Harrison, New York - Mike Luchen - Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

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Harrison is a town/village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 24,154 at the 2000 census. The village is coterminous with the town of the same name, and has a consolidated town/village government.

 Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 45.0 km² (17.4 sq mi). 43.6 km² (16.8 sq mi) of it is land and 1.5 km² (0.6 sq mi) of it (3.22%) is water.

The distance from Harrison Station to Grand Central Station in Midtown Manhattan is about 27 miles.

Harrison is bordered by White Plains, Rye, and Mamaroneck. The New England Thruway (I-95) runs through the town as well as the Cross County (I-287) and Hutchinson River Parkways.

Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 24,154 people, 8,394 households, and 6,186 families residing in the village. Harrison is also known for its larger Italian American population in the area, at around 40%.(The population density was 554.1/km² (1,435.2/sq mi). There were 8,680 housing units at an average density of 199.1/km² (515.8/sq mi). The racial makeup of the village was 89.78% White, 1.43% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 5.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.59% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.70% of the population.

There were 8,394 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the village the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $80,738, and the median income for a family was $98,167. Males had a median income of $63,871 versus $41,581 for females. The per capita income for the village was $49,652. About 4.2% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

The first European inhabitants of Harrison were most likely Quakers who settled in Purchase. Since the various religious communities have come to call Harrison home. Catholics worship either at St. Gregory the Great Church [1] in Harrison or St. Anthony of Padua Church in West Harrison; Greek Orthodox at Our Savior Church in Purchase; and Episcopalians at All Saints Church in Harrison. Presbyterians also have a church in Harrison; as well as Jews who gather at the Young Israel of Harrison or Harrison Jewish Community Center.

History
According to a local legend, in 1695 John Harrison was given 24 hours to ride his horse around an area which would become his. Though this is up for debate, the town gets its name from him.
The Horton Grist Mill was built, off today's Lake St. in West Harrison, sometime before the Revolutionary War.
Merritt's Hill (on Lake St.) in West Harrison was the site of a battle during the Revolutionary War.
On March 7, 1788, by an act of the New York State government, Harrison's Purchase became the Town of Harrison.
During the 1830's, David Haviland settled in Harrison producing the Haviland China which he sold in his store in New York City, before returning to France.
In 1848, the railroad began to carry passengers from Manhattan to Connecticut passing through what is downtown Harrison. Harrisonites had to flag down the train to get a ride. The station was built in 1870.
In 1867 Benjamin Holladay purchased the land that is now Manhattanville College in Purchase. On the property is a Norman style Roman Catholic chapel built for his wife. There is also Reid castle, once called the Ophir House, before renamed for a later purchaser. The castle would host the King and Queen of Siam in the early 1930's.
In 1929, the Hutchinson River Parkway was extended to Harrison.

Communities and locations
Purchase is a hamlet in the northeastern portion of the town. It contains the State University of New York at Purchase and Manhattanville College.

Notable people
Peter Chernin, president of News Corporation
Babe Ruth, hall of fame baseball player; owned a house on Westchester Country Club grounds and frequently played golf there.
Kenneth Cole, fashion designer; resides in the Purchase sub-section of Harrison.
Nita Lowey, U.S. Representative from New York; resides in Harrison.
Joe Torre, former manager of the New York Yankees; resides in Harrison.
Bobby Jordan, Dead End Kid actor; born and spent early childhood in Harrison.
Amelia Earhardt, pioneer aviatrix; lived in Harrison near Rye border.