There is much more to White Plains, New York than many people realize, and the city is much older than most people realize. With so much history, it’s no wonder visitors to New York always make a stop in White Plains to see the various sights. The Declaration of Independence in 1776 came to WP when the area was occupied by the Weckquaeskeck tribe who lived on the land; they call this house Quarropa, which means White Plains because of the fog that floated around.

It was in 1778 that White Plains became the county seat of Westchester County and then in 1866 WP was incorporated as a town and finally as a city in 1916. The population through the United States Census in 1790 listed White Plains with 505 residents, but the total population of New York at the time was only 33,000. The city continued to grow with the development of the New York Central Railroad.

White Plains during the early part of the 20th century developed a very progressive downtown suburban business district. Many famous New York stores opened stores in the downtown area of ​​WP due to the developed area that attracted hundreds of shoppers. Many of the city’s old buildings still stand as landmarks and mark the history of the city that many other surrounding cities did not enjoy.

Later in the 1960s, White Plains began a massive commercial and residential urban renewal that basically demolished the entire area from the Bronx River Parkway to Mamaroneck Avenue. Urban renewal in 1978 focused on the construction of the Westchester County Courthouse and the Galleria Mall, in addition to several high-rise office buildings. Commercial premises and even smaller commercial buildings were also built in the 1970s, with the largest building at the time being the Westchester One building, which contained many offices.

Due to massive growth and renovation, many of New York City’s largest corporations are moving to White Plains, including General Foods, IMB, PepsiCo, Nestle, and Heineken. While many of these businesses have since relocated elsewhere, the city remains a major draw for many corporations due to the existence of prestige and old money that has been in the city for generations. The Westchester Arts Council Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Due to the coexistence of old and new in the city, the city has the ability to attract a very urban crowd.

From its humble beginnings, WP has grown into a very hip and urban city that many businesses flock to in an effort to stand out from the crowd and attract a new customer base. There are various types of cuisine in the region along with a very diverse cultural base. Today, on Main Street, where Macy’s once stood, is the City Center White Plains complex, featuring offices, restaurants, and apartments, making it the perfect location for residents and businesses alike.