For the adjacent town of the same name, seeRye (town), New York. For the village within the town of Rye, seeRye Brook, New York. For the area within both the town of Rye and the village of Mamaroneck, seeRye Neck.
Rye was once a part ofFairfield County,Connecticut, belonging to the Sachem Ponus, of the Ponus Wekuwuhm, Canaan Parish, and was probably named for that chieftain, "Peningoe Neck".[10]
It was founded in 1660 by three men: Thomas Studwell, Peter Disbrow and John Coe. Later landowners included John Budd and family.[11][12]
During the 19th and early 20th centuries it was a haven for wealthy Manhattanites who traveled by coach or boat to escape the city heat. Its location on Long Island Sound and numerous beaches also appealed to visitors with more moderate means who gravitated for short stays at cottages[13] and waterfront hotels[14].
It has an extraordinary inventory of buildings with architectural distinction that help visually articulate specific neighborhoods and districts.[12]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.0 square miles (52 km2), of which 5.9 sq mi (15 km2) is land and 14.2 sq mi (37 km2) is water.[4]
Rye is "situated in the eastern part of central Westchester County on Long Island Sound. The western border of the City generally parallels Beaver Swamp Brook, while the eastern border is formed by Milton Harbor and the Sound. Blind Brook traverses the City from the northwest corner of Rye to Milton Harbor at the southern end."[12]
The geology and hydrology of Rye is characterized by a significant quantity of rock, marshes and wetlands[6] which makes the city both desirably scenic but also challenging for developers.
Rye's bedrock is predominantly constituted of Fordham gneiss and Harrison diorite also known as Byram Black granite.[15]
According to Rye's 1985 Master Plan, "Rye contains a variety of environmentally significant areas. Numerous tidal and freshwater wetlands are found near the waterfront and brooks. The Milton Harbor area (including the Marshlands Conservancy and Rye Golf Club), Disbrow Park and the Manursing area contain the most extensive wetlands in the City. In addition, substantial areas near the Sound, Milton Harbor, Blind Brook and Beaver Swamp Brook are within the 100 year flood hazard area, and thus subject to potential flooding."[6] According to the City of Rye, "Considerable acreage of these important natural resources has been lost or impaired by draining, dredging, filling, excavating, building, polluting and other acts inconsistent with the natural uses of such areas. Remaining wetlands are in jeopardy of being lost, despoiled or impaired by such acts contrary to the public safety and welfare." As a result,the city has charged itself with the responsibility of "preventing the despoilation and destruction of wetlands and watercourses while taking into account varying ecological, economic, recreational and aesthetic values. Activities that may damage wetlands or watercourses should be located on upland sites in such a manner as not to degrade these systems."[16]
In 2017, Rye resident and then New York State SenatorGeorge Latimer noted that wetlands maps for the area have not been updated in over 20 years[17]
Flooding has long been an issue in Rye as in other coastal towns with water coming in from Long Island Sound. TheBlind Brook watershed is also a source of that flooding with significant deluges recorded in the neighborhood of Indian Village after four days of rain in October 1975.[18]
Three major weather events in just five years produced catastrophic damage in the town.
Following major flooding in March 2007, theApril 2007 nor'easter six weeks later left some homes in Rye with over five feet of floodwater.[19][20]
In 2011, the after effects ofHurricane Irene in August andHurricane Maria in September included swelling of Blind Brook and submersion of private and commercial properties including the Rye Nature Center, Indian Village, the Rye High football field, businesses on Purchase Street and homes on Milton and Highland Roads.[21]
Storm surges fromHurricane Sandy in 2012 resulted in evacuations of many coastal residences and facilities including the Milton firehouse.[22]
The city's response to these recurring hazards was to apply for funding through the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program. Rye received $3,000,000 to safeguard the city against future flooding threats, upgrade its infrastructure for resiliency, identify stormwater mitigation solutions, and protect historic buildings and natural wetlands.[23][24]
Starting on September 1, 2021, Rye experienced another substantial flooding event. The storm lasted two days and caused significant damage to municipal facilities, businesses and residences.[25] Areas around Indian Village and other sections of the city that had previously flooded during Hurricane Irene were under 8–9 feet of water. Other areas around the town normally not affected by flooding were also affected. Prior to the flooding event, Rye had undergone approximately five inches of rainfall[26] fromHurricane Henri.[27] Two weeks later, the remnants ofHurricane Ida dropped another 8–9 inches of rain in the area within a 12-hour period.[28][29]Hurricane Ida remnants caused flooding in Rye nearly 10 years to the day from Hurricane Irene.
