Dobbs Ferry, New York

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Dobbs Ferry, New York
Village
Location of Dobbs Ferry, New York
Location of Dobbs Ferry, New York
Coordinates: 41°0′46″N 73°51′58″W / 41.01278°N 73.86611°W / 41.01278; -73.86611Coordinates: 41°0′46″N 73°51′58″W / 41.01278°N 73.86611°W / 41.01278; -73.86611
Country United States
State New York
County Westchester
Area
 • Total 3.2 sq mi (8.2 km2)
 • Land 2.4 sq mi (6.3 km2)
 • Water 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km2)
Elevation 210 ft (64 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 10,875
 • Density 3,400/sq mi (1,300/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 10522
Area code(s) 914
FIPS code 36-20698
GNIS feature ID 0970074
Website www.dobbsferry.com

Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York. The population was 10,875 at the 2010 census.[1] The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh. The village ZIP code is 10522. Most of the Village falls into the boundaries of the Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District.

Dobbs Ferry was ranked seventh in the list of the top 10 places to live in New York State for 2014 according to the national online real estate brokerage Movoto.[2] Dobbs Ferry is also the first village in New York State certified as a Climate Smart Community, honored in 2014 with the highest level given out in the state.[3][4]

History[edit]

Named after a ferry service that traversed the Hudson River at this location, Dobbs Ferry played a vital role in the American Revolutionary War. In July and August, 1781, during the seventh year of the war, Continental Army troops, commanded by General George Washington, were encamped in Dobbs Ferry and neighboring localities, alongside allied French forces under the command of the Comte de Rochambeau.[5] A large British army controlled Manhattan at the time, and Washington chose the Dobbs Ferry area for encampment because he hoped to probe for weaknesses in the British defenses, just 12 miles (19 km) to the south. But on August 14, 1781, a communication was received from French Admiral Comte de Grasse in the West Indies, which caused Washington to change his strategy. De Grasse's communication, which advocated a joint land and sea attack against the British in Virginia, convinced Washington to risk a march of more than 400 miles (640 km) to the Chesapeake region of Virginia. Washington's new strategy, adopted and designed in mid-August 1781, at the encampment of the allied armies, would win the war. The allied armies were ordered to break camp on August 19, 1781: on that date the Americans took the first steps of their march to Virginia along present-day Ashford Avenue and Broadway, en route to victory over General Cornwallis at the Siege of Yorktown and to victory in the Revolutionary War.[6]

The village was originally incorporated in 1873 as Greenburgh, but the name was changed to Dobbs Ferry in 1882.

The current local government of Dobbs Ferry is headed by Mayor Hartley S. Connett; an independent, Connett was elected in November 2009 along with his three running mates for Village Trustee running on the independent, non-partisan Dobbs Ferry Party line.

The Estherwood and Carriage House, Hyatt-Livingston House, South Presbyterian Church, and United States Post Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1880 1,915 —    
1890 2,083 +8.8%
1900 2,888 +38.6%
1910 3,455 +19.6%
1920 4,401 +27.4%
1930 5,741 +30.4%
1940 5,883 +2.5%
1950 6,268 +6.5%
1960 9,260 +47.7%
1970 10,353 +11.8%
1980 10,053 −2.9%
1990 9,940 −1.1%
2000 10,622 +6.9%
2010 10,875 +2.4%
2014 11,098 +2.1%
Sources: 1880 value is given for Greenburgh Village,[8] 1890,[9] 1900,[10] 1910,[11] 1920,[12] 1930,[12] 1940,[13] 1950,[14] 1960,[15] 1970,[15] 1980,[16] 1990,[16] 2000,[17] 2010[1]

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 10,622 people, 3,792 households, and 2,570 families residing in the village. The population density was 4,350.0 people per square mile (1,680.8/km²). There were 3,941 housing units at an average density of 1,614.0 per square mile (623.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 80.70% White, 7.38% African American, 0.08% Native American, 7.56% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races, and 2.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.00% of the population.

There were 3,792 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. Of all households, 27.6% were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the village the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $70,333, and the median income for a family was $93,127. Males had a median income of $65,532 versus $50,091 for females. The per capita income for the village was $35,090. About 1.8% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Geography[edit]

Dobbs Ferry, NY

Dobbs Ferry is located at 41°0′46″N 73°51′58″W / 41.01278°N 73.86611°W / 41.01278; -73.86611 (41.012729, -73.866026).[19]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2), of which 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2), or 23.03%, is water.

The village is bounded on the west by the Hudson River, and on the east by the Saw Mill River. Wickers Creek runs east to west through the center of the village from its main source in the Juhring Nature Preserve, Todd's Pond.

