Located 48 miles, approximately one hour, north of New York City in Westchester County, Bedford, New York is a town of 16,000 people set on 39 square miles. Formerly filled with dairy farms and vast estates, it is a preferred destination for families who love the country but also want to be near Manhattan. As of 2005, the median household income in Bedford was $113,000.
History
Bedford was founded on December 23,1680 when 22 men from nearby Stamford, Connecticut purchased fur coats, blankets, wampum, cloth and a three square mile expanse of land known as the "Hopp Ground" from Chief Katonah and several other Indians. Bedford remained part of Connecticut until 1700 when England’s King William issued a royal decree settling a dispute challenging a six square mile boundary dispute. Upon his decree Bedford officially became part of New York.
Hamlets
The Town of Bedford comprises three hamlets: Bedford Village, Bedford Hills and Katonah. Bedford Village is situated in the southeastern part of town, featuring a Village Green and historic buildings dating to the 18th and early 19th centuries. Among these are the 1787 Court House and several homes built after the British burned the village during the Revolution. In 1972, the Bedford Village Historic District was established by local ordinance and it is listed on both the New York State and the National Register of Historic Places.
Katonah, in the northwestern part of Bedford, encompasses the Bedford Road area which was designed by famed landscape architects G.S. and B.S. Olmstead. The area is noted for its Victorian architecture. Named for Chief Katonah, the area is widely known as home to the John Jay Homestead, the retirement home of John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court.
Bedford Hills extends from the active business center at the railroad station to farms and estates as it expands east toward Mt. Kisco. It is the seat of town government.
Bedford also features the Bedford Golf & Tennis Club, a private club whose traditional course was redesigned by Devereaux Emmet and Alfred H. Tull. The tree-lined fairways are tight, and the small greens are fast. There are water hazards on five holes. The terrain is hilly, and the course is very scenic. This club has been listed by the United States Golf Association as one of the first 100 clubs established in the U.S.
Real Estate
Our Coldwell Banker network of affiliates, including those holding the Coldwell Banker Previews International designation, offer many homes in the Bedford community that feature several acres of property and houses in Georgian, Colonial and farmhouse architectural styles. Prices range from $700,000 to nearly $4 million.
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