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In A Few Words
Mamaroneck, NY has many distinctions: it is home of the original Archie comics and American author, James Fenimore Cooper. Mamaroneck is not only one of the oldest settlements in Westchester County, but also one of the most beautiful and sought after communities in the tri-state area. As many of it's long time residents know, Mamaroneck was given the name by it's original inhabitants, the Siwanoy Indians, as “Mamaroneck” signifies in Siwanoy “the place where the sweet waters fall into the sea”. In 1661, members of this indigenous tribe sold the land to John Richbell, a London merchant, and over the centuries, the area has been traditionally recognized as a small sea-faring community, cradled by Long Island Sound, which commands the local scenery and envelops Mamaroneck with its mild temperatures and gentle sea breezes.
A Historical Record
Today, Mamaroneck is a successful commercial as well as residential community. It is home to several successful maritime businesses including Derecktor Ship Builders, which brought to life the world-renowned 1987 Americas Cup champion, “Stars and Stripes”.
Mamaroneck's grand inland harbor is one of the busiest yacht basins on Long Island Sound and the harbor's adjoining park serves as the crown jewel of the community. Residents and visitors can enjoy exciting recreational activities at Harbor Island Park including soccer tournaments, antique car shows, football games and famous-name professional tennis tournaments. Every spring, when the harbor's 150 Japanese Cherry trees are in full bloom, the annual Cherry Blossom Festival gets under way, while every summer, the village puts on its newly initiated Historic Harbor Street Fair, where moms, dads and kids can enjoy rides, historic reenactments, food, games, shopping and more.
From the main part of the village, the harbor's towering ships masts can be seen in the background while clanking halyards and the bells of Mamaroneck's old St. Thomas church – a church where James Fenimore Cooper, Peter Jay Monroe and even Norman Rockwell once worshipped -- can be heard ringing in the distance while bustling retail activity comes alive every morning within Mamaroneck's business district on Mamaroneck Avenue. Small shops and boutiques flank the busy street, accompanied by rows of shady trees and acorn shaped old-fashioned street lamps that softly illuminate the area during evening hours.
A bevy of diverse restaurants can also be found peppered throughout the village. Old neighborhood favorites such as Chef Antonio's with it's unforgettable pasta dishes, and new cutting edge European bistros such as Mozart's Café with it's delectable chocolate creations, offer a memorable experience for anyone's palette. And then there's Sal's – a local eatery institution and legendary pizzeria that can compete against any classic New York City pizzeria – and win.
Mamaroneck, once a summer destination for Manhattan's upper classes in the 19 th century, is now a prime suburban residential community with easy access to New York City. Train service first arrived in Mamaroneck in 1848, and since then, residents have enjoyed easy access to Manhattan. Today, Metro North offers both local (41 mins) and express (37 mins) trains to Grand Central Station from Mamaroneck.
For its student community, the village offers schools that stand out above most in New York as well as the nation with Rye Neck High School being selected as a School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.
Today, the village is home to approximately 17,000 residents. With its culture centered upon Long Island Sound, Mamaroneck is able to enjoy a great sense of community as one of New York's most beautiful, small maritime villages.
The next time you visit Mamaroneck's harbor and watch the sunset, you will discover Mamaroneck's sense of community, sense of natural beauty and find out why the Siwanoy tribe said it is where “the sweet waters fall into the sea”.
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