Peekskill, New York
From Free net encyclopedia
Peekskill is a city located in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 22,441.
It is known as the site of the Peekskill Riots, although they technically occurred in the neighboring town of Cortlandt.
Peekskill is the birthplace of current New York Governor George Pataki as well as T.C. Boyle (born 1948), Paul Reubens (a.k.a. Pee-Wee Herman), Mel Gibson, Benjamin Civiletti, and basketball star Elton Brand. Gov. George Pataki was a Peekskill mayor and was the first upstate Governor since Franklin D. Roosevelt. However, some dispute that claim because Westchester County (even the northern portion) is usually not considered to be Upstate New York, nor is Garrison in Putnam County, where he lived when he became governor.
Peekskill is also the setting for the sitcom The Facts of Life.
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Geography
Peekskill is located at 41°17'20" North, 73°55'12" West (41.288903, -73.919987)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.2 km² (5.5 mi²). 11.2 km² (4.3 mi²) of it is land and 3.0 km² (1.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 20.99% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 22,441 people, 8,696 households, and 5,348 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,005.7/km² (5,189.7/mi²). There were 9,053 housing units at an average density of 809.1/km² (2,093.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.12% White, 25.54% African American, 0.42% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 9.83% from other races, and 4.64% from two or more races. 21.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,696 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,177, and the median income for a family was $52,645. Males had a median income of $38,091 versus $34,757 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,595. 13.7% of the population and 10.3% of families were below the poverty line. 17.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Transport
Peekskill train station provides commuter service to New York City via Metro-North Railroad. The Bear Mountain Bridge gives road access to Bear Mountain Park across the Hudson River, and to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
History
The first European to set foot in Peekskill was Jan Peeck, a fur trader from New Amsterdam who did business with the Sackhoes tribes who populated Annsville Creek and 1650. The city was then known as "Jan Peeck's Kil" to the Dutch and the English (Nb. kil is Dutch for creek).
During the American Revolutionary War, on March 23, 1777, The Battle of Peekskill was fought between 500 British soldiers and Colonial forces, ending with a British victory. Due to Peekskill's easy of accessibility from the Hudson River, Peekskill's role of regional center for military control was transferred to West Point in 1778.
Peekskill was incorporated as a village within the town of Cortlandt in 1816. It became a city on July 29, 1940.
Peekskill was the site of a meteorite fall on Oct. 9, 1992, just before midnight. The fall was recorded on film by at least 16 different people. It is only the fourth meteorite in history for which an exact orbit is known. The meteorite had a mass of 12.4 kg (27.3 lb) and punched through the trunk of Peekskill resident Michelle Knapp's red 1980 Malibu sedan as it struck.
School District
The Peekskill City School District is headed by Superintedent Judith Johnson. It consists of four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The elementary schools operated on a "neighborhood" basis until 1997. Under this system each student attended the school closest to his or her home beginning in kindergarten and ending with graduation from sixth grade. In 1997 the elementary schools were integrated, each school housing two grades. The middle school houses all seventh and eighth grade students. The high school serves grades nine through twelve.
Elementary Schools
The Uriah Hill, Jr. School houses the district's Early Childhood Education program. The ECC consists of a pre-school and a kindergarten program. The Uriah Hill, Jr. school is located at 980 Pemart Avenue. Staci DeGrace is the Director of the Early Childhood Center.
Oakside Elementary School caters to the district's first and second grade students. The school is located at 200 Decatur Avenue. Denise Wilson is the principal.
Woodside Elementary School houses the third and fourth graders. It is located on Depew Street. Mary Foster is the principal of Woodside Elemenary School.
Hillcrest Elementary School educates the district's fifth and sixth graders. It is located at 4 Horton Drive. Joseph Mosey is the principal.
Secondary Schools
Peekskill Middle School caters to the districts seventh and eighth graders. It is located at 212 Ringgold Street. Walter Chadwick is the principal. It is at this time that most of the districts students first encounter multiple teachers in one day, "homeroom", and other practices that will prepare them for high school. This also includes the New York State Rengents Exams. In seventh grade, students begin preparing for the Regents Proficiency Exam in either French or Spanish. In eighth grade the list of topics expands to include earth science and mathematics. Beginning in seventh grade, students can participate is modified, junior varsity, and varsity level sports. Most middle schoolers participate at the modified level, however for sports that do not have modified programs these students may participate at the junior varisty or varsity level.
Peekskill High School educates most of the district's ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders. The high school is located on the grounds of the original Peekskill Military Academy at 1072 Elm Street. Vincent Burrano is the principal. Students at the high school prepare for the New York State Regents Exams in science, language, mathematics, history and english. In addition to the Regents curriculum, the high school also offers Advanced Placement courses. These courses prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Exams offered by the College Board in early May. The high School offers many clubs and sports for students to enrich their in-school experiences. The sports are divided into three seasons; fall, winter, and spring. Football, Women's Swimming, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's Soccer, Women's Tennis, and Women's Volleyball are offered in the Fall. Basketball, Bowling, Winter Track, Wrestling, and Men's Swimming are offered in the Winter. Baseball, Softball, Golf, Lacrosse, Men's Tennis, and Track are offered in the Spring. Many students participate in one or more sports, in addition to one or more of the numerous clubs offered year-round.