New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a small city situated in Westchester County in the southeastern portion of the US State of New York. Located on the Long Island Sound, the city stretches over 34.05 sq. km and is considered New York's seventh-most populous city. New Rochelle is one of the state's oldest and most historic cities, yet one of the liveliest towns in the Mid Atlantic.
Geography And Climate Of New Rochelle
New Rochelle covers a total area of 34.05 sq. km, of which 26.64 sq. km is occupied by land, and 7.40 sq. km is covered by water. The city is located about 3.2km north of the New York City boundary. New Rochelle has a triangular shape and is surrounded by Pelham, Pelham Manor, and Eastchester in the west, Scarsdale in the north and east, and Mamaroneck and Larchmont in the east.
New Rochelle's climate is temperate, with a significant number of rainy and cloudy days all through the year. The summer season in New Rochelle is hot and humid, while the winters are very cold, snowy, and windy. The temperatures usually range between -4 °C and 29 °C and are rarely below -11 °C or above 34 °C. Tourists prefer to visit New Rochelle to enjoy warm-weather activities in July, August, and September and avoid visiting the city in January for the cold and snowy weather.
Brief History Of New Rochelle
New Rochelle was settled by Huguenots - the French Protestant refugees in 1688, after being inhabited by the native Siwanoy Indians tribes. The new French settlers named the area after La Rochelle, a seaport on the Atlantic coast of France. The settlement continued to attract French refugees until 1760, forming a character of the community where French was spoken, which made people in neighboring areas send their children to New Rochelle to learn the new language. In 1776, the British Army briefly occupied sections of New Rochelle after their victory in the Battle of White Plains, where it became part of a "Neutral Ground" for General Washington to regroup his troops. In 1784, by the end of the American Revolution, a small farm was granted to patriot Thomas Paine to appreciate his services toward American Independence. In 1857, the town of New Rochelle was chartered and served as an American military base during the Civil War in 1861. New Rochelle was officially incorporated as a city later on in 1899.
The Population And Economy Of New Rochelle
A recent survey estimated the population of New Rochelle to be around 79,726 residents. 68.97% of those residents were born in the United States, with 54.20% born in New York, and 15.62% are not US citizens. Most of those not born in the United States are from Latin America.
New Rochelle has been home to several industries over the years. Since the 1950s, many major multinational corporations have established their headquarters in Westchester County, along with light manufacturing industries that include machinery, food, and beverages. Today, Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, and Retail Trade are the top industries in the city, employing most of its residents. The average income of a resident is $40,791 a year, with a high tax percentage of 8.4% as an income tax and 6.5% as a sales tax.
Top Attractions In New Rochelle
Thomas Paine Cottage Museum
Declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1974, the former residence of Thomas Paine, who helped spark the American Revolution, is today’s headquarters of the Huguenot and New Rochelle Historical Association. The museum displays artifacts and furniture from the 18th century to the present day, along with the history of the Huguenots and the City of New Rochelle. The cottage was moved in 1908 from its original location, near 135 Paine Avenue, to where it stands today on 20 Sicard Avenue to be saved from destruction. The location neighbors the site where Paine was buried in 1809.
Parks In New Rochelle
Furthermore, the location of New Rochelle on the Long Island Sound gives the city 14.96km of shoreline, 0.93 sq. km of public parks, and a municipal marina, making it a heaven of parklands and nature preserves, like Glen Island Park, Huguenot Park, and Hudson Park and Beach. Moreover, New Rochelle’s downtown features a Walk of Fame, art galleries, famous restaurants, and shopping retailers. New Rochelle’s neighborhoods are embedded with a mosaic of elegant, stately older homes, with delicate architecture and pretty landscaping, all located within 30 minutes away from the heart of Manhattan.
