Editing Peekskill, New York

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Peekskill, New York
| official_name      = City of Peekskill
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = File:Division and Park, Peekskill, NY.jpg
| imagesize          = 300px
| image_caption      = Downtown Peekskill
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = Peekskill, NY Seal.gif<!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Westchester County New York incorporated and unincorporated areas Peekskill highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_caption        = Location in Westchester County and New York
| image_map1         = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-align=center|zoom=9|id=Q876191|type=shape}}
| map_caption1       = Interactive map of Peekskill
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|New York}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in New York|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Vivian C. McKenzie ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title1      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name1       = Matthew Alexander
| leader_title2      = [[City Council|Common Council]]
| leader_name2       = {{Collapsible list
 |title       = Members' List
 |frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 |title_style = <!-- (optional) -->
 |list_style  = text-align:left;display:none;
 |1           = • Patricia Riley ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) Deputy Mayor
 |2           = • Kathleen Talbot ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
 |3           = • Robert Scott ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
 |4           = • Dwight H. Douglas ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
 |5           = • Ramon A. Fernandez ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
 |6           = • Brian Fassett ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
}}
| established_title  = [[Incorporation (municipal government)|Incorporated]] (village)
| established_date   = {{start date and age|1816}}
| established_title2 = Incorporated (city)
| established_date2  = {{start date and age|1940}}
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 14.43
| area_land_km2      = 11.25
| area_water_km2     = 3.18
| area_total_sq_mi   = 5.57
| area_land_sq_mi    = 4.34
| area_water_sq_mi   = 1.23

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 25431
| population_density_km2 = 2260.30
| population_density_sq_mi = 5854.28

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 39
| elevation_ft       = 128
| coordinates        = {{Coord|41|17|N|73|55|W|region:US-NY_type:city(24,000)|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code        = 10566
| area_code          = [[Area code 914|914]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 36-56979
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0960097
| website            = {{URL|https://www.cityofpeekskillny.gov/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Peekskill''' is a city in northwestern [[Westchester County, New York]], United States, {{convert|35|miles|km}} north of [[New York City]]. Established as a village in 1816, it was incorporated as a city in 1940. It lies on a bay along the east side of the [[Hudson River]], across from [[Jones Point, New York|Jones Point]] in [[Rockland County, New York|Rockland County]]. The population was 25,431 at the [[2020 US census|2020 U.S. census]], up from 23,583 at the [[2010 US census|2010 census]]. It is the third-largest municipality in northern Westchester County, after [[Cortlandt, New York|Cortlandt]] and [[Yorktown, New York|Yorktown]].
 
The area was an early American industrial center, primarily for iron plow and stove products. The [[Crayola|Binney & Smith Company]], now named Crayola LLC and makers of [[Crayola]] products, is linked to the Peekskill Chemical Company founded by Joseph Binney at Annsville in 1864, and succeeded by a partnership by his son Edwin and nephew Harold Smith in 1885. 
 
The well-publicized [[Peekskill Riots]] of 1949 involved attacks and a [[lynching]]-in-effigy occasioned by [[Paul Robeson]]'s benefit concerts for the [[Civil Rights Congress]], although the main assault following the September concert properly took place in nearby [[Van Cortlandtville]]. Nevertheless, the city of Peekskill has since had multiple African American mayors since 1984.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/23/nyregion/peekskill-mayor-looks-to-growth.html|title=Peekskill Mayor Looks to Growth|last=Williams|first=Lena|work=The New York Times|date=December 23, 1984|access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite news|url=https://www.cityofpeekskill.com/mayor-and-common-council/pages/mayor-andre-rainey|title=Mayor Andre Rainey|publisher=City of Peekskill|access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bejF5O-tvasC&q=Peekskill+first+Black+Mayor&pg=PA77|title=Richard E. Jackson: The New Man On Top In Peekskill|first=A. Peter|last=Bailey|date=April 1985|publisher=Ebony|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://brooklyn.news12.com/northern-westchester-voters-eye-race-for-peekskill-mayor|title=Vivian McKenzie declares victory in Peekskill mayoral race|publisher=News 12 Brooklyn|date=November 2, 2021|access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

