Hawthorne is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York. The population was 5,083 at the 2000 census.

History

Much of Hawthorne was once known as Sherman Park. In the vicinity of Sherman Park in 1901, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, also known as Mother Mary Alphonsa, O.P., a convert to Catholicism and daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne, founded Rosary Hill Home for those suffering from incurable cancer. Mother Mary Alphonsa also founded a Dominican Order now known as the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. Shortly after the opening of the cancer home, the hamlet was renamed Hawthorne in Mother Mary Alphonsa's honor.

Rosary Hill Home is still operated by the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne consistent with its original mission and is located on a hilltop on Linda Avenue.

Hawthorne is the final resting place of Babe Ruth, James Cagney, Billy Martin and many other notables interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Much of the area's suburban homes were built as an area called Sherman Park, sold for working and middle class people looking to escape the city. The hamlet today exists as a commuter area, however, nearly 70% of Hawthorne's working residents work within the county of Westchester.

Geography

Hawthorne is located at (41.103664, -73.795807).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the hamlet has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²), all land.

Bounded by Route 9A to the west, the Taconic State Parkway to the east, and split in the middle by the Sprain Brook Parkway, Hawthorne lies at the near dead center of Westchester County.

Corporate parks and nurseries line Hawthorne's 9A corridor, while to the east, Commerce street (route 141), the main commercial thoroughfare serving both Hawthorne and Thornwood, runs north to south, parallel to Metro North's Harlem Line tracks. It is a 40 minute train ride from the Hawthorne station to Grand Central Terminal.

The majority of eastern Hawthorne consists of residential homes, and small businesses. Popular stores on Commerce street consist of the Hawthorne Station Deli (also known as the "Railroad Deli"), Pop's Deli, Hawthorne Pizzeria, and The D' Shoppe. The latter sells Mega Millions tickets. The Max service station on Route 141 sold gasoline by the liter.

On July 12, 2006 an F2 tornado struck the hamlet, causing major damage to the California Closets Warehouse and minor injuries to 3 people. It was the strongest tornado to strike in Westchester County. This tornado proves that twisters can strike anywhere even in New York City area suburbs. Damage also occurred at an Applebee's restaurant, the Oriental Diner and a few other businesses.

Education

Hawthorne's residents are served by the Mount Pleasant Central School District, which includes the Hawthorne Elementary School, Westlake Middle School and Westlake High School (the latter two actually located in Thornwood).

The Holy Rosary School (Catholic, K-8) is located on Bradhurst Avenue (Rte. 100) in Hawthorne.

Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services (formerly "Jewish Board Of Guardians") runs two residential schools in Hawthorne, "The Hawthorne Cedar Knolls School " and "The Linden Hill School ", both of these schools are on Linda Avenue.

Fire service

Hawthorne's residents are served by the Hawthorne Volunteer Fire Department. http://district.hcks.org/home.aspx?

Police service

Hawthorne's residents are served by the Mount Pleasant Police Department.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,083 people, 1,581 households, and 1,258 families residing in the hamlet. The population density was 3,006.0 per square mile (1,161.3/km²). There were 1,590 housing units at an average density of 940.3/sq mi (363.3/km²). The racial makeup of the hamlet was 87.13% White, 4.34% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.16% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.02% of the population.

There were 1,581 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the hamlet the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the hamlet was $71,370, and the median income for a family was $82,042. Males had a median income of $52,477 versus $39,142 for females. The per capita income for the hamlet was $28,664. About 1.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over

References

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