The village consists of a series of neighborhoods as defined in the 2010 Vision Plan, the Master Plan for the Village. These neighborhoods are not popularly recognized as of 2014. As the Vision Plan states, "Sometimes the boundaries of these neighborhoods are clearly defined, but other times less so. Where necessary, boundaries have been interpolated." The neighborhoods are: Broadway, Wickers Creek, Waterfront, Old Town, Fairmead, Riverview Manor, Villard, Osborne, Belden, Maple, Walgrove, Virginia, Beacon Hill, Campuses and Woods, Parkway, Southfield, Knoll, Northfield, and Juhring. (Homes in "Juhring" are commonly referred to by real estate brokers as part of the "Ardsley Park" neighborhood, which encompasses the Juhring neighborhood in Dobbs Ferry and the Ardsley-on-Hudson neighborhood of Irvington, New York.).[20]

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Dobbs Ferry, New York
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 73
(23)		 75
(24)		 86
(30)		 96
(36)		 97
(36)		 99
(37)		 104
(40)		 102
(39)		 101
(38)		 89
(32)		 82
(28)		 77
(25)		 104
(40)
Average high °F (°C) 38.1
(3.4)		 41.4
(5.2)		 50.5
(10.3)		 61.9
(16.6)		 72.5
(22.5)		 80.4
(26.9)		 85.4
(29.7)		 83.4
(28.6)		 75.8
(24.3)		 64.7
(18.2)		 53.6
(12)		 42.8
(6)		 62.54
(16.98)
Average low °F (°C) 23.0
(−5)		 24.5
(−4.2)		 31.7
(−0.2)		 40.4
(4.7)		 50.3
(10.2)		 59.3
(15.2)		 64.7
(18.2)		 63.6
(17.6)		 56.3
(13.5)		 45.3
(7.4)		 37.1
(2.8)		 28.1
(−2.2)		 43.69
(6.5)
Record low °F (°C) −10
(−23)		 −5
(−21)		 2
(−17)		 17
(−8)		 29
(−2)		 38
(3)		 49
(9)		 44
(7)		 34
(1)		 27
(−3)		 12
(−11)		 −4
(−20)		 −10
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.39
(111.5)		 3.35
(85.1)		 4.54
(115.3)		 4.50
(114.3)		 4.87
(123.7)		 3.88
(98.6)		 4.57
(116.1)		 4.38
(111.3)		 4.77
(121.2)		 4.11
(104.4)		 4.52
(114.8)		 4.27
(108.5)		 52.15
(1,324.6)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 10.1
(25.7)		 8.9
(22.6)		 5.2
(13.2)		 .9
(2.3)		 trace 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 .1
(0.3)		 .8
(2)		 4.3
(10.9)		 30.3
(77)
Average precipitation days 11.4 9.8 11.7 12.1 12.4 11.6 10.7 10.0 9.4 8.7 10.4 11.9 130.1
Average snowy days 5.9 4.8 3.2 .4 0 0 0 0 0 .1 .8 3.5 18.7
Source: NOAA (1971−2000)[21]

Education[edit]

A majority of the village is within the Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District, which consists of Springhurst Elementary, grades K–5, Dobbs Ferry Middle School, grades 6–8, and the Dobbs Ferry High School, grades 9–12.

Mercy College, a private, four-year institution with undergraduate and graduate programs, has its main campus in Dobbs Ferry. Our Lady of Victory Academy, a local parochial school offering grades 9–12 for girls, was located on the campus of Mercy College until its closing in 2011.

The Masters School is a private school located south of the town center that offers grades 5–12 for boys and girls. It is a boarding or day school that was founded in 1877 by Eliza Masters. The school contains a mansion called Estherwood.[22]

An Alcott Montessori School is located in the town.

Public transit[edit]

Almost 10% of households do not own a car and rely on public transit, bicycling, and walking.[20]

Several lines of the Bee-Line Bus System run through Dobbs Ferry, facilitating north-south travel along the Broadway/Route 9 corridor and east-west along Ashford Avenue. The village operates a shuttle bus from the train station in the afternoon and evenings.[23]

Commuter rail service to Grand Central Terminal is available via the Dobbs Ferry train station, served by Metro-North Railroad. The train runs on the Hudson Line, and travel time from Dobbs Ferry to Grand Central Terminal is approximately 37 minutes on an express train and 43 minutes on a local train. Many Metro North riders connect to the New York City Subway at Marble Hill to reach destinations on the west side of Manhattan, or at Harlem–125th Street for the upper east side.

Amtrak inter-city rail trains travel on the Hudson Line tracks, but trains do not stop in the village. The closest Amtrak stations are: Stamford and New York Pennsylvania Station for the Northeast Corridor Line, and Yonkers and Croton–Harmon stations for the Hudson River Line.

Parks and recreation[edit]

The village's Recreation Department runs a variety of programs out of the Embassy Community Center, including art and dance classes, sports leagues, summer camp, and other activities open to the public. Programs for older adults are also well-funded and used. Additional sports leagues for baseball and soccer are run independently but use village facilities.