==History==

===Pre-Revolution===
In September 1609, English explorer [[Henry Hudson]], captain of the ''[[Halve Maen (ship)|Half Moon]]'', anchored along the reach of the [[Hudson River]] at Peekskill. His first mate noted in the ship's log that it was a "very pleasant place to build a town".<ref>{{Citation  | last = Sandler   | first = Corey   | title =  Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession   | publisher = Citadel Press   | year = 2007   | isbn = 978-0806528533   }}</ref> After the establishment of the province of [[New Netherland]], [[New Amsterdam]] resident Jan Peeck made the first recorded contact with the [[Lenape]] people of this area, then identified as "Sachoes".{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} The date is not certain (possibly early 1640s), but agreements and merchant transactions took place, formalized in the Ryck's Patent Deed of April 21, 1685.
[[File:BookRecords190L.jpg|thumb|First page of Ryck's patent with the name of Sachem Sirham, chief of the Sachoes.]] Peekskill'' derives from a combination of Peeck's surname and the Dutch word for stream, ''[[kill (creek)|kil]]'' or ''kill''.

==Indian Village of Sachoes==
Not much is currently known about the village of the Sachoes or their origin. It was suggested by city historian Charles Arthur Clark that the grove of tall pine trees that the Sachoes lived amongst were "not a native of this region, so it is believed that Indians must have brought them from somewhere, and planted them. The same may be believed about the cluster of weeping willow trees indicated."<ref>[https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252024%2FPeekskill%2520NY%2520Evening%2520Star%2FPeekskill%2520NY%2520Evening%2520Star%25201951%2FPeekskill%2520NY%2520Evening%2520Star%25201951%2520-%25202341.pdf%23xml%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.fultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D7d66ca56%26DocId%3D1322236%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cDISK%2520X%26HitCount%3D1%26hits%3D544%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252024%2FPeekskill%2520NY%2520Evening%2520Star%2FPeekskill%2520NY%2520Evening%2520Star%25201951%2FPeekskill%2520NY%2520Evening%2520Star%25201951%2520-%25202341.pdf&xml=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D7d66ca56%26DocId%3D1322236%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cDISK%2520X%26HitCount%3D1%26hits%3D544%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false Indian Village of Sachoes], fultonhistory.com. Accessed April 11, 2024.</ref>

The last known Sachem (chief) of the Sachoes at the time of the signing of Ryck's Patent was named Sirham.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.westchesterarchives.com/ht/muni/wca/deedFull.html# | title=Ryck's Patent }}</ref> 
After trading with Jan Peeck for a considerable amount of the time, the Sachoes began calling the creek where he set up his trading post as "John Peek's Creek" and is likely how the city's name came to be.<ref>[https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2024/Peekskill%20NY%20Evening%20Star/Peekskill%20NY%20Evening%20Star%201937/Peekskill%20NY%20Evening%20Star%201937%20-%200208.pdf Peekskill history], fultonhistory.com. Accessed April 11, 2024.</ref>

Some early writings regarding the Natives and Peekskill refer to the last Sachem as "Saham." Other names quoted as the locality now known as Peekskill were Sachus, Sackhoes and Sackock. They are equivalents and refer to the outlet of Magregere's Brook and have the same meaning - "at the mouth or outlet of a creek or river." Their territory extended from this brook to Dickey Brook which runs through Depew Park and Blue Mountain Reservation. Sachus is regarded as the first Sachem of Sachoes. This name can be translated "black kettle".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433062527019&seq=20 | title=Pioneers, patriots, and people, past and present; a history of Peekskill, New York --- }}</ref> After the signing of the patent, portions of then Van Cortlandt Manor, north of Magregories brook remained in its wilderness state and the natives roamed the entire section until approximately 1742.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433062527019&seq=40 | title=Pioneers, patriots, and people, past and present; a history of Peekskill, New York --- }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/51218/51218-h/51218-h.htm#i274c | title=1906 Proceedings NY Hist. Asoc. }}</ref>

===Appearance in World's End===
The Sachoe tribe play a prominent role in World's End, a novel by [[T. C. Boyle]] which takes place in a fictitious version of Peekskill named Peterskill.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

