Kent

Kent is a largely residential 43.2 square mile town in Putnam County which has gorgeous rustic large-scale properties, a few interesting modern homes, smaller to mid-range single family dwellings and some apartments. The area is known for its bucolic landscape filled pristine sparkling lakes, ponds, mountain ranges and lush greenery. It is truly a charming scene and way of life.

There is a Johnny Gelato and Healy’s Corner Restaurant & Bar in Kent, but otherwise most people head to nearby Carmel where you will discover a bunch of great eateries including Margheritas Lake View Restaurant , Cutillo’s Restaurant, McCarthy’s Family Eatery, Cacciatore’s Trattoria & Pizzeria, Redendo’s Pizza, Pueblo Viejo, Deli Land, Foo Kam Chinese restaurant, New Grace II, Thai Golden Restaurant, Smalley’s Inn, Ice Cream Café, Mimi’s, Gappy’s, Toro Restaurant, Carmel Diner and Subway.

McGuire’s Pub & Restaurant in Carmel is a good choice for some local nightlife. They have a bar that seats 100 peeps, darts, pool and some great wings and burgers.

Carmel is home to the Carmel Shoprite Center with a Shoprite, Carmel Movieplex 8, Carmel Nails, Coinstar, Gold's Gym, Grapevine Wine, Health Quest Medical Practice, Image Cleaners, Magic Clippers II, Redbox, Rite Aid, Sunscape Tan and a Verizon store. There is also the Putnam Plaza Shopping Center with a Hannaford Brothers Supermarket, New York Sports Club, Rite Aid, Radio Shack, Starbucks and Dress Barn.

There is also Kohl’s, Marshall’s and True Value hardware in Brewster and a Kmart in Mahopac.

Senior Citizens in Kent often meet for social events at the Lake Carmel Community Center.

Kent is home to Sagamore Lake, Kentwood Lake, Lake Tibet, China Lake, Palmer Lake and White Pond. The Ninham Mountain State Multiple Use Area is located in Kent and is purportedly a great place for mountain biking. Wonder Lake State Park is a 973 acre park with a pond, streams, rivulets, ledges, ravines gorgeous meadows surrounded by stone walls, 8.7 miles of hiking trails and a bridle path. Fahnestock State Park in nearby Carmel is a wonder with 14,086 glorious acres. The park has hiking trails, a beautiful beach, picnic areas, campgrounds and allows boating, hunting, fishing, birding, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing. There are row boat rentals by the hour and the park is also home to the Taconic Outdoor Education Center.

Kent students are a part of the Carmel Central School District which is considered very good.

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

The median household income is $72,346.

The population of Kent is approximately 14,000.

If you grew up in a urban setting reading books about places with sprawling meadows and crystal-clear lakes, Kent will seem like a place of those kind of books. It is lifestyle where nature's dominant beauty is such a part of every day reality that people almost take it for granted. Kent offers bucolic, country-living at its best.

Kent is in the northern part of Putnam County making it a little over an hour away from New York City. It was this proximity that once made it a summer destination for the wealthy families. And Kent used to be the dairy supplying center for NYC dwellers until that lifestyle was changed by the many reservoirs that were built in the 1920s. Farm lands were submerged and it changed the landscape and focus of the folks in Kent.

Kent is reputed to have a good school district as the residents here send their children to the Carmel Central School District. The relative safety, peace and quiet of this town coupled with the access to the nearby exciting destinations, all add-up to make Kent an attractive location for young families looking for a good suburb. It is important to acknowledge that this is not a lifestyle that will work for everyone. If you are the kind of person who likes a very social environment with a lot of structured recreation, Kent may be a challenge. Given that NYC and Westchester County are not far away, you can easily find entertainment within driving distance. Shopping and dining out options are available aplenty in those places even if Kent offers a limited selection.

Kent is an affordable, predominantly white middle-class area of Putnam County that is purely residential. There’s many reservoirs near the area, but before they were used for NYC drinking water, Kent was primarily known as the hotspot for dairy farmers. While there’s no shopping or restaurants in Kent proper, it’s not far from Carmel, so has access to Putnam Plaza and to stores there like Shop Rite and Starbucks. Kids, don’t forget the Ice Cream Cafe!

Carmel is known for its fine dining restaurants like Thai Golden overlooking beautiful Lake Gilead, and Cutillo’s Italian; there’s always fast-food favorites like Wendy’s and Quizno’s, and kids will love Four Brothers Pizzeria in nearby Mahopac.

Kent is accessable by the Taconic Parkway which can take you all the way to Dutchess County and beyond, complete with superb scenic views of rolling hills and luscious woodlands. The town has a pubic library and so does Carmel as well.

Since it’s a residential area, you’ll want to have a car to get around, and you’ll have to take the bus from Carmel or simply drive to Brewster if you need to get to a train station (also an option is the Croton Falls train station). For medical care, visit Carmel, and there’s also Putnam Hospital, which offers quality medical care for any needs, including acute care.

