Welcome to Pleasantville
With small-town charm and friendly residents, this is idyllic suburban living at its finest
The people of Pleasantville take their namesake seriously — they are extremely pleasant and have great community pride for this small-town in Westchester County, New York. Any visitor will quickly understand why many residents never leave given a large amount of town events, a fantastic school system, and the close proximity to New York City on the commuter rail.
During 1750, Pleasantville was referred to as Leggett’s Corner, according to Carsten Johnson, the village historian. In the early 1800s, it was known as Clark’s Corners, because Henry Clark owned property encompassing two corners in what is now the Old Village. The present name was chosen in 1828 by the village’s first postmaster, Henry Romer, chosen as such for its idyllic country living.
Here you’ll find a close-knit community made up of mostly city commuters and young families who like to take advantage of the town’s event offerings and nearby nature preserves. It’s a truly lovely hamlet in prestigious Westchester County offering a peaceful, laid-back way of life.
What to Love
- Happy, friendly residents with pride for their town
- The charming, village area
- Community-centric with lots of local events and offerings
People and Lifestyle
Residents of Pleasantville are laid-back but often affluent — most commute into the city or Stamford for work via the commuter rail. However, this is a family-first kind of community. Parents walk their kids to school and congregate together at pick-up time. They are engaged in the school district, the town happenings, and each other. The people here embrace that this is a small town and are super-friendly and hospitable with one another.
Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping
Great coffee and bakery items can be found at the Black Cow, or try the Parisian-style Jean Jacques for a croque madame or monsieur. Wood & Fire offers up a leisurely brunch with their famous Italian brunch pizza, Frank & Joe’s deli serves up grab-and-go lunch favorites.
Lil Chocolate Shoppe is an absolute favorite with the kids in town — and for anyone with a sweet tooth. Pubstreet offers a great ambiance for a night out with your partner or with friends, serving up gastropub fare and great cocktails. Blue Hill at Stone Barns is the ultimate spot for a special occasion, with high-end farm-to-table tasting menus in a refurbished barn. Southern Table is an equally great restaurant right in town for comfort food.
Things To Do
The Pleasantville Farmers Market is currently ranked #23 on the Top 100 Most Celebrated Farmers Markets list and hosts more than 50 vendors and has live music every week. They also offer the Market Sprouts program for kids, culinary demos, and health and sustainability programs.
The Jacob Burns Film Center is a world-renowned cultural space that is home to a state-of-the-art theater complex, a 27,000-square-foot Media Arts Lab, and a residence for international filmmakers. This center provides opportunities for people of all ages to discover the power of film, media, and 21st-century technology by screening more than 400 films yearly and hosting a roster of guest speakers.
The Gordon Parks Foundation, which moved to Pleasantville from Purchase College in 2015, houses the 20th-century photographer’s archives and presents changing exhibitions in its first-floor gallery. Theatrical performances at Arc Stages include youth, community, and professional productions, while Axial Theater is a professional ensemble that performs in St. John’s Episcopal Church.
The annual Pleasantville Music Festival draws thousands to Parkway Field to hear a range of acclaimed artists and bands — it’s an awesome family-friendly event.
Other summer options include the village pool and free concerts by the Pleasantville Fire Department Band. Cooking classes are offered at the United States headquarters of Zwilling J.A. Henckels, the German cutlery manufacturer, which moved to Pleasantville last year.
Schools
