With a population of only 1,679 people, Katonah is a rather small area. However, what it lacks in size Katonah, a hamlet within the Bedford, makes up for in charm and a quaint atmosphere that cannot be felt in many other places in the United States. This hamlet is home to a number of small boutique stores, premium restaurants, and streets lined with Victorian-era homes which all contribute to an experience for the visitor that is filled with enjoyment.
THE HISTORY OF KATONAH:
Katonah is one of three hamlets that was established within the town of Bedford. In the late 17th century, this area, once populated by Native Americans, began to become settled by Europeans who landed in the area. Years later in 1812, families started moving into the area where an eventual mill was constructed which lead to a development in the town as a whole.
In 1852, this new hamlet was given the name Katonah, one that honored the Native American chief who had originally owned the land that Bedford took up, which was a change from the original name of Whitlockville. The hamlet began to expand rapidly with the introduction of train transportation and the increased settlement of workers within the area; however, right at the peak of the area’s boom, New York City bought up the land for a reservoir that would push them out of their homes.
The city of Katonah figured they would make the best of an unfortunate situation which lead them to move the whole town to a different area while creating a fresh development focused on the integration of business and residential areas. As visitors today walk along the streets of modern-day Katonah, they will be engulfed in the history of that it is rooted in.