There are a variety of village public parks, in order of size:

  • Juhring Nature Preserve, a 76-acre wooded park with trail entrances from the Ardsley Park(Juhring), Northfield, and Knoll neighborhoods in Dobbs Ferry.
  • Waterfront Park on the Hudson River shoreline with playground, soccer field, and open space. It serves as the site of the high school graduation ceremony, summer concerts, and Independence Day fireworks.
  • Gould Park in the center of the Village, with two public swimming pools, playground, basketball court, and multi-sport ballfields.
  • Memorial Park[24] on hillside overlooking the Hudson River with single wading pool, baseball field, basketball court, and bocce court (an indication of the longstanding Italian heritage in Dobbs Ferry). In 2014, the American Legion Post 148, which leased space in the park, collapsed and was razed.[25][26]

Two linear parks used for active transportation and recreation traverse Dobbs Ferry as well. The Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway, a linear State Park, runs north-south through the village on its western side. The South County Trailway, a linear Westchester County park also runs north-south through the village, but on its eastern side along the bank of the Saw Mill River.

Emergency services[edit]

Dobbs Ferry PD cars 908 and 905, autumn 2006.jpg

Dobbs Ferry is served by a paid police department, a volunteer fire department (housing three pumpers and one tower ladder in two firehouses) and a volunteer ambulance corps (possessing two ambulances (one equipped with four-wheel-drive) and a fire rehab unit). As a part of the Town of Greenburgh, the village is eligible for additional coverage from the town services. Mutual aid agreements exist with neighboring municipalities for further coverage.

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Dobbs Ferry village, Westchester County, New York". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved November 16, 2011. 
  2. ^ "10 Best Places to Live in New York - Movoto". Movoto Blog. 
  3. ^ "Governor Cuomo Announces Climate Smart Communities Certification Program". Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. 
  4. ^ "Energy efficiency projects save communities money, state recognition". lohud.com. 30 April 2014. 
  5. ^ "The Washington-Rochambeau Encampment of the American and French Armies at Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Hartsdale and Edgemont"
  6. ^ "Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route: Entering, Exploring, and Leaving New York"
  7. ^ Staff (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 
  8. ^ U.S. Census Office (1882). "Population of Civil Divisions Less Than Counties: New York". Statistics of the Population of the United States at the Tenth Census (June 1, 1880) 1. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 271. 
  9. ^ U.S. Census Office (1895). "Minor Civil Divisions: New York". Report on Population of the United States at the Eleventh Census: 1890. Part I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 253. 
  10. ^ U.S. Census Office (1901). "Population". Twelfth Census of the United States, Taken in the Year 1900 I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 285. 
  11. ^ U.S. Census Bureau (1913). "Population: 1910". Thirteenth Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1910 3. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 206. 
  12. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau (1931). "Population". Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930 1. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 765. 
  13. ^ U.S. Census Bureau (1942). "Population". Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940 I. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 
  14. ^ U.S. Census Bureau (7 Oct 1951). "Population of New York: April 1, 1950". 1950 Census of Population: Advance Reports. PC-8, No. 31. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 4. 
  15. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau (Mar 1973). "Characteristic of Population". 1970 Census of Population. New York, section 1. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 34. 
  16. ^ a b U.S. Census Bureau (1990). "Population and Housing Unit Counts". 1990 Census of Population and Housing. CPH-2-34, New York. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 37. 
  17. ^ U.S. Census Bureau (Sep 2003). "Population and Housing Unit Counts". 2000 Census of Population and Housing. PHC-3-34, New York. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 26. 
  18. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  19. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  20. ^ a b Super User. "Dobbs Ferry Vision Plan - Village of Dobbs Ferry". dobbsferry.com. 
  21. ^ "Climatology of the United States No. 20: DOBBS FERRY ARDSLEY, NY 1971–2000" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2011-11-11. 
  22. ^ http://www.hudsonshores.com/cgi-bin/hspage.cgi?area=dobb
  23. ^ "Info. on The Commuter Bus In Dobbs Ferry". Cindy Kief, Realtor in Westchester County. 
  24. ^ "Dobbs Ferry's Memorial Park Pool Opens Saturday". The Rivertowns Daily Voice. 24 May 2013. 
  25. ^ "Condemned And Vacant Dobbs Ferry Legion Hall Collapses". The Rivertowns Daily Voice. 15 February 2014. 
  26. ^ "Westchester County, New York - The Journal News - lohud.com - lohud.com". The Journal News - lohud.com. 
  27. ^ "Westchester". westchestermagazine.com. 
  28. ^ "Spoilers Run" (see on Google Maps))
  29. ^ Martin, Douglas. "William Conner, Judge Expert in Patent Law, Dies at 89", The New York Times, July 19, 2009. Accessed July 20, 2009.

Further reading[edit]

  • Borkow, Richard. George Washington's Westchester Gamble: The Encampment on the Hudson and the Trapping of Cornwallis. 2011. ISBN 978-1609490393.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dobbs Ferry, New York.
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Footnotes
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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