Distance from Millwood, NY to NYC: 31 Miles

Chappaqua and Millwood are villages in the town of New Castle.  These enchanting communities of lush greenery and rolling hills offer beautiful public parks with hiking trails, superb playing fields, opportunities for tennis, soccer, skating, gging and biking on the North County Bike Trailway. There are several private swim and tennis clubs and public and private golf courses in the Millwood, NY area.

It's easy to commute to Manhattan from Millwood, NY. You will find convenient parking at the Chappaqua metro-north train station for residents of the town of New Castle.

History
In the early 1730s a group of Quakers moved north from Purchase, New York, to settle in present-day Chappaqua. They built their homes on Quaker Street and held their meetings at the home of Abel Weeks. Their meeting house was built in 1753 and still holds weekly meetings each Sunday.

Various spellings were used for the name they heard Native Americans use for their valley and hillside. It was an Algonquian word, "shah-pah-ka," and it meant "the rustling land" or "the rattling land," or a place where nothing is heard but the rustling of the wind in the leaves. The Quakers spelled it Shapiqua, Shapaqua, Shapequa, Shappaqua, and, finally, Chappaqua. Their meeting was often referred to as the Shapequa Meeting as early as 1745.  Millwood was originally settled as Sarlesville. The area now known as Millwood appears on 19th century maps as Merritt's Corners.
 
Creation of the Town of New Castle: On March 18, 1791, the government of New York decided to split the overly large town of North Castle (jokingly called "the two saddlebags") into two smaller towns, one of which was named New Castle. The border was drawn from the southwest corner of Bedford to the northeast edge of Mount Pleasant. New Castle's borders have remained the same since 1791, except for a small piece of land received from Somers in 1846.

Early Businesses: Chappaqua had great streams such as the Saw Mill River and the Roaring Brook. These bodies of water were used to power mills used to crush corn and press oil from beans. The eastern half of Chappaqua was very suitable for farming. The majority of the Quaker settlers of Chappaqua were farmers. The popular farming industry also helped give way to Chappaqua's high milk production. Other popular industries from Chappaqua included shoes, hardware, vinegar, pickles, eyeglasses, and furniture.

Railroad: In 1846 when the New York and Harlem Railroad extended through Chappaqua, business became centered on the new train station. These businesses included a hotel, livery stables, a public library, and various stores and small factories.  The coming of the railroad marked the arrival of the commuter, the tireless person who traveled to New York City and back everyday. One very famous commuter who would make his way back and forth from Chappaqua to New York City was Horace Greeley. Horace Greeley was a very successful editor of the New York Tribune, which he started in 1841 when he was only 30 years of age. This free-thinker and politician came to Chappaqua to live out the quiet and peaceful life of a country farmer. In 1853 he bought 78 acres of land just east of the railroad. His land included upland pastures near present-day Aldrich Road, Greeley Hill, and the marshy fields now the site of the Bell Middle School fields and the shopping area along South Greeley Avenue. Horace and his wife loved the streams, the large evergreen trees, and their clean, fresh, ice-cold spring. Horace Greeley's house still stands on King Street, just east of the train station and South Greeley Avenue and is home to the historical society.

Local Links and Places of Interest
 

Millwood, NY Parks and Recreation

Millwood, NY Cultural Centers/Landmarks

Millwood, NY Places of Worship

Millwood, NY Schools/Educational Facilities

Millwood, NY Golf and Swim Clubs

Millwood, NY Neighborhoods/Community Organizations

Millwood, NY (10546) ~ Town of New Castle

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