==Fort Independence==
[[File:Fort Independence on the Hudson.jpg|thumb|left|Fort Independence on the Hudson, depicted on an improved, published version of British commander-in-chief [[Henry Clinton (American War of Independence)|Sir Henry Clinton]]'s battle map of October 6, 1777]]
[[File:Fort Hill Park.jpg|thumb|Eastern redoubt on Fort Hill Park]]
On the north bank of Annsville Creek as it empties into the Hudson, Fort Independence combined with Forts [[Fort Montgomery (Hudson River)|Montgomery]] and [[Fort Clinton|Clinton]] to defend the Hudson River Valley. Fort Independence was built in August 1776, while Forts Montgomery and Clinton were started in June.<ref name=Dunwell>Dunwell, F.F., 1991, The Hudson River highlands, New York: Columbia University Press; {{ISBN|0231070438}}</ref>{{rp|18}} Fort Hill Park, the site of Camp Peekskill, contained five barracks and two redoubts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://peekskillmuseum.org/about-the-museum/peekskill-history-summary/ |title=History and Events in Peekskill &#124; Peekskill History Summary |publisher=The Peekskill Museum |date=July 29, 1940 |access-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109224524/http://peekskillmuseum.org/about-the-museum/peekskill-history-summary/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/about/pdfs/newsclippings/JrnlNwsFrtHll3-27-05.pdf |title=Peekskill officials dot historic mountain with plaques |website=Hudsonrivervalley.org |access-date=January 8, 2016 |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113023351/http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/about/pdfs/newsclippings/JrnlNwsFrtHll3-27-05.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Settlement was slow in the early 18th century. By the time of the [[American Revolution]], the tiny community was an important manufacturing center, which made it attractive to the [[Continental Army]], which established an outpost here in 1776.{{citation needed|date=January 2016}} Several creeks and streams powered mills, which provided gunpowder, leather, planks, and flour. Slaughterhouses provided fresh meat, easily shipped from docks along the river. Much was needed to support several other forts and garrisons located to support the [[Hudson River Chains]] between [[Bear Mountain Bridge]] and [[Anthony's Nose (Westchester)|Anthony's Nose]] during the Revolution to prevent British naval passage upriver.

Though Peekskill's terrain and mills were beneficial to the Patriot cause, they also made tempting targets for British raids. The most damaging attack took place in early spring of 1777, when an invasion force of a dozen vessels led by a warship and supported by infantry overwhelmed the American defenders. On leaving New Windsor in June 1781, Washington briefly established his quarters at Peekskill.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lossing|first=Benson|title=The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution|publisher=Harper & Brothers, Publishers |year=1859|pages=734, 681}}</ref>

==Post-Revolution==
{{More citations needed section |date=April 2024}}
{{main|Peekskill Riots}}
[[File:South Street, Peekskill, NY.jpg|thumb|right|South Street in 1908]]
Peekskill's first legal [[Municipal corporation|incorporation]] of 1816 was reactivated in 1826 when Village elections took place. The Village was further incorporated within the [[Cortlandt, New York|Town of Cortlandt]] in 1849 and remained so until separating as a city in 1940.

In 1859, [[Henry Ward Beecher]] bought a 36-acre farm at Peekskill. He made many improvements and established a summer home for his family.<ref>{{cite book|author=Beecher, William C.|author2=Scoville, Rev. Samuel|title=A biography of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.$b716280;view=1up;seq=629|year=1891|location=London|publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co|pages=619–623|postscript=; with the assistance of Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher}}</ref> In 1902, the locally prominent McFadden family bought the property. In 1987, the [[Beecher-McFadden Estate]] was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

