White Plains is a city located in Westchester County, New York. 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 CountyTemplate:GR.
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. The construction of the White Plains Galleria Mall 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 new City Place development, opened in 2004, features two skyscrapers with commanding views of the lower Hudson Valley. Two new towers are under development at present. In large part because of its close proximity to New York, the cost of living in White Plains has been ranked as second most expensive in the nation (to New York City).
Adding to the expense of living in White Plains is the extremely efficient parking enforcement. Payment is required at all times at all municipal lots, and on-street tickets are common, because the meter patrol is fully-staffed and aggressive. White Plains' roads are in good shape, and the city itself is compact and easy to patrol, which makes ticketing easy.
White Plains is home to one of the campuses of Pace University, two Metro North commuter railroad stations, White Plains and North White Plains. White Plains is also the home of fast-growing Westchester County Airport, which offers regional travelers an alternative to New York's congested three major airports.
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°1'24" North, 73°45'43" West (41.023464, -73.761843)Template:GR.
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 is water. The total area is 0.91% water.
Postal Information
Standard Zip Codes: 10601, 10603, 10604, 10605, 10606, 10607.
PO Box Only: 10602, 10610.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 53,077 people, 20,921 households, and 12,699 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,091.1/km² (5,415.5/mi²). There are 21,576 housing units at an average density of 850.1/km² (2,201.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 23.51% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 20,921 households out of which 26.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% are married couples living together, 11.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% are non-families. 33.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 3.14.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $58,545, and the median income for a family is $71,891. Males have a median income of $47,742 versus $36,917 for females. The per capita income for the city is $33,825. 9.8% of the population and 6.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.2% of those under the age of 18 and 7.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Famous People from White Plains
James Arthur "Art" Monk (born December 5, 1957) (football player) Jonathan Larson (born February 4, 1960) (plawright - Rent) Jason Cascone (featured in Faces of September 11th) Matisyahu (Matthew Miller) Hasidic reggae singer