Patterson

Patterson NY, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Harlem River Valley Area in Putnam County, NY, is perhaps best known for its Thunder Mountain Ski Resort, where people can ski no matter whether it snows or it doesn’t, as snow is always available. People from surrounding areas can access Patterson from Interstates 84 or Rt 22, as well as Interstate 684 and Rt 311. It’s a scenic 32.9 square miles containing a population of 12,032, and borders both the Dutchess County region and Danbury CT (famous for its humungous Danbury Mall).

Housing in Patterson is very affordable, starting around $222,000. Patterson is served by the Brewster Central School District, where you can expect excellent scores and high graduation rate (97% in the past year). The Patterson Recreation Center is perhaps a great reason to live in Patterson on its own merit, for it offers lots of programs for everyone from youth to adults and senior citizens, as well as summer camps and sports. You can learn how to work on a farm at the Cascade Farm and Farm School, and there’s also the highly regarded Green Chimneys, which is a therapeutic day and residential school for youth. Other monuments of the town include the Watchtower Educational Center for the Jehova’s Witnesses, who strive to educate and inform visitors about their faith; many also live in the campus.

Patterson is widely known for its many funky antique shops like Fanny Dolittle Antiques, but there’s also the typical necessity stores like A&P, Dollar Tree and Tri-County Sporting Goods, or the Tractor Supply Company which sells feed of many different kinds, both for livestock, or gardens and ponds. Fun restaurants in the area include Texas Taco or Magnolia’s Cafe (I highly recommend the Turkey Reuben or the Voodoo Chicken Sandwich, which is a bit spicy but excellent; also try the Mushroom Swiss Burger, or the Tropical Turkey Taco---there’s lots of others on the menu to choose from! Also in Patterson is the Thai Elephant 2,including neighborhood staples such as Putnam Lake Pizza (named after one of Patterson’s beautiful hamlets, Putnam Lake) the Putnam Diner and the Patterson Deli. Everyone will be happy when visiting Dunkin’ Donuts or Subway.

Commuters living in or visiting Patterson can use either the Patterson or Brewster Train Stations. Medical facilities include the state-of-the-art non-profit Putnam Hospital Center, where you can get any kind of medical care you can think of, as well as never worry about being without a bed---the hospital hosts 164 of them!

For further recreational activities outside of the town’s recreational center, take a run or ride a bike on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail or take a hike on the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Georgia all the way up to Maine (and, if you prefer, back again). Patterson has a little something for everyone! Don’t forget the world-famous old-fashioned burger joint Red Rooster in nearby Brewster, located on Rt. 22 which runs through Patterson and connects Brewster, Patterson, Pawling and other towns in Putnam County.

Patterson is a 32.9 square mile town in Putnam County, NY. It has pretty landscapes and lovely homes and is rich in history, particularly Native American history.

One of the biggest attractions in Patterson is the Thunder Ridge Ski Area which offers great skiing on thirty trails, snowboarding, high quality instruction, comfortable lodging (with great “ski and stay” packages) and a ski shop. During the off-season, they have a haunted house, haunted hayrides, pumpkin picking, scenic chairlift rides, paintball and catered events.

Patterson has a few decent eating establishments including Magnolia’s Café which is a cute and cozy fave for breakfast and lunch, Mama Pizza which is supposed to be very traditional, other local fave the Carriage House Restaurant and Tavern which has “upscale” tavern food, Abruzzi Trattoria which is casual and has solid Italian fare, Rocco’s which is supposed to have excellent pizza and Thai Elephant II which is said to have really good and authentic Thai food.

As far as retail shopping, there is Patterson Commons with Dollar Tree, a Verizon store, a nail and hair salon, a Dunkin Donuts and an A & P Food Store. The nearby town of Pawling (only about 1.8 miles away) has quite a few options including CVS Pharmacy, Dollar General, a Radio Shack, Good Tidings Gift Shop, Stage Door Furniture, Synchronicity, The Bead Vault, Greer Gallery, Red Barn Gifts & Antiques, Hobnail Antiques, Simply Unique, The Yarn & Craft Box, Made with Love, Earth Lore, Magnolias, Bailey’s TV & Appliances, the very cool The Book Cove, a couple of redbox locations, Tonis Hair & Nail Design, Family Quick Stop, Pawling Beer & Soda and Pawling Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy.

The Patterson Town Hall has a small museum that exhibits Native American pottery and is open for viewing Monday through Friday from 9-5 PM.

The newly constructed Patterson Library has a decent collection as well as a terrific kids’ summer program, cooking demonstrations, online access to a job resource center, homework help, story times, battle of the books, parents’ nights out, pottery talks, children’s health screenings, yoga for kids, computer classes and other various activities.

Haviland Hollow Farm is a swanky polo and equestrian center located in Patterson.

Patterson does have a decent parks and rec department with many varying activities and programs including a brand new upcoming Lego Camp, kindergarten pizza nights, soccer camps, multi-sports camps, lacrosse camp, theatre summer camp, a varsity high school basketball league, a pre-K summer camp, a multi-activity summer camp, a flag football summer camp, a basketball summer camp, a cheerleading summer camp as well as dog obedience classes, pre-school karate classes, a Pokemon club and more.

For adults and seniors, they offer dog obedience classes, an adult summer basketball league, mat Pilates, Zumba, senior citizen luncheons, senior fitness sessions and a senior drop-off program.

Parks in the area include Patterson Veteran Memorial Park, the Great Swamp, Wonder Lake, the Cranberry Mountain Multiple Use Area and the Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area.

Patterson does have a Metro North train station but the commute time is a little long at an hour and forty-three minutes and it does require a transfer at the Southeast station. But it is still doable, especially if you plan to make it an all day affair or a weekend visit.

Patterson is quite safe and the crime rate is relatively low.

