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city in Westchester County, New York, United States
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Rye is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, within the New York City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, Rye had a population of 16,592. It received its charter as a city in 1942, making it the most recent such charter in the state. The city has an area of 5.85 square miles.
Rye is notable for its waterfront, and two National Historic Landmarks (NHLs). The first NHL is the Boston Post Road Historic District, designated in 1993. It is also the only National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) in Westchester County, and includes the Jay Estate, the childhood home and final resting place of John Jay, a Founding Father and the first Chief Justice of the United States, Marshlands Conservancy, Rye Golf Club, Lounsbury and the Jay Cemetery. The second NHL in Rye is Playland, a historic amusement park designated in 1987, which features one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the Northeast, the Dragon Coaster.
Rye was once a part of Fairfield County, Connecticut, belonging to the Sachem Ponus, of the Ponus Wekuwuhm, Canaan Parish, and was probably named for that chieftain, "Peningoe Neck".
It was founded in 1660 by three men: Thomas Studwell, Peter Disbrow, and John Coe. Later prominent landowners included John Budd and family. Rye officially became part of the Province of New York and Westchester County in 1683 when Connecticut Colony ceded the town as part of a boundary agreement, though a final legal dispute over the boundary was not fully resolved until 1700. (Rye attempted to secede from New York and rejoin the Connecticut Colony in 1697. This brief rebellion, known as the "Revolt of Rye," lasted until 1700.)
During the 19th and early 20th centuries it was a haven for wealthy Manhattanites who traveled by coach or boat to escape the city heat. Its location on Long Island Sound and numerous beaches also appealed to visitors with more moderate means who gravitated for short stays at cottages and waterfront hotels.
It is noted for having many buildings with architectural distinction that help visually articulate specific neighborhoods and districts.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km2), of which 5.9 sq mi (15 km2) is land and 14.2 sq mi (37 km2) is water.
Rye is "situated in the eastern part of central Westchester County on Long Island Sound. The western border of the City generally parallels Beaver Swamp Brook, while the eastern border is formed by Milton Harbor and the Sound. Blind Brook traverses the City from the northwest corner of Rye to Milton Harbor at the southern end."
The geology and hydrology of Rye is characterized by a significant quantity of rock, marshes and wetlands which makes the city both desirably scenic but also challenging for developers.
Rye's bedrock is predominantly constituted of Fordham gneiss and Harrison diorite also known as Byram Black granite.
According to Rye's 1985 Master Plan, "Rye contains a variety of environmentally significant areas. Numerous tidal and freshwater wetlands are found near the waterfront and brooks. The Milton Harbor area (including the Marshlands Conservancy and Rye Golf Club), Disbrow Park and the Manursing area contain the most extensive wetlands in the City. In addition, substantial areas near the Sound, Milton Harbor, Blind Brook and Beaver Swamp Brook are within the 100 year flood hazard area, and thus subject to potential flooding." According to the City of Rye, "Considerable acreage of these important natural resources has been lost or impaired by draining, dredging, filling, excavating, building, polluting and other acts inconsistent with the natural uses of such areas. Remaining wetlands are in jeopardy of being lost, despoiled or impaired by such acts contrary to the public safety and welfare." As a result, the city has charged itself with the responsibility of "preventing the despoilation and destruction of wetlands and watercourses while taking into account varying ecological, economic, recreational and aesthetic values. Activities that may damage wetlands or watercourses should be located on upland sites in such a manner as not to degrade these systems."
In 2017, Rye resident and then New York State Senator George Latimer noted that wetlands maps for the area have not been updated in over 20 years
Flooding has long been an issue in Rye as in other coastal towns with water coming in from Long Island Sound. The Blind Brook watershed is also a source of that flooding with significant deluges recorded in the neighborhood of Indian Village after four days of rain in October 1975.
Three major weather events in just five years produced catastrophic damage in the town.
The city's response to these recurring hazards was to apply for funding through the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program. Rye received $3,000,000 to safeguard the city against future flooding threats, upgrade its infrastructure for resiliency, identify stormwater mitigation solutions, and protect historic buildings and natural wetlands.
Starting on September 1, 2021, Rye experienced another substantial flooding event. The storm lasted two days and caused significant damage to municipal facilities, businesses and residences. Areas around Indian Village and other sections of the city that had previously flooded during Hurricane Irene were under 8–9 feet of water. Other areas around the town normally not affected by flooding were also affected. Prior to the flooding event, Rye had undergone approximately five inches of rainfall from Hurricane Henri. Two weeks later, the remnants of Hurricane Ida dropped another 8–9 inches of rain in the area within a 12-hour period. Hurricane Ida remnants caused flooding in Rye nearly 10 years to the day from Hurricane Irene.
As of 2010, 75 percent of the acreage in Rye had been determined to be archaeologically sensitive with many Indigenous contact sites. At least two villages have been determined to have existed. Unearthed artifacts include implements, bones, pottery, skeletons, and a burial ground at the site of the present Playland Casino.
Many of Rye's unique neighborhoods are defined in the 1985 Master Plan. Many have historic significance and their preservation was signaled as important for enhancing Rye's character. They include:
Proposed National Register District
Local or National Register Significance
As of the 2020 census, Rye had a population of 16,592. The median age was 42.3 years. 29.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.4 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 5,654 households in Rye, of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 64.6% were married-couple households, 10.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 6,038 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.
According to Census Bureau QuickFacts, 74.8% of residents age 25 and over had a bachelor's degree or higher, and 51.7% of residents were female.
The headquarters of Jarden and GAMCO Investors are located in Rye.
Boston Post Road Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District and former home of John Jay, includes five historically significant parcels:
Playland, opened in 1928, is a 279-acre (113 ha) theme park which features rides, games, an indoor skating rink, beach, boardwalk, and concession stands. It is one of only two amusement parks in the United States designated a National Historic Landmark. Its wooden roller coaster, Dragon Coaster, built in 1929, is one of the last roller coasters built by Frederick Church still operating. The Derby Racer, also built by Church, is one of only two rides of its kind in the US and one of three remaining in the world.
Rye has over 454 acres (184 ha) of green open space, as well as coastline.
Rye has numerous private country clubs, many of which were formed in the late 19th and early 20th century. The combined acreage of these clubs affords members and guests over 993 acres of recreation.
The mayor is Josh Nathan. City council is composed of the mayor and six council members. The city manager is Brian Shea.
Most of the city is in the Rye City School District. Rye is served by three public elementary schools: Osborn, Milton, and Midland.
Rye Middle School and Rye High School are part of the same campus, and the two buildings connect.
The Greenhaven and The Preserve at Rye neighborhoods of the City of Rye are served by the Rye Neck School District. Rye Neck High School and Middle School are on one campus also located partially in the City of Rye.
The Rye train station provides commuter rail service to Grand Central Terminal in New York City or Stamford and New Haven-Union Station via the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line. The Bee-Line Bus System provides bus service to Rye.
Rye Police Department has 36 sworn police officers. The Rye Auxiliary Police is an all-volunteer force that provides assistance when needed. The Westchester County Police also patrol areas of Rye. New York State Police patrols Interstate 95 and 287, and MTA Police patrol the Rye Train station and property within the Metro North right-of-way.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Rye, New York”, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.