The area is very safe and the Carmel school system offers an excellent education. While it’s a bit isolated, Kent still offers beautiful scenic landscapes and a short drive to nearby civilization. Also, don’t forget to visit Carmel’s Chaung Yen Monastery, which houses one of the world’s biggest Buddhas: it’s quite a site to see!

Kent is located in the north-central part of Putnam County. It’s probably the most “countrified” part of the county. There are lots of rural roads, offering peeks at reservoirs and lakes, and not much else. The town is, however, home to about 14,000 people.

Like its neighboring towns in Putnam, Kent was once a summer vacation destination for wealthy New York City residents. Now the town is populated primarily by year-round permanent residents. Though there is no Metro-North station in the town, there is good proximity to the Taconic Parkway and I-84, making the commute to work manageable.

The rural, undeveloped atmosphere is one of the appealing things about Kent; the availability of reasonably-priced homes is another. Though houses anywhere in the New York City metropolitan area are pricey, home buyers find their money goes further in Kent.

Kent has no downtown area. The closest thing to a town center might be 25 Sybil’s Crossing, a complex housing the Police Department, the library, the Town Court, and other offices and departments involved in town administration. School-aged children who reside in Kent attend school in the Carmel Central School District; there is an elementary school in the town but the middle school and high school are in Carmel.

There are no retail centers or strip malls in Kent. Residents must hop in their cars and head to Carmel or Danbury, Connecticut for shopping and entertainment. However, those areas offer plenty of options, with the Danbury Fair Mall, movie theaters, restaurants and other retailers.

Though retail is lacking, recreational and cultural opportunities are not. Kent has its own Recreation Department, which oversees events and sports. Arts on the Lake is an organization based in Kent which sponsors events and classes for adults and children. It occupies the former Lake Carmel firehouse, which provides the venue for its events and other offerings. Fahnestock State Park, which borders part of Kent, occupies over 14,000 acres, and offers opportunities for swimming, camping, hiking, fishing and birding.

If you’re looking for more property than you’ll get in the more developed Putnam towns, Kent might be the place for you and your ride-on lawn mower. However, be prepared to spend more time in your car to pick up groceries and other necessities. Kent offers a rural lifestyle, excellent schools, and proximity to both nature and the arts.

Located on the northern edge of Putnam County, the small town of Kent is quiet and beautiful. The well-kept roads stretch over hills and through dense forests, with the houses in most neighborhoods spaced well apart. Two state parks, Wonder Lake and Fahnestock, are situated in Kent in addition to a large portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has also sectioned off thousands of acres of protected land around the many lakes that serve as New York City watershed. The various parks and nature trails of Kent, and the surrounding towns, provide beautiful views of the area. Unfortunately, if you do not enjoy hiking and parks, there aren't many other option for entertainment in Kent. With the exception of a few local delis and grocery stores, shopping is limited and the restaurants in the area don't have anything really exceptional to offer. For evening and weekend activities, most people travel to either Westchester County or Danbury, CT. The lack of businesses in Kent also means that any employment will generally require a considerable commute. One benefit of Kent is the ability to live in a quiet town and have access to more populated areas, as well as a variety of different surroundings. The town of Kent, however, is considered safe for families and has a reputable school system. Children from Kent will attend the newly renovated Carmel Central School District high school and middle school, both of which have well-maintained athletic facilities. Overall, Kent has the potential to be a quiet spot to raise a family but for people looking for a more active lifestyle it's probably not the best choice.

I have a love-hate with my hometown of Kent. I have lived here for the past 23 years and there are so many things that I love about the place, but there are so many things that make me want to escape... quickly. The Town of Kent has made major strides in cleaning up Lake Carmel, and I spent countless summers there in the beautiful sunshine and waters of the manmade lake. The atmosphere, the environment, the opportunities for recreational fun are what have kept me attracted to Kent. There's an undeniable beauty about this residential community with windy backroads, shady evergreens that enhance privacy, and a sense that "neighborhood" America still exists.

After going away and coming back from college, however, I have recognized that it's just not a place for young professionals.
My family has lived here since my father was a child so it's hard to ignore that people truly enjoy this low-key lifestyle. I received a great education from Carmel High School, participated in sports programs throughout my childhood and teenage years, and enjoyed the green environment that was presented to me. Aside from a few local delis, gas stations and convenience stores, however, there isn't an abundance of things to do besides going to the movie theatre or bowling alley. Action usually takes place in Westchester County and Connecticut and even though these places aren't too far away, you still need a car to get to them.

Looking at my family, Kent is a great location for people with children or those who enjoy a more quiet setting. I will always have a place in my heart for Kent, but as a woman in her 20's it's definitely time to move to a place with a little more hustle and bustle.