Westchester County apartments for rent

Westchester County, New York, covers an area of 450 square miles. It was named after the city of Chester in England, and its county seat is White Plains.

Westchester became the first large-scale suburb in the world, as entire communities began to be built for upper middle-class residents in the late 19th century. Today, the median income for a household of one person in Westchester County is $75,427; for a family of four, $96,500. Westchester County ranks as the second-wealthiest county in New York State, and the seventh-wealthiest county nationally – some of the country’s wealthiest families live here, and have for generations. Many built castles befitting their wealth; or at least, mansions that looked like castles.

Castle on the Hudson is an authentic, turn-of-the-century Norman-style castle built on the highest point in the county. General Howard Carroll employed architect Henry F. Kilburn to design the castle in 1897. Originally named “Carrolcliffe” the structure required more than 100 craftsmen several years to complete. Howard Carroll died in 1916. Members of his family occupied the castle until 1940. Today, the Castle on the Hudson is an upscale inn and special event facility.

The Glenview, completed in 1877 by the John Bond Trevor family, is considered one of the finest examples of an American Eastlake interior open to the public. New York architect Charles Clinton incorporated several architectural styles popular at the time, including Gothic revival and Renaissance revival. After Mr. Trevor died in 1890, Mrs. Trevor continued to live at Glenview until her death in 1922. The city of Yonkers purchased the Trevor estate. The Hudson River Museum has occupied the Mansion since late 1924.

Kykuit commands a breathtaking view of the Hudson River. Its landscape features extensive stone terraces, fountains and nearly 100 acres of formal gardens. For a century, it was a private paradise for the Rockefeller family. The stone coach barn features the family’s carriages and automobiles. Public tours of Kykuit are available April through October, daily except Tuesday.