Jefferson Valley

Most residents of upper Westchester and Putnam County associate the name “Jefferson Valley” with the shopping mall, one of the few large places to shop in the area. However, it’s also a hamlet in the town of Yorktown, which was named to commemorate the Virginia town of the same name when it successfully defeated the British during the American Revolution.

Jefferson Valley lies along a stretch of Route 6, close to the Putnam border, in the north-eastern part of the town. Route 6 widens from one lane to two through Jefferson Valley, to accommodate the additional car traffic traveling through the hamlet. There is a good amount of commercial activity, but most of the area is not pedestrian-friendly due to the lack of sidewalks and amount of car traffic. The Jefferson Valley Mall is the primary draw, anchored by Macy’s and Sears. There is a multiplex cinema in the mall, as well as a large food court. Beyond the mall, there is a selection of large and small retailers and restaurants, including Toys R Us, DeCicco’s Family Market, and Frankie and Augie’z.

The Yorktown Central School District serves the children in Yorktown/Jefferson Valley. There are two K-3 elementary schools, one 4-5 intermediate school, one middle school and one high school, with a total of almost 4,000 students. There is also an alternative high school to help the district meet the needs of all its students. At the elementary level, most of the students perform above the median on state exams. At the high school level, pass rates for Regents exams are near or above 90% for nearly every subject except Math A.

Part of the defunct Donald J. Trump State Park sits in Jefferson Valley, with the rest of the acreage in Putnam Valley. After a failed attempt to build a golf course, real estate mogul Trump donated the land for a state park. However, the government ran out of money and the land currently sits, unused and undeveloped. However, residents of Jefferson Valley can take advantage of the many offerings of the Yorktown Recreation Department. There is a skate park, and Franklin Roosevelt State Park is located in Yorktown, and has a pool, picnic areas and boating areas.

Jefferson Valley’s real estate inventory includes condominiums and single family homes, with the median price in all of Yorktown hovering in the mid-$350k range. The area has a great combination of retail choices, a range of homes to fit modest budgets as well as larger ones, good schools and lots of recreation.

Jefferson Valley is one of five hamlets in Yorktown, sharing it with Mohegan Lake, Yorktown Heights, Shrub Oak, and Crompond. As with many Northern Westchester areas, its borders can be a bit fluid. Like Southeast, which everyone calls Brewster, or St. George’s Island Park, which is usually listed in Cortlandt Manor but is actually in Montrose, Jefferson Valley’s chief claim to fame is the Jefferson Valley Mall, which is actually in Yorktown Heights.

No matter, because even though all of Yorktown covers about 40 square miles, much of it is parkland, and all its hamlets fairly quickly and easily accessible to each other. Jefferson Valley has its own restaurants and shops (besides those in the nearby mall) but Yorktown Heights – ten minutes away - is more of a daily-needs shopping destination.

The houses here run more to smaller, single family homes, condos and townhouses, and well as some low-income housing. There is no train station here or anywhere in Yorktown, but there are stops in Mt Kisco and Croton-Harmon (both about 20 minutes from Yorktown) and Chappaqua (a few minutes longer.) The train takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. There is also the Bee-Line bus, which you catch from Yorktown, which will take you to various Westchester destinations, including Playland Amusement Park in Rye during the summer. There is also an express bus to Manhattan.

Nature lovers should hike up Turkey Mountain, a 125-acre preserve with a carefully marked hike that seems too easy for the payoff view at the top. The round trip is a little over three miles, and the trail winds over glacial rock and through a lovely wooded area. When you get to the top on a clear day you can see across the Croton Reservoir and to Manhattan, and north to the Shawagunks. It’s a wonderful trip and not too strenuous.

If you like more amenities with your outdoor experience, head to the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, though be warned that it can get very crowded on a nice summer day. There’s a huge pool which can hold – no kidding – 3,500 people at once. Here you can picnic, launch your own boat (with a permit), fish (with a license) or simply rent a rowboat and paddle around. There are ball fields, basketball courts, and trails for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.

Although many folks refer to Jefferson Valley as the mall and the mall only, it is actually a census designated place within the greater town of Yorktown, NY. It is an underrated and pleasant enough seven mile area which offers a range of more affordable living options including modest single family homes, town homes and condos. There is even low-income housing available.

The Jefferson Valley Mall, or JV Mall as it is often called, is the popular shopping destination in the region. There you will find a Macy's and Sears as well as over 90 specialty stores including such favorites as H & M, Hollister, Victoria's Secret, Foot Locker and Gap, to name but a few. The mall also has a 400-seat food court.

Jefferson Valley has some decent food establishments including Salsa Latin Eatery, Golden House Chinese Restaurant, Frankie and Augie'Z Ristorante & Pizzeria, Number One Chinese Restaurant and Carvel. Yorktown itself has the requisite Starbucks replete with a lovely outdoor patio, Peter Pratt's Inn, Edwin's Gourmet Deli, Gaudio's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria, Matilde's International Restaurant, Tommaso's Bistro Italiano, Okinawa, Friendly's and Panera Bread.

