Road Historic District includes the Square House Museum, The Marshlands Conservancy, The Jay Property and The Parsons Estate, Rye Nature Preserve, The Reed Bird Sanctuary, Rye Harbor and Municipal Marina.