MOUNT KISCO

     The Village of Mount Kisco was settled in 1719 on land bought from the Indians forty years earlier.  It was earlier called New Castle Corners, now Leonards Park.  The Kisco River (the name comes from the Indian "seesque" or "muddy place", attesting to early marshes that caused drainage problems) flows through the village.  The village, in the Towns of Bedford and New Castle, was incorporated in 1875, it became a village/town governed primarily as a village.
     With the railroads in 1847 came wealthy summer people who wanted entertainment.  A roller rink on Maple Street was converted to an opera house and an armory was expanded for the roller skating, social balls and plays.  From the mid-20's to the 60's the Lawrence Playhouse present summer  stock in a large barn.  The performers included Mildred Natwick and Burl Ives and the stage manager was Henry Fonda.
     It's small-town feel with neo-colonial buildings, Mount Kisco could be called quaint.  Today,  it is shopping that draws people from all over Westchester.  The downtown area boasts a central business district with shops, restaurants and a five screen movie theater.  The shopping corridor
of Route 117 and the new Target Mall also provide great shopping.  The
Gap, Victoria's Secret and Banana Republic also call Mount Kisco home. 
     Students can attend the Mount Kisco Elementary School or West Patent
Elementary School in Bedford Hills, based on geographical boundaries.  Student go on to the Fox Lane Middle School, grades 6 to 8, and Fox Lane High School in Bedford.  They share a campus.  There is the Rippowam Cisque School, an independent country day school.  Mount Kisco also offers Jewish and secular education at Bais Miriam Leah School and Talmud Beth Yechtel.
     The Butler Sanctuary and Meyer Preserve total over 630 acres of nature at its finest, with many species of birds, trees and flowers.  The Westmoreland Santuary offers trails, museum tours and lectures.
     The Northern Westchester Center for the Arts offers classes in dance, drama, music and photography.  A multi-arts summer day camp is available to children and teen.
www.mountkisco.org/

Click here to return to the directory