Peekskill is a city located in Westchester County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,353.
Once a thriving industrial center, Points of Interest include the Peekskill Museum, established in 1877 by the American Museum of Natural History; the New York and New Jersey Railroad Museum; the Peekskill Amphitheater, which hosts various performances throughout the summer; and the Paramount Center for the Arts.
The local school system is the Peekskill City School District, which has one high school—Peekskill High School—and one middle school—Peekskill Middle School. The district also encompasses six elementary schools: Community Magnet, Depew, Hiram, Oakside, Paddock, and South Street.
In addition, Peekskill is home to a growing artistic and cultural scene, with various galleries and performance spaces. The Peekskill Coffee House, located in a converted hat factory, hosts live music, plays, and film screenings.
The local newspaper, the Peekskill Daily News, was founded in 1850.
Peekskill has various parks, including the Scenic Hudson Park, which occupies to the north and south sides of the Bear Mountain Bridge.
The city is served by the Westchester County Airport and Peekskill Train Station.
The first known inhabitants of the Peekskill area were the Munsee people, members of the Lenape nation. They called the area "Sachocomacoe," meaning "the smoking banks of a river."
Another place in Peekskill associated with late 19th-century charm is Charles Point, the Peekskill waterfront portion of the Hudson Highlands, where a 19th-century brick lighthouse continues to operate at the mouth of the Hudson.
Charles Point was a resort area from the 1870s until the 1920s, featuring several hotels, including the Glen-Arden.
In 1977, Peekskill was the site of a major FBI botulism scare.
In 1980, the Peekskill Evening Star ceased publication after 106 years.
In 2006, the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway was completed, providing stunning views of the Hudson River. The walkway stretches from the Peekskill Waterfront Park to the Verplanck Waterfront Park.
One of today's more notable inhabitants is Janet DiFiore, the Chief Judge of the State of New York.
Peekskill was a significant setting for and was featured prominently in the 1984 film, The Pope of Greenwich Village, starring Eric Roberts, Mickey Rourke, Daryl Hannah, and Geraldine Page.
In 2016 Peekskill had a population of 14,431.
In May 2020, the city held a drive-by centennial celebration to honor Peekskill's status as a city, as it was founded in 1826.
Here are some top attractions of Peekskill
1.Fort Hill, Peekskill, Ny
2.Hudson Highlands State Park
3.Bear Mountain State Park
4.Cortlandt Town Center
5.Beacon Artist Union
6.Madam Brett Homestead
7.Peekskill Bay
8.Bear Mountain Inn
9.The Peekskill Museum
10.The Peekskill Herald
11.Fleischmanns Visitor Center & Miracle Mile
12.Peekskill Brewery
13.Van Tessel Hat Shop
14.Peekskill's Paramount Theater
15.Fort Lafayette
Some of the most popular restaurants in Peekskill
1.Golden Yang Diner
2.The Peekskill Brewery
3.Bolero's Restaurant
4.El-Mexicana Restaurant
5.T-Bone's All American Eatery
6.Broadway Pizza
7.The Fields Brewing Company
8.Geroge's Pizza
9.Bourillon Botanical Cuisine
10.451 Degrees
11.The Fact or Fiction Network
12.Cafe Regeneration
13.Lombardi's on the Bay
14.Peekskill Coffee House
15.Tilly's Table
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3 square miles (7.77 square kilometers), of which 2.3 square miles (5.96 square kilometers) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.81 square kilometers), or 23.61%, is water.
Peekskill uses a council-manager form of government.
The Peekskill Fire Department responds to approximately 1,800 emergencies annually.
The Police Department is overseen by Police Chief Eugene T. Trivett and has 64 sworn officers.
The city is divided into four patrol sectors: Southside, Northside, downtown, and the waterfront.
The 56-foot (17-meter) high Peekskill Falls, a hydroelectric dam spanning Annsville Creek, is visible from a scenic overlook west of the Bear Mountain Bridge on US9. It has been closed to the public for several years.
The area just north of Peekskill, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, is historically known as Saw Mill River Valley (also known as Annsville).
Of New York state's36 cities, Peekskill ranks 34th in population.
For kindergarten through 12th grade, the Peekskill City School District serves students. According to state standards, the school system is fully accredited. The student body is diverse, with around 40% of the students self-identifying as Hispanic or Latino, 30% white, 25% black or African-American, and 5% Asian.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $31,451, and the median income for a family was $40,417. Males had a median income of $36,582 versus $29,214 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,078. About 19.1% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
Peekskill ranks as the 27th most diverse city in New York.
Peekskill Ridge, a rugged woodland hill that has been a nature preserve since 1943 and covers 470 acres is in Cortlandt just north of Peekskill. NYC's water supply is protected by the adjacent 2,000-acre (8.1 km²) Peekskill Watershed.
Raymond Hill, a neighborhood in the northeast section of the city, features one of the town's oldest structures, the 18th-century Ye Odde Stone House, which now serves as a children's museum.
The Peekskill Waterfront District combines various landmarks, public spaces, shops, and promenades along the Hudson River in downtown Peekskill.
The Riverfront Green, established in 2001, is located on the Hudson River in the heart of Peekskill. The main stage is 175' wide by 30' deep (5,250 square feet).
The Peekskill Hat Company building, along the city's Main Street, was originally built in 1882 as a hat factory.
There are the following festivals in Peekskill:
Fourth of July Fireworks & Firemen's Parade
Peekskill's Independence Day Celebration
Peekskill's Saint Patrick's Day Parade
The Peekskill Herald, published weekly, is one of the Hudson Valley's oldest newspapers, having been founded in 1850. Charles D. Scofield served as the editor of