Purchase

Welcome to Purchase

About the Area:

Purchase is a picturesque residential hamlet located within the Town/Village of Harrison in Westchester County. Known for its spacious properties, winding roads, mature trees, and peaceful suburban setting, Purchase offers a distinctive combination of privacy and convenience. The community is characterized by single-family homes ranging from traditional Colonials and mid-century residences to expansive estates and newer custom construction. Purchase is also home to several prominent educational and cultural institutions, corporate campuses, private clubs, and recreational amenities. Its location provides convenient access to White Plains, Rye, Greenwich, major highways, Metro-North stations, and Westchester County Airport.

History:

Purchase's history dates to the late 17th century and is closely connected to the founding of Harrison. According to the Town of Harrison, the land was sold to Peter Disbrow in 1662 and John Budd in 1666 and again in 1695 to John Harrison. Harrison formally filed his claim with the provincial government, and the area became known as "Harrison's Purchase." The first Harrison settlers arrived around 1724, and many were Quakers who settled in the area now known as Purchase. They constructed their first meeting house in 1727. Purchase also played a role during the Revolutionary era. Major General Thomas Thomas, a Revolutionary patriot and Harrison's first Town Supervisor, lived in Purchase on an estate that encompassed land now occupied by Purchase College and the PepsiCo campus. Over time, Purchase retained much of its rural and residential character while becoming home to large estates, educational institutions, corporate headquarters, and cultural organizations.

Population: Purchase is a hamlet within the Town/Village of Harrison and does not have a separately incorporated municipal government or standalone annual U.S. Census Bureau population estimate.

Size: Purchase is located within the approximately 17-square-mile Town/Village of Harrison.

Neighborhoods: Purchase Estates, Brae Burn, Lincoln Lane, Purchase Hills, Sarosca Farm, Old Oaks, Century Ridge, Ophir Farm and neighborhoods surrounding Purchase Street, Lincoln Avenue, Anderson Hill Road, Barnes Lane.

Education/Academics:

Purchase is served by the Harrison Central School District. Students living in Purchase generally attend Purchase Elementary School before continuing to Louis M. Klein Middle School and Harrison High School.

• Purchase Elementary School (K-5)
  • Purchase Elementary School has an A rating from Niche
  • Ranked #19 in Best Public Elementary Schools in Westchester County
  • Ranked #3 in Best Public Elementary School Teachers in Westchester County
  • Ranked #96 in Best Public Elementary Schools in New York
• Louis M. Klein Middle School (6-8)
• Harrison High School (9-12)
  • Harrison High School has an A rating from Niche.
  • Ranked #83 in Best Public High Schools in New York
  • Offers both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs

Higher-Education institutions:

• Purchase College, State University of New York (SUNY)
• Manhattanville University

Preschools in the Area:

• Purchase Children's Center at Purchase Community House
• Purchase Community House Preschool Program
• Harrison Recreation programs
• Nearby preschool and nursery programs in Harrison, Rye and White Plains

Private Schools in the Area:

• School of the Holy Child (5-12)
• Rye Country Day School (Pre K-12)
• The Windward School
• German International School New York
• French-American School of New York

Fine & Casual Dining:

Purchase itself is primarily residential, but residents have convenient access to restaurants in nearby Harrison, Rye, White Plains, Greenwich and Port Chester.

• The Cobble Stone
• Trattoria Vivolo
• 273 Kitchen
• Aquila's Nest Vineyards – nearby in Newtown, CT

Recreation & Arts:

Purchase offers a combination of community recreation, private clubs, collegiate facilities, parks, cultural institutions, and open spaces. The Purchase Community House has served as an important center of community life since 1917 and offers preschool, after-school programs, summer camp, youth activities, events, and recreational programming.

• Purchase Community House
• Purchase Day Camp
• Purchase College Performing Arts Center
• Neuberger Museum of Art
• PepsiCo Sculpture Gardens
• Old Oaks Country Club
• Brae Burn Country Club
• Century Country Club
• Willow Ridge Country Club
• Purchase College athletic and cultural facilities
• Nearby Saxon Woods Park
• Nearby Silver Lake Preserve

Historical Landmarks:

• The Quaker Friends Meeting House in Purchase traces its origins to the early Quaker settlers who established a meeting house in the community in 1727.
• Major General Thomas Thomas, a Revolutionary War patriot and Harrison's first Town Supervisor, lived in Purchase. His former estate included land that is now home to Purchase College and the PepsiCo campus. His burial site is located behind the Neuberger Museum of Art on the Purchase College campus.
• Reid Castle on the Manhattanville University campus dates to the 19th century and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The Purchase Community House has served as a gathering place for residents for more than a century. Its history dates to the vision of William A. Read, who sought to create a community center for social and civic activities.

Transportation:

• Interstate I-684
• Interstate I-287 – Cross Westchester Expressway
• Hutchinson River Parkway
• Merritt Parkway
• Interstate I-95 – New England Thruway
• Metro-North Railroad – New Haven Line via nearby Harrison and Rye stations
• Metro-North Railroad – Harlem Line via nearby White Plains station
• Westchester County Airport

Commute Times:

• Manhattan - Approximately 45-60 minutes by car
• Grand Central Terminal - Approximately 40-50 minutes by Metro-North
• Greenwich, CT - Approximately 15 minutes by car
• Downtown Rye - Approximately 15 minutes by car
• White Plains - Approximately 10 minutes by car
• Westchester County Airport - Approximately 5-10 minutes by car
• LaGuardia Airport - Approximately 35-45 minutes by car
• JFK International Airport - Approximately 45-60 minutes by car