The Yorktown Community and Cultural Center is a wonderful facility that boasts impressive educational, arts-based and fitness programs. It also takes care of its senior residents by proficing nutrition advisement. Additionally, the center is home to regionally acclaimed Yorktown Stage, which shows big Broadway musicals and often offers special dinner package deals with local restaurants.

Jefferson Valley itself has a lovely park called Sparkle Lake Park that offers swimming, fishing, hiking tand sometimes even, ice skating. It also has a playground. In Yorktown, you will find Turkey Mountain which is 831 feet above sea level. One can hile along with a jaw-dropping panorama of the Croton Reservoir, the glistening Hudson River, and on a clear day, a glimpse of the New York City skyline. FDR State Park in Yorktown Heights is brimming with family-friendly fun including a lake, a pond, fishing, row boat rentals, picnic areas with volleyball nets, playing fields, baseball courts, a golf course, a playground, two concession areas and a enourmout swimming pool that is twice the size of an Olympic-regulation pool!

Jefferson Valley is relatively safe with some crime, but not an overwhelming amount.

It is part of the Yorktown School District which is considered to be very good. The median SAT score of its high school sutdents is 1633.

The median household income is about $88, 648. The median home value is roughly $386, 894 and the median rental rate is around $1,300.

The population of Yorktown is approximately 36, 081 and the population of Jefferson Valley is approximately 14, 412. The area is 82% White, 9.5% Hispanic, 5% Asian and 3% Black.

The median age is 40.

Jefferson Valley is part of the larger Yorktown community and locally it is used often to refer to the mall. But there is more to Jefferson Valley than the mall.
Our family enjoys the bowling lanes here, and it is a great place to hang out with friends on those superintendent days off from school! Then there is the Osceola Manor set on the shores of a lake that is a popular spot for dinner events for the sports league such as the Boys Basketball League. My point is that there are many things that give Jefferson Valley character – it is a place that draws people from neighboring hamlets for fun activities and for shopping. Yes, the mall isn’t quite what it used to be, but Sears and Macy’s are the anchor stores here and provide a good shopping option locally.
There are condos, townhomes and single family homes in this hamlet. The bus route that connects the mall to many different places can also be handy for residents to get to and from places. The Bee Line has limited routes so it is hard to manage for too long without a car.
Jefferson Valley falls under the Yorktown School District and has the benefit of the well managed school system. The combination of a range in housing prices and the good schools draws many young families to the area. The beauty of this Hudson Valley neighborhood and its access to nature trails is another reason for the popularity of this area. Jefferson Valley’s main traffic conduits are Taconic State Parkway and Route 6. By and large, traffic is not an issue despite the presence of the mall.

Jefferson Valley is a hamlet of the village of Yorktown Heights in the greater town of Cortlandt Manor, NY. It’s famous for its mall, named after the town itself. Jefferson Valley Mall has lots of different shops: from FYE (For Your Entertainment), where you can buy music, movies and anything entertainment-wise. Another great store is the Yankee Candle Company, with lots of different kinds of candles. You can have lunch at Desert Moon Cafe (burritos are excellent, it’s all top-quality Mexican; a little pricey for fast food, but it’s worth it---it’s a healthier alternative to the cheaper Taco Bell). There’s also Maki of Japan and Asian Chao, a subway, a deli (soft ice cream is great), and Bella Late for coffee and espresso drinks and treats afterward. There’s stores to entertain your shopaholic teenager: Dress 2 Impress and H & M. Macy’s and Sear’s offers a bit of everything for everyone.

Jefferson Valley is along the beeline bus route, which can take you into other parts of Westchester and also brings people from their homes in rural areas into town and to the mall. You can buy something for your kids or young relatives at Toys R Us (there’s a Babies R Us section as well). In town, you’ll find JV Bagles and Club Fit for those who like to work out and swim.

Houses in JV range approximately between $6,000 to $9,000. You are near three great parks: Lasdon Park & Arboretum ( a hop, skip and a jump by car in Katonah) Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park (Yorktown) and Downing Park (Yorktown). You’ll want to have a car to get around most places, but taking the bus is not as dangerous here as most places. Yorktown school systems are excellent (Lakeland and Yorktown public schools). There’s a bit of something for everyone here, and it’s a beautiful area of Yorktown to go for a walk and get some sun!

Jefferson Valley is an area in Yorktown, a town in northern Westchester County. The neighborhood covers about seven square miles. The population here is mainly white, but includes growing Hispanic, African American, and Asian communities. There is plenty to do in Jefferson Valley, and I have long felt that it's underrated. The town has a variety of nicely kept parks and special community programs. There is the Yorktown Teen Center and the Yorktown community center, which has lots of very helpful programs for senior residents. The town is nicely maintained; homeowners also maintain their homes well. Jefferson Valley is serviced by the Metro North Railroad, which makes it an option choice for people who have to commute to Manhattan every day. It's also popular with families with children, as the Yorktown school district is very well regarded. I also like Jefferson Valley because it has a nice small-town vibe, but isn't as isolated as some other Westchester towns. There are plenty of shopping options; people from other parts of Yorktown also flock here to go to the Jefferson Valley Mall. However, there isn't much of a nightlife here, so it does get boring at times.