In August 1949, following reports misquoting [[Paul Robeson]]'s speech to the [[World Peace Council#Paris and Prague 1949|World Peace Conference]] in Paris as saying that [[African Americans]] would not fight for the United States in any prospective war against the [[Soviet Union]], a planned benefit concert for the [[Civil Rights Congress]] in Peekskill was canceled amid [[racism in the United States|White Nationalist]] and [[Red Scare|anti-communist]] violence. An effigy of Robeson was [[lynching|lynched]] in the town. The artists planned a second concert in nearby [[Van Cortlandtville]]<ref>Ford, Carin T. ''Paul Robeson: I Want to Make Freedom Ring'', Ch.&nbsp;9, p.&nbsp;97. 2008.</ref> on a farm owned by a Holocaust survivor. (His house was subsequently shot into and brickbats thrown through his windows.) The publicity drew a crowd of around 20,000, and two men with rifles were discovered and removed before any violence during the concert. It was one of the earliest performances of [[Pete Seeger]]'s "[[If I Had a Hammer]]"; Robeson sang surrounded by union guards and volunteers from the audience as protection against snipers. Afterward, area police and [[New York State Troopers|state troopers]] directed exiting traffic down a single road into an ambush where rocks were thrown through car windows (even at cars with small children). Some were overturned and their occupants beaten without police intervention. These [[Peekskill Riots]] were subsequently well-publicized in news reports and folk songs and formed a major event in [[E.L. Doctorow]]'s historical fiction novel ''[[The Book of Daniel (novel)|The Book of Daniel]]''.

Peekskill was the landing point of a fragment of the [[Peekskill Meteorite]], just before midnight on October 9, 1992. At least 16 people recorded the meteoric trail on film.<ref>{{Cite APOD|date=November 19, 2006|title=The Car, the Hole, and the Peekskill Meteorite|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref> This was only the fourth meteorite in history for which an exact orbit is known. The rock had a mass of {{convert|27.7|lb}} and punched through the trunk of a Peekskill resident's automobile upon impact.

The ''Peekskill Evening Star'' and the ''Peekskill Highland Democrat'' were two of the city's daily newspapers through much of the city's history. The ''Evening Star'' published under various mastheads from the 19th century on, and as the ''Evening Star'' from 1939 until 1985, when the paper folded into what became the nexus of the ''Journal News'', a conglomeration of local papers throughout Westchester County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nywcgs/wcgsrs10.htm |title=Westchester County Newspaper Collections |publisher=Rootsweb.ancestry.com |date=May 27, 2001 |access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> But the ''Journal News'' focused more on statewide and New York City issues, which led to the founding of the ''Peekskill Herald'' in 1986.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5278/is_199811/ai_n24339292/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629225217/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5278/is_199811/ai_n24339292/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2014 |work=Westchester County Business Journal |title=New owner has ambitious plans for Peekskill Herald |year=1998 }}</ref> Although numerous prominent citizens came together to try to keep the paper afloat after a series of [[New York Times]] articles about the paper's foundering fiscal situation, it folded in 2005, replaced by the ''Peekskill Daily'' in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://peekskilldaily.com |title=peekskilldaily.com |publisher=peekskilldaily.com |access-date=April 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218054604/http://peekskilldaily.com/ |archive-date=December 18, 2014 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/08/nyregion/paper-fights-to-stay-alive.html?pagewanted=all | work=The New York Times | title=Paper Fights To Stay Alive | first=Claudia | last=Rowe | date=June 8, 1997 | access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref>

The Centennial Firehouse, built in 1890, was under a [[U.S. Route 9 in New York|U.S. Route 9]] bridge. During the bridge's original construction in 1932, part of the roof of the firehouse was removed. As part of a 2008 highway reconstruction project it was to be relocated to a new historic district.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/10firehousewe.html |title= A Peekskill Firehouse on the Move |newspaper= The New York Times |date= August 9, 2008}}</ref> The city spent $150,000 in grant money in preparing the building. Unfortunately a mechanical failure during a turn caused the building to collapse.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/NEWS/808210453 |title= Historic Peekskill firehouse collapses in move |publisher=Lohud.com}}</ref>

In 1984, [[Richard E. Jackson]] became Peekskill's first African American mayor.<ref name="auto" /><ref name="auto2" />