The median household income is about $66,250.

Patterson students appear to be a part of the Carmel Central School District which is excellent. The high school reports a 94% graduation rate.

The population of Patterson is approximately 12,023.

Patterson is one of the geographically larger towns in Putnam County, stretching over almost 33 square miles in the northeastern corner of the county.

As mentioned in the other reviews of Patterson, the town has a rich history having been first settled way back in 1720. Unfortunately, it's easy to spend years in or around Patterson, as I have, and remain totally oblivious to this history. There are, as there are throughout Putnam, small markers commemorating significant people and events that Patterson has been home to but most people speed past them without notice.

Similarly, Patterson is full of natural beauty which largely goes unnoticed by residents. The town is home to the Great Swamp, a 6000-acre protected wetland that sprawls across a huge portion of Putnam and Dutchess Counties. The swamp is home to about 180 species of birds, not to mention the turtles and countless other animals that still roam free here. There are several spots from which you could launch a kayak or other small boat onto the swamp and easily spend a few relaxing hours exploring.

The Appalachian Trail also runs nearby, as it meanders from Maine to Georgia, and small sections can be taken to enjoy any range of different environments along the mountain range. There are many other small trails and parks in the town as well and observant hiker can even spot a few natural shelters used by the Native Americans who once lived here.

One of the only truly commercial attractions in Patterson is the Thunder Ridge ski area. Although this facility makes their own snow and usually starts the season early, it's a very small slope and most locals travel further north for more exciting mountains.

There are a few local shops, and even a couple unique restaurants, but for the most part Patterson has very little in the way of shopping. There's enough to survive - a national chain grocery store, a hardware store and a few other essentials - but there isn't much in the way of modern entertainment or nightlife. Most people travel either to bordering Southeast or Connecticut for any real shopping or even to see a movie.

The Patterson Recreation Center offers a huge variety of classes and activities, however, all of which encourage the active, healthy lifestyle that comes naturally to living in Patterson.

Children living in Patterson will attend the Carmel Central School District. This school has a good reputation and has some quality programs to support both arts and athletics. The high school and middle school, located in Carmel, have both been renovated recently.

Like most of Putnam County, the town of Patterson is a quiet little community that is good for nature-lovers but except to drive most everywhere.

Patterson is located in the northeast corner of Putnam County. It’s largely undeveloped, with lots of wide open spaces. The town was named for Matthew Paterson, an early settler, farmer and state legislator. To avoid confusion with Paterson, New Jersey, a second “t” was added to the town’s name, but it’s also rumored that Matthew Paterson sometimes spelled his name with two t’s.

Patterson embraces its relationship with nature and the outdoors, and the town offers many year-round possibilities. Thunder Ridge Ski Area is probably the town’s most well-known attraction, drawing both residents and visitors. The facility can make its own snow, and holds a Fall Festival during October weekends. The Great Swamp, one of New York State’s largest wetland areas, is partially located in Patterson. Opportunities to canoe through the swamp and participate in ecological tours is provided by FrOGS, an organization comprised of volunteers, state agencies and local businesses who focus on education and conservation.

There are two other sites where Patterson residents can get close to nature: Wonder Lake State Park and the Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Both feature hiking trails and abundant wildlife.

Green Chimneys, a non-profit organization, uses animal-assisted therapies and activities as part of its program to support children with emotional, behavioral and academic challenges. There are also programs and events open to the public, such as its annual Birds of Prey day.

Opportunities to participate in organized activities, teams and classes exist through the Patterson Recreation Center. There are fitness classes for adults and seniors; kids can choose from basketball, karate, lacrosse, flag football and cheer-leading. The recently renovated Patterson Library offers job search assistance, foreign language resources, computer classes and programs for children. There is also a park, complete with gazebo and picnic area, adjacent to the library.

Big-box and chain retailers are scare in Patterson. However, this has made way for smaller, mom-and-pop stores offering antiques and other unique merchandise not found in the area malls. Fans of anything vintage will love the Patterson Flea Market, which runs every Sunday from April to October. A large selection of national retailers and large stores can be found in nearby Danbury, easily accessible by Interstate 84.

If you’re looking for a rural area with a strong sense of community and a variety of things to do, Patterson is worth a look. Commuting to Manhattan is feasible; the town has its own Metro-North station with metered and permit parking. Patterson is also ideal for a wide range of budgets; there is a wide selection of home possibilities, from modest condominiums to larger historic estates and new construction.

Patterson is a growing town that is not quite rural but not quite suburban either. It is a great place for those looking for a good property at reasonable prices. What were once farmlands have become increasingly homes and stores. But it still retains its county ambience and described as horse country. Patterson has a long history and there are specific sections of town recognized for their historic significance. Today many visitors to Patterson are drawn by Thunder Ridge which is a ski resort in winter and an exciting paint ball location in the warmer months.
Patterson’s most popular neighborhood is probably that around Putnam Lake, which is a man-made lake. The vistas around here draw a lot of people; those who have looked for homes in Westchester County and found them too pricey are excited to find water-front property at more affordable prices!
Patterson’s children tend to go to the Carmel or Brewster Public Schools, depending on location. Both are considered reasonably good.
There is some interesting shopping in Patterson if you are in the mood to go antiquing. While it is a hit-or-miss endeavor, you can have fun at Fanny Doolittle Antiques and Smokin’ Wheels Collectibles. Other than the regular shopping such as groceries etc. you may need to go to Danbury, CT for more retail options.
There are a couple of eateries that are interesting in Patterson. Abruzzi Trattoria, Steakhouse 22, The American Pie Company and Thai Elephant 2 are among some of the popular places in towb.
Patterson is a place that promises peace and quiet for those who want a laid-back lifestyle, while still making it possible to get to more activity-oriented places within an hour!