Editing Putnam Valley, New York (section)

== History ==
The retreating glaciers of the last ice age did much to shape the landscape of Putnam Valley, including the shearing of hills to expose springs (creating, for example, [[Bryant Pond (New York)|Bryant Pond]]) and leaving the glacial deposits of stone and large boulders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surficial Geology |url=https://www.putnamvalleyresidents.com/NRI%20files%20by%20chapter/Surficial%20Geology.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308065617/https://www.putnamvalleyresidents.com/NRI%20files%20by%20chapter/Surficial%20Geology.pdf |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |access-date=February 4, 2024 |website=Putnam Valley Residents}}</ref> The current area of Putnam Valley was occupied by paleo-Indians, followed by the historic [[Wappinger]] Indians who lived by the many lakes. Dutch and English farmers moved into the area toward the end of the 17th Century.<ref name=nytimes1990>{{Cite news|title=If You're Thinking of Living in: Putnam Valley|first=Terry|last=Raskyn|date=March 18, 1990|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://nyti.ms/2UILD3O}}</ref>

In 1697, the Highland Patent was granted to Adolph Philipse. The first settlers arrived ''circa'' 1740. In 1745, the Smith property was sold to the Bryant family, who renamed their pond Bryant Pond and the nearby hill, Bryant Hill. The Smith family homestead is the oldest house in Putnam Valley, located just east of the [[Taconic Parkway]] on Bryant Pond Road.

Putnam Valley incorporated in 1839 as the town of Quincy, when it was separated from the town of [[Philipstown, New York|Philipstown]], and it took the name "Putnam Valley" in 1840, possibly because local inhabitants were not favorably impressed by [[John Quincy Adams]].<ref name=nytimes1990/>

In 1861, a small part of the town of [[Carmel, New York|Carmel]] was added to Putnam Valley.