==Geography==
Peekskill is located at {{Coord|41|17|N|73|55|W|type:city}} (41.2889, −73.9200)<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> in northwestern [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|5.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|4.3|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi|km2}} (20.99%) is water. The city's eastern border is the [[Cortlandt, New York|Town of Cortlandt]] and its western border is the [[Hudson River]].{{clarify|What about north and south?|date=August 2021}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 6560
|1880= 6893
|1890= 9676
|1900= 10358
|1910= 15245
|1920= 15868
|1930= 17125
|1940= 17311
|1950= 17731
|1960= 18737
|1970= 19283
|1980= 18236
|1990= 19536
|2000= 22441
|2010= 23583
|2020= 25431
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 23,583 people living in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 35.8% White, 21.4% Black, 0.2% Native American, 2.9% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from some other race and 2.5% from two or more races. 36.9% were [[Hispanic and Latino (ethnic categories)|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race. The [[American Community Survey]] in 2020, the city was 13.8% [[Ecuadorian Americans|Ecuadorian]], 10.4% was [[Puerto Ricans|Puerto Rican]], 4.9% [[Guatemalan Americans|Guatemalan]].

As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 22,441 people, 8,696 households, and 5,348 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|5,189.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 9,053 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,093.6|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 57.12% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 25.54% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.42% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.38% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 9.83% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.64% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 21.92% of the population.

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. About 10.3% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line.

[[File:Peekskill Landing, Hudson River Teapot - William Ridgway & Company, Hanley, England, c. 1845, glazed earthenware - Brooklyn Museum - DSC09118.JPG|thumb|[[Transfer-printed]] teapot for the American market, c. 1845, showing Peekskill Landing, [[Ridgway Potteries|William Ridgway & Company]], Hanley, England]]

==Arts and culture==
Some local art-related highlights included [http://paramounthudsonvalley.com/ Paramount Center for the Arts], a restored 1930 movie palace that served as the area's cultural hub, offering music, comedy, drama and independent films before suspending operations in 2012 and reopening in 2013 as the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater; STUDIO No.9 Gallery and Workshops; and the Peekskill Coffee House, which showcases local acts. The Bean Runner Cafe, on South Division Street, and 12 Grapes, on North Division Street, also showcase local artists and musicians.

The Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art (Hudson Valley MOCA), formerly known as the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, has a 12,000-foot exhibition space and an artist-in-residence program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art |url=https://www.sothebys.com/en/museums/hudson-valley-museum-of-contemporary-art |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216100026/https://www.sothebys.com/en/museums/hudson-valley-museum-of-contemporary-art |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=Sotheby's}}</ref>

==Media==
Locally owned [[WLNA]] 1420 AM has served the community since 1948.

==Parks==<!-- "Depew Park" redirects to this section, please update the redirect if changing the section header -->
The town has several parks and recreation areas, including Charles Point, with bay and river views; Depew Park, which has pools and a pond in addition to ballfields and trails and is the home of the Recreation Department headquarters; Franklin Park; Lepore Park; Fort Hill Park; Peekskill Dog Park; Peekskill Stadium; Riverfront Green Park; and Tompkins Park (home of Little League).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cityofpeekskill.com/parks-and-recreation/pages/depew-park|title=Depew Park {{!}} Peekskill NY|website=www.cityofpeekskill.com|language=en|access-date=January 18, 2017}}</ref>

==Education==

===Primary and secondary schools===
The [[Peekskill City School District]] is the local school district, covering the entire city,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36119_westchester/DC20SD_C36119.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Westchester County, NY|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2024-10-16}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st36_ny/schooldistrict_maps/c36119_westchester/DC20SD_C36119_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> with [[Peekskill High School]] the main high school.

The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York]] operates Catholic schools in Westchester County. Our Lady of the Assumption School in Peekskill closed in 2013.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|author=Otterman, Sharon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/nyregion/new-york-archdiocese-to-close-24-schools.html?_r=0|title=New York Archdiocese to Close 24 Schools|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 23, 2013|access-date=January 25, 2014}}</ref> The closest Catholic school to Peekskill is St. Columbanus School, which is in Cortlandt Manor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=St. Columbanus School|url=https://st-columbanus.com/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=St. Columbanus School|language=en}}</ref>

==Healthcare==
Peekskill is served by the Hudson Valley Hospital Center (HVHC), founded in 1889 as [[Hudson Valley Hospital|Peekskill Hospital]] on lower South Street. In 2014, the hospital began an affiliation with [[New York-Presbyterian Hospital]] and is now called New York Presbyterian – Hudson Valley Hospital.

