White Plains, New York
Encyclopedia : W : WH : WHI : White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,077, but a July 1, 2002 Census estimate put the city's population at 55,394. It is the county seat of Westchester County[Geographic references#6GR6].
Sometimes referred to as the "WP," White Plains is perhaps the most significant of the edge cities that have developed outside of New York City. While the city itself dates to the colonial period, since the mid-1980s it has experienced a tremendous commercial and residential boom. By the late 1990s and Early 2000s, many major corporations that had headquarters in New York City ended up moving to White Plains. The construction of the Galleria at White Plains ushered in a period of new construction downtown and on the Westchester Avenue (NY Route 119) corridor, including a series of skyscrapers, department stores and apartments. In the past ten years, development has continued as the city has become the leading retail and office center in Westchester County. A new courthouse for the Southern District of New York opened in 1998. An infusion of immigrants (largely from Mexico) and urban professionals drawn by the city's close commuting distance to midtown Manhattan (30 minutes by express train) has lent White Plains a cosmopolitan air in recent years.
The city's permanent population has experienced a growth spurt since 2000 as a number of high-end apartment towers have been constructed. The City Center development, opened in 2004, features two skyscrapers, One City Place and Trump Tower above 600,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space with commanding views of the lower Hudson Valley. The project also provided White Plains with some of the most prestigious addresses in Westchester County.
In 2005, construction of The Renaissance Square and Ritz-Carlton, Westchester began. The project will feature a 123 room Rtiz-Carlton Hotel and more than 400 private condominiums in downtown White Plains at the intersection of Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue. Housed within two 40-story towers, the hotel and residences will be a landmark structure, designed by the architectural firm of Costas Kondylis and Partners of New York City, with interiors by renowned designer Frank Nicholson. The expected opening date of the first tower is early 2008. The second tower will include nearly 11,000 square feet of street-level retail/restaurant space as well as open space that will help tie together the heart of the downtown. It will also have a four-level 1,000-space parking garage. The final layout for the tower is pending and will be built as phase two of the construction.
In large part because of its proximity to New York, the cost of living in White Plains has been ranked as one of the most expensive in the nation.[link]
White Plains is home to one of the campuses of Pace University, as well as the White Plains campuses of Mercy College and Berkeley College. The city boasts two Metro North commuter railroad stations, White Plains and North White Plains. White Plains is also the home of fast-growing Westchester County Airport, an international transportation hub which offers regional travelers an alternative to New York's congested three major airports.
In 1956, Marilyn Monroe married Arthur Miller in a civil ceremony in White Plains.
During the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of White Plains took place on Chatterton Hill, located just west of the downtown area on the Bronx River Parkway.
Geography
White Plains is located at (41.023464, -73.761843)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.6 km² (9.9 mi²). 25.4 km² (9.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.91%) is water.
Postal Information
Standard Zip Codes: 10601, 10603, 10604, 10605, 10606, 10607.PO Box Only: 10602, 10610.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 53,077 people, 20,921 households, and 12,699 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,091.1/km² (5,415.5/mi²). There were 21,576 housing units at an average density of 850.1/km² (2,201.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.93% White, 15.91% African American, 0.34% Native American, 4.50% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 10.37% from other races, and 3.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.51% of the population.There were 20,921 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $58,545, and the median income for a family was $71,891. Males had a median income of $47,742 versus $36,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,825. About 6.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- [City Center at White Plains]
- [White Plains Public Library]
- [White Plains Public Schools]
- [White Plains Watch]
- [Westchester County Airport (HPN)]
- [White Plains Hospital Center]
- [The Battle of White Plains]
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