Today marks a significant milestone for the Village of Croton-on-Hudson, celebrating 120 years since its official incorporation on February 12, 1898.

According to the Manual of Westchester County published that same year, the incorporation process involved a special election where residents voted overwhelmingly in favor—74 votes supporting incorporation against only 21 opposing it. At the time of incorporation, the village had a population of 1,244 residents, which has grown substantially to over 8,000 today.

The year 1898 was pivotal for Croton's development. Brickmaking remained a dominant industry, while construction of the New Croton Dam, which began in 1892, was reaching a critical phase. By this point, workers had successfully diverted the Croton River around the construction site and excavated approximately 1,821,400 cubic yards of earth and 400,250 cubic yards of rock. The massive foundation was finally being laid.

Despite the intensive extraction of clay along the Hudson River and continuous dam construction, the historical manual noted that "the village is attractive as a residence locality and its citizens are progressive"—a characterization the author suggests remains accurate today.