New York

Westchester

1,004,457
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Westchester

Westchester, New York, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 24,003. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,004,457.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 22 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Pound Ridge NY 1644 (Kieft's War), Pound Ridge Massacre (Kieft's War), Battle of White Plains Oct 28 1776, and 245 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,004,457
2010949,113
2000923,459
1990874,866
1980866,599
1970894,104
1960808,891
1950625,816
1940573,558
1930520,947
1920344,436
1910283,055
1900184,257
1890146,772
1880108,988
1870131,348
186099,497
185058,263
184048,686
183036,456
182032,638
181030,272
180027,373
179024,003
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Westchester

Military engagements that took place in Westchester, New York.

Battle of Pound Ridge NY 1644 (Kieft's War)
1644
Pound Ridge Massacre (Kieft's War)
1644
Battle of White Plains Oct 28 1776
1776
Battle of White Plains
1776
Battle of Chatterton's Hill
1776
Battle of Mamaroneck
1776
Raid on Mamaroneck (1776)
1776
Battle of Pell's Point
1776
Battle of Chatterton's Hill (White Plains detail)
1776
Raid on Peekskill Mar 23 1777
1777
Raid on Bedford (NY)
1779
Skirmish at Turlock (NY Westchester)
1779
Raid on Westfield Westchester (1779)
1779
Action at Young's House
1780
Capture of Major André at Tarrytown
1780
Action at Croton River (1780)
1780
Battle of Croton River
1780
Action at Young's House (NY)
1780
Capture of Major Andre
1780
Raid on Pines Bridge
1781
Skirmish at Dobbs Ferry
1781
Battle of Pine's Bridge
1781

Historic places in Westchester

National Register of Historic Places listings in Westchester, New York.

Church of St. Barnabas
Irvington
Rockefeller, John D., Estate
Mt. Pleasant
McVickar House
Irvington
Merestead
Mount Kisco
St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Rectory
Ossining
Philipsburg Manor
Sleepy Hollow
Trinity Episcopal Church Complex
Mount Vernon
Public Bath House No. 4
Yonkers
US Post Office-Peekskill
Peekskill
Leffingwell-Batcheller House
Yonkers
Bridge L-158
Goldens Bridge
Yorktown Heights Railroad Station
Yorktown Heights
Presbyterian Rest for Convalescents
White Plains
Mount Kisco Municipal Complex
Mount Kisco
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
Peekskill
Playland Amusement Park
Rye
Tuckahoe High School
Eastchester
Philipse Manor Hall
Yonkers
US Post Office-Scarsdale
Scarsdale
Hyatt-Livingston House
Dobbs Ferry
Ward, William E., House
Rye
Standard House
Peekskill
Forster, Marmaduke, House
Pleasantville
Katonah Village Historic District
Katonah
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Other counties in New York

Explore census history and historic records for more New York counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Westchester County, New York

This page charts the census history of Westchester County, New York. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Westchester

When does Westchester first appear in the US census?
Westchester, New York first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 24,003.
What is the population of Westchester?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Westchester had a recorded population of 1,004,457.
Were any battles fought in Westchester?
22 documented military engagements took place in Westchester, including Battle of Pound Ridge NY 1644 (Kieft's War), Pound Ridge Massacre (Kieft's War), Battle of White Plains Oct 28 1776.
How many historic places are in Westchester?
245 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Westchester, New York.
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