Wykagyl, New Rochelle, New York

Wykagyl consists primarily of sprawling, residential parks and planned communities built in the early to mid-20th century, featuring large period-style homes and well-landscaped lots. Architectural styles include Elizabethan and Cotswold Tudors, Mediterranean-style villas, and classic colonials. is commonly believed to have originated through the combination of two Native American words: wigwos, meaning birch bark, and keag, meaning country. The name most likely resulted from the shortening the name of an Algonquian-speaking band of Lenape who originally inhabited the area.{{cite news|title=If You're Thinking of Living in: New Rochelle ==History==

Around the end of the 19th century, this area of "Upper Rochelle" was still primarily farmland with the exception of the Wykagyl Country Club, which moved to its current site in 1905. By 1912, New Rochelle's home development was rapidly extending northward, with North Avenue serving as the central thoroughfare. A syndicate of bankers and investors began amassing expansive tracts of forest and farmland surrounding the club, eventually incorporating under the name Wykagyl Reservation. The reservation was ideally located to take advantage of the new transportation facilities afforded by the recently completed New York, Westchester and Boston Railway commuter line through the area. Alfred Feltheimer, the architect who designed and named the railroad's stations, chose "Wykagyl" after the golf club. The new rail line spurred new construction and commercial activity, prompting a population boom. Developers immediately began building and selling houses on the waiting large tracts of farmland. "Wykagyl Gardens", one of the largest apartment complexes in the country at the time, was built next to the station. Wp 13.tif|development map WykagylNY.jpg|homes in Wykagyl Park ==Demographics==

As of the census of 2010, there were 14,146 people, 4,961 households, and 3,957 families residing in the Wykagyl ZIP code area. There were 5,183 housing units, 94.8% of which were owner occupied. The racial makeup of Wykagyl was 85.2% White, 7.9% Black or African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.1% Asian, and 2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3% of the population. There were 4,961 households, out of which 1,808 had children under the age of 18 living with them. 3,689 were married couples living together, 224 had a female householder with no husband present, and 828 were non-families. 490 households constituted someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average family size was 3.3 people. In the Wykagyl ZIP code area, the population was spread out, with 27% under the age of 18, 11% from 18 to 24, 11% from 18 to 34, 44% from 35 to 64, and 17% who were 65 years of age or older. 4,104 residents of Wykagyl were enrolled in school, with 16% (658) in pre-school or kindergarten, 1,857 (40%) in elementary school, 909 (22%) in high school, and 680 (17%) in college or graduate school. 85% of the population completed "college" or higher, with 42% attaining a "graduate degree" or higher. About 2% of the population was below the poverty line, including 2% of those under age 18 and 1% of those age 65 or over. The total civilian labor force was 7,001 residents, out of which 6,884 (97.8%) were employed. The median income for a household in Wykagyl was $165,154, and the median income for a family was $199,061. 3,001 households (62%) earned $100,000 or more, with 1,970 (41%) earning in excess of $150,000 annually. ==Education==

Public The area is served by the City School District of New Rochelle, which operates a public high school, two junior high schools, and six elementary schools. Located within Wykagyl are: • Albert Leonard Middle School - grades 6 through 8 • Henry Barnard Early Childhood Center • New Rochelle High School • William B. Ward Elementary School - pre-kindergarten through grade 5 Private Several private primary and secondary schools are located within the Wykagyl area, including: • Iona Grammar School - grades 1 through 8 • Iona Prep - grades 9 through 12 • The Ursuline School - grades 6 through 12 • Thornton-Donovan School - kindergarten through grade 12 • Hudson Country Montessori School - pre-kindergarten through grade 2 ==Points of interest==

Historic sites • Several sites in Wykagyl commemorate the life of Thomas Paine, American pamphleteer and Revolutionary War hero, including his home, his burial site, and a museum. Paine's home, the Thomas Paine Cottage, was built in 1793 after a fire destroyed the previous home. The cottage was moved to its current location, which is on land that was part of the farm owned by Paine. The house, which is a National Historic Landmark, is currently operated as a museum. • Leatherstocking Trail - a long, inter-municipal hiking trail situated between New Rochelle and Mamaroneck, eventually linking into Saxon Woods County Park. It is part of a larger Colonial Greenway Trail in which it connects to Twin Lakes/Nature Study and Saxon Woods parks. • Sheldrake Lake, a former reservoir that is now a park and nature conservancy promoting an increased understanding of the local ecology. • Twin Lakes Park and Nature Study Woods - together these sites comprise of woods, marsh, lakes, ponds, and some fields along the Hutchinson River. There are many foot trails weaving through woods, marshlands, and fields and around two large lakes. • Lake Isle - a man-made reservoir located in the north-western section of Wykagyl along the Eastchester border. The lake is currently used for recreational purposes and is the only inland body of water in lower Westchester County that is used for swimming and boating. Large mouth bass, perch, catfish, eel, sunfish, and shiners are some of the fish that are indigenous to the lake. When the Hutchinson River Parkway was reconstructed around 1988, a horse trail with two new bridges was built between the parkway and the dam allowing equestrians to ride their horses along the edge of the lake. ==In film==

Scenes in Goodfellas were filmed on Alfred Lane, off Quaker Ridge Road and down the street from Albert Leonard Middle School. The house of the parents of Henry Hill's eventual wife, Karen, is on Alfred Lane. Henry goes across the street and pistol whips the neighbor after the neighbor sexually attacks Karen. The scene where Karen is on a pay phone calling Henry and crying about her next-door neighbor bothering her was filmed in the parking lot next to Wykagyl Country Club. The movie Catch Me If You Can, based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr., is set in New Rochelle in the 1960s. In the film, the Abagnale family resides in Wykagyl and Frank Abagnale Senior is inducted as the 58th life member of the New Rochelle Rotary Club. ==Other information==