Ossining (village), New York

Ossining borders the eastern shores of the widest part of the Hudson River, the Tappan Zee.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.4 km²), of which 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.1 km²) (49.37%) is water.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,060 people living in the village. The racial makeup of the village was 61.8% White, 15.6% Black, 0.1% Native American, 4.2% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race and 1.3% from two or more races. 41.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 24,010 people, 8,227 households, and 5,339 families living in the village. The population density was 7,464.8 people per square mile (2,879.0/km²). There were 8,515 housing units at an average density of 2,647.4 per square mile (1,021.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 60.5% White, 20.2% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 4.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 10.4% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.7% of the population.

There were 8,227 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. Of all households 28.9% were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 39.1% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 117.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $52,185, and the median income for a family was $60,179. Males had a median income of $40,412 versus $36,975 for females. The per capita income for the village was $25,036. About 7.6% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Frederick Philipse bought the area that presently constitutes the Town of Ossining from the Sint Sinck Indians in 1685. The Sint Sinck are members of the Wappinger Confederacy, who inhabited the land east of Hudson River between what is now Tarrytown and Croton.[4] His manor extended from Spuyten Duyvil Creek on the border between present-day Manhattan and the Bronx to the Croton River. The last Lord of the Manor, Frederick III, was a Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War who fled to England, so the State of New York confiscated the manor in 1779.

In 1838 Benjamin Brandreth built a manufacturing facility for his Vegetable Universal Pills, which became one of the most successful patent medicines in the United States. Brandreth's firm was at one point the nation's leading proprietary advertiser.[5] He was president of the village for many years.[6]

Due to Ossining's history, some of its structures are on the National Register of Historic Places, and the downtown shopping area is listed as the Downtown Ossining Historic District.[7] In addition, the Sparta neighborhood has been designated a local historic district. Ossining's role in New York's heritage has been recognized by its inclusion, as one of only 14 areas, in an Urban Cultural Park System designed to attract visitors to the state. Also on the National Register of Historic Places are the Richard Austin House, Brandreth Pill Factory, First Baptist Church of Ossining, Highland Cottage, St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Rectory, and Washington School.[7]

Until 1901, the village was known as Sing Sing.[8] It changed its name to avoid the stigma of association with Sing Sing Correctional Facility, which is still Ossining's largest employer.[9][10]

Ossining's Metro-North Station, dates back to the days of New York Central Railroad.

The Ossining train station provides commuter rail service to Grand Central Terminal in New York City or Croton-Harmon and Poughkeepsie via the Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line. The Bee-Line Bus System provides bus service to Ossining on routes 11, 13, 14, and 19. NY Waterway also operates a ferry between Ossining and Haverstraw in Rockland County during the rush hours.

No interstate highways exist within Ossining. The closest example of a federal highway that runs through the village is US 9, along Highland Avenue and Albany Post Road. NY 133 begins at US 9, running along Croton Avenue, and NY 134 begins at that road along Dale Avenue. Part of NY 9A, along the Briarcliff–Peekskill Parkway runs through the eastern edge of the village.

Ossining has several public schools, operated by Ossining Union Free School District, and three nearby parochial schools. In 2000, Ossining High School was among the United States' highest performing schools.[11]

Ossining has two nearby college campuses. A Westchester Community College campus exists in Ossining; in nearby Briarcliff Manor, there is also a Pace University campus.

Ossining is known as the home of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, one of the most well-known prisons in America.[13]

Ossining is also the home of the worldwide Maryknoll Catholic missions, as well as the site of the Crotonville Institute, the famous General Electric leadership training facility, founded in 1956.

In seasons 1–3 of AMC's TV series Mad Men, Ossining is home to lead character Don Draper and his family. It remains the home of his ex-wife Betty and their children through much of season 4, until they move to Rye.[14]

In FX's The Shield, transfer to Ossining is offered to an inmate in exchange for testimony, stated as "Safe and sound in Ossining, New York" as opposed to referencing the town's original name of Sing Sing which might have jeopardized the deal.

Jamie Loeb

• Henry Campbell Black, author Black's Law Dictionary; born 1860.
• Edmund March Blunt, navigator and publisher, lived in Ossining.[15]
• Ken Buck, United States Representative, born in Ossining.
• Robert Byrne, grandmaster of chess.
• John Cheever, writer and winner of the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, lived in Ossining from 1961 until his death in 1982.
• Nick DiPaolo, comedian, known for Tough Crowd.
• Peter Falk, actor, attended Ossining High School.
• Anne Francis, actress, born in Ossining.
• Jamie Loeb (born 1995), tennis player.
• Raven-Symoné, actress.
• Jesse Lee Soffer, (actor) born in Ossining; best known as Det Jay Halstead on Chicago PD, Med, and Fire.
• Obi Toppin, Basketball player, Went to the University of Dayton and won National Player of the Year in 2020.
• Stefan Zweig, Austrian writer, lived briefly in Ossining and completed his autobiography there in 1941.

• Sassinoro, Italy

• 
  Car 2331, a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 
  Car 2332, a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 
  Car 2334, a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 
  Engine 101, a 1993 E-One 1250/750
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  Tower Ladder 42, a 2010 E-One 100 ft.
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  Rescue 14, a 1995 E-One
• 
  Engine 97, a 1937 American LaFrance, department antique

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ossining.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ossining, New York.

• Official website
• InOssining.com: Ossining events, parks, neighborhoods, businesses and tours
• Ossining.com: Ossining, NY's Hometown Web-newspaper
• Ossining Chamber of Commerce
• History, art and photos of Ossining
• "Ossining" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.