The hospital has 128 inpatient beds and includes a comprehensive cancer center, maternity center, neonatal intensive care unit, and surgery center, among other patient care services.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/14/nyregion/hospital-is-haunted-by-history-of-deals-with-board-members.html|title=Hospital Is Haunted by History of Deals With Board Members|date=March 14, 1999|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hvhc.org/patient-service.html|title=Patient Services in Yorktown Heights, Peekskill & More – NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hvhc.org/about-us/about-your-hospital/history.html|title=History – NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref>

The city also has an emergency medical service staffed by [[Emergency Medical Technician|EMTs]] and [[paramedic]]s from the city's fire department and volunteer ambulance corps. The fire department staffs seven EMTs and eight paramedics whereas the volunteer corps has 60 active riding members. Most patients are transported to NYP-Hudson Valley Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pcvac.org/|title=Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityofpeekskill.com/fire/pages/emergency-medical-services|title=Emergency Medical Services|access-date=April 26, 2016}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:Peekskill railroad station crossover.jpg|thumb|The [[Peekskill station]]]]
[[Peekskill, New York train station|Peekskill train station]] provides commuter service to [[New York City]], {{convert|41|mi|km}} away via [[Metro-North Railroad]]. The [[Bee-Line Bus System]] provides bus service to Peekskill on routes 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 31. The [[Bear Mountain Bridge]], {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} to the northwest, gives road access to [[Bear Mountain State Park]] across the [[Hudson River]], [[Palisades Interstate Parkway]] and to the [[United States Military Academy]] at West Point via [[U.S. Route 6 in New York|US 6]] and [[U.S. Route 202 in New York|US 202]]. The Croton Expressway portion of [[U.S. Route 9 in New York|US 9]] ends here. [[New York State Route 9A|NY 9A]] and [[New York State Route 35|NY 35]] also run through the city.
{{Clear}}

==Notable people==
[[File:Seth Pomeroy Monument.jpg|thumb|Memorial in Hillside Cemetery to Major General [[Seth Pomeroy]] of the Massachusetts militia, who died in Peekskill en route to providing aid to General [[George Washington]] in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War]]

