Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Scarsdale, Westchester County, New York

Scarsdale is a village located in Westchester County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 17,823.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 17.2 km² (6.6 mi²). 17.2 km² (6.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.0 km² (0.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.15% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 17,823 people, 5,662 households, and 4,993 families residing in the village. The population density is 1,036.4/km² (2,685.7/mi²). There are 5,795 housing units at an average density of 337.0 persons/km² (873.2 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the village is 84.10% White, 1.52% African American, 0.02% Native American, 12.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 2.62% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 5,662 households out of which 51.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.8% are married couples living together, 5.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 11.8% are non-families. 10.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.14 and the average family size is 3.35.

In the village the population is spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the village is $182,792, and the median income for a family is $200,000. Males have a median income of $100,000 versus $62,319 for females. The per capita income for the village is $89,907. 2.8% of the population and 1.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 3.2% are under the age of 18 and 2.3% are 65 or older.

Notes

The name "Scarsdale" became more familiar in 1979 with the publication of The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet by Scarsdale physician Dr. Herman Tarnower and Samm Baker. The book became a bestseller, and the "Scarsdale Diet," a low-carbohydrate, high-protein weight-loss diet, is still popular today. "Scarsdale" again appeared in headlines in 1980 when "the Scarsdale Diet doctor" was murdered by his long-time lover, Jean Harris.

Many of the commercial buildings in the villages of Scarsdale, such as Harwood Court (shown above), feature an imitation Elizabethan half-timbered appearance.

Scarsdale is mentioned in a 1950 Frank Loesser song lyric, in which a Broadway man chides a woman's marital aspirations by saying "You have wished yourself a Scarsdale Galahad, a breakfast-eating Brooks Brothers type." The lyric is reportedly a reference to Lee Eastman (father of Linda Eastman) who was an attorney who represented Loesser and other people in show business.

People associated with Scarsdale include: