Katonah, NY
Katonah Homes & Real Estate 
Downtown Katonah is known to be a chic part of the Town of Bedford. Filled with an array of historical Victorian structures and classic 1950s suburban homes, the town features dozens of upscale shops and boutiques that cater to its upper-middle class residents, with not one retail/chain store or eatery. For example, in the late 1990s, Starbucks wanted to build a store in the downtown area, but locals protested it, saying it would disrupt Katonah's folksy character. Ironically, a store extremely similar to Starbucks moved into the spot that Starbucks was originally considering, but this cafe was founded by a local resident. The surrounding countryside includes the John Jay Homestead, the home of John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nearby is The Harvey School, a private boarding school founded in the 19th Century, which counts among its alumni "Doonesbury" cartoonist Garry Trudeau. Martha Stewart also lives in Katonah, just down the road from the John Jay estate.
Katonah's charm, its cultural advantages and its schools come at a price. There are very few properties that come on the market for less than the mid-$500,000s and what is available at that price is either very small or needs a lot of work. Resales in the central part of the hamlet, where house lots must be at least a quarter-acre in area, are older homes that sell for $500,000 to $1,000,000. As of October 31, 2006 - there were 111 real estate listings in the Westchester/Putnam MLS for Katonah, Bedford, and Town of Lewisboro NY, ranging in asking price from $389,000 for a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home on .2 acre and $12,500,000 for a 10,000+ sq. ft. hilltop estate on 33 acres.
History
Katonah is named for Chief Katonah, an American Indian from whom the land of Bedford was purchased by a group of English colonists. Founded with the name Whitlockville, the town changed its name, and later was moved to its present site in 1897, when its former site (Old Katonah) was flooded by the construction of the Cross River Reservoir. More than fifty buildings were moved from the old site to New Katonah, pulled by horse and ox along timber tracks. The move was originally ordered to start in 1894, but litigation delayed the process by almost three years.
Public Schools
Many newcomers to Katonah are young families attracted by the reputation of the district's four elementary schools and its middle and high schools. Katonah Elementary School, which serves most children in the hamlet, has 511 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Others attend Increase Miller Elementary School in nearby Golden's Bridge, which has 507 students. Spread across a 55-square-mile area, the school district serves a total of 4,146 students in Katonah, the town of Lewisboro and portions of Pound Ridge and North Salem. John Jay Middle School, which serves sixth through eighth grades, and John Jay High School, both in Cross River, have 1,045 students and 1,164 students respectively.
Recreation & Culture
Sports and recreational activities for all ages are sponsored throughout the year at various locations. Program information is mailed to all residents four times a year and is also available at the Recreation Department. Katonah Memorial Park on North Street has facilities for swimming, baseball, soccer, basketball and tennis.In addition to the town parks, there are numerous natural areas available for hiking, nature study, and picnicking. Two country parks in the area are also easily accessible. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation at Cross River with 4000 acres of wilderness is noted for its 50 miles of hiking and cross country skiing trails, and has a variety of camp sites. In addition, a Trailside Nature Museum and Delaware Indian Resource Center offer programs of interest to children and adults. Muscoot Farm on Route 100 in Somers is a working farm, with animals, nature trails, and turn-of-the century exhibits. Demonstrations, exhibitions, lectures, and special events are presented.
Houses of Worship
Religious congregations in and around Katonah include Antioch Baptist Church, Bedford Community Christian and Missionary Alliance, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latterday Saints, First Church of Christ Scientist, First Presbyterian Church, Hebrew Congregation of Somers (Reconstructionist), Katonah United Methodist Church, St. Luke's Episcopal Church and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Official Town of Bedford, Hamlet of Katonah website
Next City/Town - Larchmont/Mamaroneck
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