The History of White Plains, NY

White Plains, located 25 miles north of Manhattan, is the county seat of Westchester County, New York. Referred to as the “birthplace of the state of New York,” White Plains’ history is entwined with that of the entire United States. In July of 1776, the newly composed Declaration of Independence was read in front of the New York Provincial Congress, and soon after, the delegates declared the colony’s independence and consequentially established the state of New York. Just three months later, White Plains was the site of the week-long Battle of White Plains, in which General George Washington’s troops fought victoriously against the British commanded by General Sir William Howe.

In the decades that followed the Revolution, the population of White Plains began to grow in large increments, especially once the New York Railroad was built in the mid-19th century. By 1910, it had a population of over 26,000, and became incorporated as a city in 1916. The early 20th century brought commercial growth to the area and marked the beginning of White Plains’ reputation as a retail center. The city’s downtown area developed into a major suburban shopping district, introducing branches of many famous department stores based in New York City, such as Saks Fifth Avenue, B. Altman & Co., and Macy’s. The construction of major roads and expressways in the 50’s and 60’s only increased the popularity of White Plains as a business center. Many major New York City-based corporations moved either part or all of their headquarters to White Plains, including General Foods, PepsiCo, Snapple, and Heineke.

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