Thornwood, New York
Encyclopedia
Thornwood is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place
(CDP) in the town of Mount Pleasant
in Westchester County, New York
. The population was 3,759 at the 2010 census.
quarry near its heart, the intersection of Route 141
and Kensico Road (known as Four Corners). The quarry
pit was filled in during the mid 1980s, and the Town Center shopping center was constructed over it.
Thornwood once had a station
on the Harlem Line of the Metro-North Railroad
and was about a 48-minute ride to Grand Central Terminal
. The station building remains on Commerce Street, but the stop was eliminated when the upper Harlem Line (north of North White Plains
) was electrified in the mid-1980s. Thornwood was the only stop eliminated as a result of the electrification process. While the station could accommodate diesel trains, the curvature of the tracks as proceeding north to Pleasantville
made the construction at Thornwood of an elevated platform, necessary for electric trains, impractical.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the hamlet has a total area of 2.9 square kilometres (1.1 sq mi), all land.
of 2000, there were 5,980 people, 1,886 households, and 1,559 families residing in the hamlet. The population density
was 1,760.9 per square mile (679.1/km²). There were 1,921 housing units at an average density of 565.7/sq mi (218.1/km²). The racial makeup of the hamlet was 90.97% White, 2.36% African American, 0.03% Native American, 4.00% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races
, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.80% of the population.
There were 1,886 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the hamlet the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the hamlet was $88,971, and the median income for a family was $98,313. Males had a median income of $73,438 versus $40,365 for females. The per capita income
for the hamlet was $36,254. About 2.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
for the Carl Zeiss Corporation, a multinational
German
manufacturer of optical systems, industrial measurements and medical devices.
, a Roman Catholic organization, operates the Our Lady of Thornwood Conference, Education and Training Center on the site of a former IBM
facility on Columbus Avenue. The seminarians studying here for the Catholic priest
hood usually major in philosophy at the Thornwood Conference Center.
Thornwood is under the jurisdiction of Pleasantville Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
The Pleasantville VAC fleet consists of 76B1, 76B2, 76B3.
. The former Thornwood Elementary School was closed and converted to condominiums in the 1980s.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in the town of Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, New York
Mount Pleasant is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 43,724.-Geography:...
in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. The population was 3,759 at the 2010 census.
History
Thornwood once had a large and thriving marbleMarble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
quarry near its heart, the intersection of Route 141
New York State Route 141
New York State Route 141 is a north–south state highway in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 9A in the hamlet of Hawthorne to an intersection with NY 117 in the village of Pleasantville...
and Kensico Road (known as Four Corners). The quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
pit was filled in during the mid 1980s, and the Town Center shopping center was constructed over it.
Thornwood once had a station
Thornwood (Metro-North station)
Thornwood was a station on the Harlem Line of the Metro-North Railroad which served the residents of the hamlet of Thornwood, New York until its closure in 1984. During its existence, the station was one of the most lightly used on the Harlem Line...
on the Harlem Line of the Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
and was about a 48-minute ride to Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
. The station building remains on Commerce Street, but the stop was eliminated when the upper Harlem Line (north of North White Plains
North White Plains (Metro-North station)
The North White Plains Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of northern White Plains, New York via the Harlem Line. It is the north terminal for most trains that run local to the south and, until 1984, was the northern limit of electrification. Adjacent to the station is a yard/support...
) was electrified in the mid-1980s. Thornwood was the only stop eliminated as a result of the electrification process. While the station could accommodate diesel trains, the curvature of the tracks as proceeding north to Pleasantville
Pleasantville (Metro-North station)
The Pleasantville Metro-North Railroad station serves the residents of Pleasantville, New York, via the Harlem Line. Trains leave or arrive approximately every 20 minutes during peak periods, hourly otherwise. It is 30.5 miles from Grand Central Terminal and the average travel time to Grand Central...
made the construction at Thornwood of an elevated platform, necessary for electric trains, impractical.
Geography
Thornwood is located at 41°7′18"N 73°46′37"W (41.121557, -73.777071).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the hamlet has a total area of 2.9 square kilometres (1.1 sq mi), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,980 people, 1,886 households, and 1,559 families residing in the hamlet. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,760.9 per square mile (679.1/km²). There were 1,921 housing units at an average density of 565.7/sq mi (218.1/km²). The racial makeup of the hamlet was 90.97% White, 2.36% African American, 0.03% Native American, 4.00% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.80% of the population.
There were 1,886 households out of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.39.
In the hamlet the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the hamlet was $88,971, and the median income for a family was $98,313. Males had a median income of $73,438 versus $40,365 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the hamlet was $36,254. About 2.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Thornwood is the home to the North American headquartersHeadquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
for the Carl Zeiss Corporation, a multinational
Multinational corporation
A multi national corporation or enterprise , is a corporation or an enterprise that manages production or delivers services in more than one country. It can also be referred to as an international corporation...
German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
manufacturer of optical systems, industrial measurements and medical devices.
Religious institutes
The Legion of ChristLegion of Christ
The Legion of Christ is a Roman Catholic congregation of pontifical right, made up of priests and seminarians studying for the priesthood. It was founded in Mexico in 1941, by Fr. Marcial Maciel, who directed the congregation as its General Superior until January 2005...
, a Roman Catholic organization, operates the Our Lady of Thornwood Conference, Education and Training Center on the site of a former IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
facility on Columbus Avenue. The seminarians studying here for the Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
hood usually major in philosophy at the Thornwood Conference Center.
Emergency services
Thornwood's residents are served by the Mt. Pleasant Police Department and the Thornwood Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department serves approximately 5,000 residents in a 5 square miles (12.9 km²) suburban area. Its equipment includes:- Engine 88 - 2010 Sutphen Monarch pumper (initial attack engine)
- Engine 89 - 1991 Pierce Lance pumper (supply & mutual aid engine)
- Rescue 75 - 2005 Pierce Dash (rescue pumper)
- Tower Ladder 1 - 1998 Sutphen 95' ladder
- Utility 55 - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2471, 2472, 2473 - Chiefs' trucks
Thornwood is under the jurisdiction of Pleasantville Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
The Pleasantville VAC fleet consists of 76B1, 76B2, 76B3.
Education
Thornwood is part of the Mt. Pleasant Central School District, which includes the Hawthorne Elementary, Columbus Avenue Elementary School, Westlake Middle School and Westlake High SchoolWestlake High School (New York)
Westlake High School is located at 825 Westlake Drive in Thornwood, New York. Westlake is the High School serving the Mount Pleasant Central School District. The hamlets of Hawthorne and Thornwood are inclusive in the Mount Pleasant CSD. The hamlet of Valhalla and the village of Pleasantville...
. The former Thornwood Elementary School was closed and converted to condominiums in the 1980s.