Local Info
Greenwich, Connecticut, 50 square miles of land and 32 miles of shoreline, is a rich and diverse community comprised of seven small hamlets.
Old Greenwich is where it all began. On July 18, 1640 the Siwanoy Indians, for the price of 25 English coats, sold the land that is now Old Greenwich to four Englishmen. One of the Englishmen, Jeffrey Ferris, named the area after his birthplace, Greenwich, England. As Greenwich developed to the west, Old Greenwich became known as “Old Town”. The name of Old Town was changed to Sound Beach. That name would remain until 1930 when it was renamed Old Greenwich. Old Greenwich has evolved from a farming community to a summer resort to the quiet commuter community it is today. With its quaint downtown shopping district and its proximity to Greenwich’s largest public beach, Old Greenwich is a desirable location for many.
As the Old Town farmers struggled with it’s rocky soil, the tiny hamlet to its west prospered as a seaport. Cos Cob, originally known as Mianus, was named after the Siwanoy Chief, Myanos. Settled by the Dutch, Cos Cob got it’s name from an Englishman named John Coe. Coe, an early settler, built a rocky seawall at the mouth of the Mianus River. The seawall, then referred to as a “Cob” became known as Coe’s Cob. Coe left the area in 1659 but the name stuck (over time the “e” was dropped). Another story claims Cos Cob was the Indian name for high rock. Cos Cob flourished as a seaport during the 1700’s and 1800’s. At the turn of the 19th century, Cos Cob evolved into an intellectual and artist colony playing host to Eugene O’Neill, Willa Cather and Anya Seton (whose father, Ernest Thompson Seton, started the Boy Scouts of America in Cos Cob). Cos Cob today is a robust community with a central downtown shopping district along the Post Road.
On February 1, 1686, the tract of land between the Byram and Mianus Rivers was traded by the Miossehasseky Indians to the settlers of Old Greenwich for tribal rights to 30 acres of planting ground elsewhere. The area, known as Horseneck, prospered as a farming community, quickly eclipsing Old Greenwich to its east. With the advent of the railroad Greenwich evolved into the central shopping district of the town with many shops opening on Greenwich Avenue. Central Greenwich is the hub of the town’s economic activity. Greenwich Avenue, where uniformed policemen still direct traffic, remains the town’s signature street with an abundance of upscale retailers. The area has become a shopping and dining destination for residents and visitors.
This tiny mill town was founded in 1774 when a group of Baptist settlers traveled to this hilly stretch of land by the Byram River to establish a church. Since then Glenville’s history will always be linked to industry. In 1790 a mill opened for grinding Peruvian bark into medicine. Later the American Felt Company, one of the nation’s premiere felt manufacturers prospered in Glenville until the mid 1970’s. Today Glenville is a suburban enclave in the western section of Greenwich. The American Felt Company, ‘The Mill’ still stands today and is home to retail, restaurants, office space, condominiums and apartments.
Riverside was known as Mianus Neck until 1870, predominantly known for fishing and farming. Until the mid 1800’s, Riverside Avenue was referred to as Potato Road because of the all the potato storage cellars near the cove. As with the rest of Greenwich, Riverside evolved from an agrarian based economy to the suburban community it is today. Riverside’s abundance of waterfront river, harbor and the Long Island sound makes it a desirable location for those who enjoy waterfront living.
Byram, tucked into the southwest corner of town, was settled in 1660 by Thomas Lyon. Originally known as New Lebanon this area of Greenwich developed slower than the hamlets to the east. Farming and fishing slowly gave way to industry. The Hendroth Brothers foundry built furnaces and sold them worldwide employing 700 workers in its heyday in the mid 1800’s. Today, Byram remains a diverse community, which boasts a vital downtown shopping area with small shops and restaurants.
Before 1700, Samuel Banks settled on the uppermost banks of the Mianus River in the northeast corner of Greenwich. The area soon came to be known as Banksville and for nearly 200 years was a quiet farming community. Arguably the most famous estate in Greenwich was the home of Edmund Cogswell Converse, who by 1904 had amassed more than a 1,000 acres. By 1913 there were more than 40 buildings on the estate with a live-in staff of over 200. Farm operations continued until 1960. The property laid empty for 20 plus years until it was sold in 1981 to the Conyers Farm Partnership. The 1,468 acre parcel isdivided into 60 impressive lots and is home to some of Greenwich’s most famous citizens. Banksville’s small business center near the New York State line is reminiscent of a simpler time. Many of its residents refer to Banksville as the land that time has forgotten.
From the coast to the country, Greenwich has something for everyone. Despite Greenwich’s size it still retains much of its New England small town charm. On the other hand, Greenwich is neither old fashioned nor small. Its facilities are stateof-the-art; the newly renovated library and its new hospital are shining examples of the benefits of a town that seems to lack for nothing; its schools are first rate; its 1,500 acres of parkland are a prized town asset. There is no shortage of sailing, golf, tennis and swimming. The neighborhoods are safe and the terrain is beautiful and diverse. In addition, you can’t really define Greenwich without accounting for its proximity to New York City. However, there is nothing stereotypical about this suburban community. It is a sophisticated place to be, offering a diverse array of culture, nature, food, entertainment and shopping.
(Source: Greenwich Chamber of Commerce)
