# Croton-on-Hudson, New York Croton-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 8,327 at the 2020 census. Located in the town of Cortlandt, it forms part of New York City's northern suburbs and was incorporated in 1898. ## History Human settlement in this area dates back millennia. The Kitchawanc tribe, part of the Wappinger Confederacy, signed a peace treaty with Dutch settlers at Croton Point in 1645. Stephanus van Cortlandt began acquiring land in 1677 to build a manor, which received a royal patent in 1697 as the Manor of Cortlandt. The 1718 census recorded 91 inhabitants, primarily Dutch settlers and English Quakers engaged in farming and milling. Mid-to-late 1800s development brought significant infrastructure: the Croton Dam, New Croton Dam, and Croton Aqueduct were constructed to supply New York City water. Irish, Italian, and German immigrants arrived for these construction projects. By 1898 incorporation, the population had reached 1,000. Clifford Harmon, a realtor, purchased 550 acres in 1903 and donated land for a railroad station on the condition it bear his name. The Croton-Harmon station expanded dramatically in 1906 and again in 1913, when it became the transfer point for electric trains switching to steam engines. Harmon developed as an artist colony, while Mount Airy evolved into a community housing many early American Communist Party members. ## Geography Located at coordinates 41°12′15″N 73°53′10″W, the village sits on Hudson River shores. The total area is 10.8 square miles, with 4.8 square miles of land and 6.1 square miles of water (56.06%). Zip codes are 10520 and 10521. ## Demographics The 2000 census showed 7,606 residents with a population density of 1,601.7 per square mile. Racial composition included 91.5% white, 1.9% African American, 2.06% Asian, 2.58% other races, and 1.70% multiracial. Hispanic/Latino residents comprised 6.93%. Household statistics: 2,798 total households, 62.5% married couples, 38.7% with children under 18. The median household income was $150,260; median family income exceeded $250,000. Population trends show growth from 1,533 in 1900 to a peak of 7,523 in 1970, declining slightly to 6,889 in 1980, then recovering to 8,327 by 2020. ## Economy Historically dependent on the Metro-North train station, the economy thrived on railroad workers and service businesses through the early 1980s. After Penn Central's 1968 formation and subsequent economic stagflation, the local economy stagnated during the 1970s. Since the 1990s, riverfront development has focused on recreation, including pedestrian bridges, trail extensions, and park rehabilitation. ## Arts and Culture Notable events and sites include the Clearwater Festival at Croton Point Park, Summerfest, and the Harry Chapin Run Against Hunger (established 1981). The Blaze pumpkin carving contest began in 2005. Historic properties on the National Register include the Asbury United Methodist Church, Croton North Railroad Station, and St. Augustine's Episcopal Church Complex. Van Cortlandt Manor holds National Historic Landmark status. The village hosted radical communities from the 1910s-1960s, earning Mount Airy the nickname "Red Hill." The Hudson Institute, which developed mutual assured destruction nuclear strategy, originated here. A distinctive dummy light (traffic signal) has occupied downtown since the 1920s. ## Parks and Recreation Major parks include: - Croton Point Park: 508-acre peninsula park on the Hudson - Van Cortlandt Manor: National Historic Landmark at the Croton-Hudson confluence - Jane E. Lytle Memorial Croton Arboretum: 20+ acres of wetlands and woods - Brinton Brook Sanctuary: 156-acre preserve with three miles of trails - Croton Landing Park: 12.2 acres with Hudson River walkway and 9/11 memorial - Senasqua Park: 4.6 acres with sailing school - Additional parks include Silver Lake, Black Rock, Mayo's Landing, and Paradise Island ## Government Brian Pugh (Democratic) serves as mayor, elected in 2017. ## Education Most of the village falls within Croton-Harmon Union Free School District, with portions in Hendrick Hudson Central School District, which operates Hendrick Hudson High School. ## Media Local publications include the Village Newsletter, The Gazette, The Northern Westchester Examiner, and The Croton Chronicle. ## Infrastructure and Transportation The Croton-Harmon station serves Amtrak routes (Empire Service, Adirondack, Maple Leaf, Ethan Allen Express, Lake Shore Limited) and Metro-North Hudson Line service. Metro-North maintains major shops and yards here. U.S. Routes 9 and 9A, plus New York Route 129 serve the community. ## Notable People Arts and Entertainment: Alexander Calder (artist), Isadora Duncan (dancer), Edna St. Vincent Millay (poet), Audra McDonald (performer), Jerry Pinkney (children's book illustrator) Science and Technology: Frances E. Allen (computer scientist, Turing Award winner), Charles H. Bennett, Helen Purdy Beale (plant virology pioneer) Literature and Writing: William Gaddis, Joseph Heller, Lorraine Hansberry, Roger Kahn, Upton Sinclair Journalism and Media: Alan Abelson (financial writer), Sally Jacobsen (AP international editor), Darlene Rodriguez Music: Manny Albam (composer), Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Jessye Norman Academia and Thinking: Herman Kahn (Hudson Institute), John Mearsheimer (political scientist) Other Fields: Thomas Secunda (Bloomberg co-founder), Gloria Swanson (actress) ##