Pelham, NY

Pelham is a suburban town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 31,521 at the 2010 census. Pelham is located in the Town of Pelham and is bordered by the City of New Rochelle to the north, Mount Vernon to the east, Mamaroneck to the south and Rye to the west.

The area that would become Pelham was first settled by Dutch colonists in 1653 as part of a tract granted by King Charles II of England to Colonel John Mason. The village that developed on this land was originally called " Pelham Manor" after Henry Pelham, 1st Duke of Newcastle (1660-1714), who had purchased an estate there in 1686. In 1788, following the American Revolution, Pelham became part of Westchester County and grew rapidly as a result of its location just outside New York City's growing boundaries. By 1800, Pelham had a population of 2200 and boasted several churches and two schools.

Today's Pelham retains much of its historic character despite rapid development in recent decades. Many well-preserved colonial-era homes line Main Street and other streets throughout town; many businesses continue to be family-owned and operated; and many community events are still held annually including an annual Fourth of July parade down Main Street. Despite these attractions, however, some residents have voiced concerns about increased traffic congestion and other negative impacts from recent development projects such as new housing developments along Route 9A (the town's main artery) or large commercial complexes near local schools. Others feel that Pelham has been unfairly maligned by some media outlets as being an economically depressed community with little opportunity for future growth; while certainly not immune from economic challenges or social problems (as any suburban community can be), overall residents say they enjoy living in this close-knit community where they know their neighbors well.