In the early days of settlement, North Castle became a refuge for people fleeing religious persecution, including Quakers from Rye and Long Island. By 1730 North Castle was an established settlement and was incorporated on March 7, 1788. North Castle's name is said to derive from a barrier which stood on the hillside now occupied by IBM Corporate Headquarters, built by the Siwanoy Indians to protect themselves from enemy attack. They called the site "North Fort" and European settlers gave it the more elegant name of North Castle. It now includes the hamlets of Armonk, Banksville, and North White plains. During the Revolution North Castle was officially considered "neutral" even though the area was strongly patriotic.
Significant events included the Battle of White Plains, the detainment of the British spy Major John Andre at Thomas Wright's (Sands') Mill in present day Armonk and the use of Elijah Miller's house in North White Plains as Washington's Headquarters. The 19th Century saw a gradual shift from farming to small "cottage industries" primarily shoemaking. The Underground Railroad, which helped runaway slaves travel to freedom in Canada, operated a "station" between Armonk and North White Plains.
In the early part of the 20th Century the great Kensico Dam was built thus flooding the beautiful valley once occupied by the great Siwanoy Chief, Cokenseco, who sold the land to the settlers in 1680. In that valley lay the village of Kensico. This village and surrounding farmhouses were taken down and covered by the waters of Kensico Resservior. Later, the village of Armonk was home to one of the earliest small country airports that drew thousands of spectators to see weekend air shows. Charles Lindbergh and other famous flyers landed here. During this period a well-known nightspot called "The Log Cabin" hosted big bands of the era where live broadcasts were hear nationwide. Later, the opening of Interstate 684 brought the Corporate Headquarters of IBM as well as numerous other companies to the area.
Please read more about North Castle History by clicking here: North Castle History Documents