As of 2010, 75 percent of the acreage in Rye had been determined to be archaeologically sensitive with many Indigenous contact sites.[30][31][32] At least two villages have been determined to have existed.[33] Unearthed artifacts include implements, bones, pottery, skeletons, and a burial ground at the site of the present Playland Casino.[34][35][36][37][38]
Many of Rye's unique neighborhoods are defined in the 1985 Master Plan.[12] Many have historic significance and their preservation was signaled as important for enhancing Rye's character. They include:
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 16,592 people living in the city. This is representative of approximately 5491 households.
74.8% had a college degree.
15.5% were over the age of 65.
51.7% were women.
88.2% identified themselves as White alone. 6.7% identified as Hispanic or Latino. 5.6% identified as Asian alone. 1.3% identified as Black or African American alone.[42]
Playland, opened in 1928, is a 279-acre (113 ha) theme park which features rides, games, an indoor skating rink, beach, boardwalk, and concession stands. It is one of only two amusement parks in the United States designated a National Historic Landmark. Its wooden roller coaster,Dragon Coaster, built in 1929, is one of the last roller coasters built byFrederick Church still operating.[46] TheDerby Racer, also built by Church, is one of only two rides of its kind in the US[47] and one of three remaining in the world.[48]
Two 200 plus year old milestones labelled 24 and 25[49] on theBoston Post Road, the oldest thoroughfare in the United States.[50] These sandstone markers likely date from when theWestchester Turnpike was configured[51]
A 1938WPA mural by realistGuy Pene du Bois located in the city's post office lobby and titledJohn Jay at His Home.[52]
Wainwright House (1928), a 5-acre (2.0 ha) estate with gardens and central building commissioned by US CongressmanJ. Mayhew Wainwright. In 1951, the property was re-purposed as a religious center.[54]
Rye has numerous private country clubs, many of which were formed in the late 19th and early 20th century. The combined acreage of these clubs affords members and guests over 993 acres of recreation.[58]
Most of the city is in theRye City School District.[65] Rye is served by three public elementary schools: Osborn, Milton, and Midland.
Rye Middle School andRye High School are part of the same campus, and the two buildings connect.
The Greenhaven and The Preserve at Rye neighborhoods of the City of Rye[citation needed] are served by theRye Neck School District.[65] Rye Neck High School and Middle School are on one campus also located partially in the City of Rye.
Rye Police Department has 36 sworn police officers. The Rye Auxiliary Police is an all-volunteer force that provides assistance when needed. The Westchester County Police also patrol areas of Rye.New York State Police patrols Interstate 95 and 287, and MTA Police patrol the Rye Train station and property within the Metro North right-of-way.[citation needed]
Emergency medical service is provided byPort Chester-Rye-Rye Brook EMS at the Advanced Life Support Level (ALS). The agency has 30 paid EMTs, 15 paramedics and five volunteers. They operate up to five ALS ambulances and three paramedic flycars from their station in Port Chester and responds to over 5,000 calls a year between Port Chester, Rye and Rye Brook.[citation needed]
John Jay,Founding Father, negotiator of theTreaty of Paris, first Chief Justice of the United States, two-time Governor of New York State, anti-slavery advocate, and diplomat
^Charles Washington Baird (1871).Chronicle of a Border Town: History of Rye, Westchester County, New York. New York: Anson D. F. Randolph & Company. p. 193.
^Whitman Bailey (1941-08-15). "Historic Milton Road". Rye Chronicle. p. 1.
^"Historic Land; Arrowheads Found at Indian Hill, Off Milton Road". Rye Chronicle. 1926-10-16. p. 16.
^"MR. MOREHEAD SUGGESTS DISBROW PARK FOR PUBLIC RECREATION". Rye Chronicle. 1945-07-13. p. 5.
^Carlton, Mabel C. (1924)."Obituary, Caleb H. Carlton".Fifty-fifth Annual Report of the Association of the Graduates of the United States Military Academy. Saginaw, Michigan: Seemann & Peters. pp. 72–74 – viaGoogle Books.
^Feron, James (1977-10-23)."INTERVIEW".The New York Times. Retrieved2020-09-04.
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