* [[Hilton Armstrong]], [[NBA]] basketball professional, is a Peekskill High School graduate.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/>
* [[Reggie Austin (actor)|Reggie Austin]], an actor, was born in Peekskill and is a Peekskill High School Graduate.
* [[Peter Bagge]], a noted cartoonist, was born and brought up in Peekskill.
* [[Becca Balint]], Congresswoman for [[Vermont's at-large congressional district]], raised in Peekskill<ref>{{cite book |last=Condos |first=James |date=2014 |title=Biographical Sketches of Federal and State Officers and Members of the General Assembly of 2015–2016 |url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/645867/Bio-Sketch-Book.pdf |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |page=20}}</ref>
* [[Moses S. Beach]], politician, [[The Sun (New York City)|New York Sun]]'s owner, friend of [[Mark Twain]]
* [[Henry Ward Beecher]] was an influential Civil War-era minister who built his family mansion on East Main Street in 1878.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/>
* [[T. C. Boyle]], a novelist, is a former Peekskill resident.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/>
* [[Elton Brand]], an [[NBA]] All-Star basketball professional, is a Peekskill High School graduate.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/> Brand is now General Manager of the [[Philadelphia 76ers]]. 
* [[Benjamin Civiletti]], a former United States Attorney General and attorney, was born in Peekskill.  
*[[Harriet Redfield Cobb]], longtime math professor at [[Smith College]], born in Peekskill
* [[Chauncey Depew]] was chairman of the board of the [[New York Central Railroad]] and then served as a United States senator for New York.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/>
* [[File:Peekskill and Waterfront.jpg|thumb|Downtown Peekskill]][[Abel Ferrara]], an independent filmmaker, was born in the Bronx, moved to Peekskill as a child and graduated from high school there.
* [[Mel Gibson]], actor, director, producer and screenwriter, was born in Peekskill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/feb/29/religion.world|work=The Guardian|access-date=2021-05-01|title=Passion player|date=February 29, 2004}}</ref>
* [[Jackie Gleason]], actor and comedian, lived in Peekskill from 1959 to 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/28/jackie-gleasons-round-house|title=Jackie Gleason's Round House|date=April 1960|publisher=Popular Mechanix|access-date=November 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231023657/http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2007/12/28/jackie-gleasons-round-house/|archive-date=December 31, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ujk0AAAAIBAJ&pg=5347,7607716&dq=jackie+gleason+round+home&hl=en|title=Jackie Gleason's fabulous home is now up for sale|author=Statham, Richard|date=July 31, 1963|newspaper=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=November 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ChUmAAAAIBAJ&pg=5930,4180792&dq=jackie+gleason+circular+home&hl=en|title=Here's House For Sale, Jackie Gleason Special|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|access-date=November 21, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Theodore Haupt]], American [[modernism|modernist]] artist, lived in Peekskill from 1941 until 1948.
* [[Samuel Frost Haviland]], established first bank in [[Chile]].
* [[James W. Husted (Representative)|James William Husted]] was a U.S. Representative from New York.
* [[Richard E. Jackson]], a former Peekskill mayor, was the first African-American mayor in New York State.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/>
* [[Tre Johnson]], a former NFL lineman, graduated from Peekskill High School, and had a nine-year NFL career highlighted by his selection to the 2000 Pro Bowl with the [[Washington Redskins]].
* [[Malcolm Koonce]], [[NFL]] Defensive End for the [[Los Vegas Raiders]]
*[[Sean Murphy (baseball)|Sean Murphy]], [[MLB]] catcher for the [[Atlanta Braves]]
* [[George Pataki]], former New York Governor was born in Peekskill. He served as Peekskill's mayor from 1981 to 1984.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.peekskillartscouncil.org/peekskill.php|publisher=Peekskill Arts Council|title=Prominent Peekskill People|year=2007|archive-date=August 14, 2007|access-date=December 10, 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814111658/http://www.peekskillartscouncil.org/peekskill.php}}</ref> 
* [[Cornelius A. Pugsley]] was a congressman and preservationist whose name is still attached to a national preservation award for public parks.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/>
* [[Paul Reubens]], an entertainer (aka [[Pee-wee Herman]]) <ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/>
* [[Kirtanananda Swami]] Bhaktipada (born Keith Gordon Ham), [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|Hare Krishna]] guru<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.henrydoktorski.com/nv/bhaktipada.html|title=New Vrindaban: The Black Sheep of ISKCON|publisher=Henrydoktorski.com|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Herb Trimpe]], a longtime [[Marvel Comics]] artist (''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'') was raised in Peekskill.<ref name="ggb">{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/jonhulkholt/trimpe.interview.1.html |title=Green Skin's Grab-Bag: "An Interview with Herb Trimpe" |publisher=Webcitation.org |access-date=April 25, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091026050013/http://www.geocities.com/jonhulkholt/trimpe.interview.1.html |archive-date=October 26, 2009 }}</ref>
* [[Stanley Tucci]], an actor, was born in Peekskill.<ref name="peekskillartscouncil.org"/>

==Popular culture==
The 1980s American [[sitcom]] ''[[The Facts of Life (TV series)|The Facts of Life]]'' was about teenagers and young women who attend a fictional all-girls' boarding school in Peekskill, Eastland School for Girls (inspired by a now-defunct all-girls school that still overlooks the city) and similarly fictional Langley College.

==See also==
* [[Depew Park]]
* [[Lincoln Depot Museum]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Peekskill, New York]]
* [[Peekskill Freight Depot]]
* [[Standard House]]
* [[The Waterfront]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cityofpeekskill.com/ }}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070814111658/http://www.peekskillartscouncil.org/peekskill.php Article about Peekskill which includes St. Mary's as being influential to ''The Facts of Life'' ]}}
*''[http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Pee Tocqueville in Peekskill]'' – Segment from [[C-SPAN]]'s ''[[Alexis de Tocqueville Tour]]''

{{Westchester County, New York}}
{{New York}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{Hudson River}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Peekskill, New York| ]]
[[Category:Cities in New York (state)]]
[[Category:New York (state) populated places on the Hudson River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1684]]
[[Category:Cities in Westchester County, New York]]
[[Category:Cities in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1684 establishments in the Province of New York]]