South Salem Real Estate

With New York City and Long Island Sound to the south, Putnam County on the north and Connecticut to the east, Westchester County holds the distinction of being the world's first large-scale suburb. Major interstate highways constructed during the 1950s and '60s and the construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge encouraged major corporations to build their headquarters here. A sweet spot for commuters traveling by car or by the Metro-North Commuter Railroad, today's Westchester is one of the nation's most affluent counties and the location of many of New York City's most desirable suburban communities.

With a population of about 7,000 people, the hamlet of South Salem, NY, in the town of Lewisboro is a quiet village with community fairs and Independence Day celebrations. A town park offers residents a pool complex, tennis courts, a playground and a picnic pavilion and serves as a popular gathering place during warm weather months.

Lewisboro Township lies on the border between New York and Connecticut, spanning almost 30 square miles of woods, lakes and open land. Encompassing the Pound Ridge reservations, the town contains the hamlets of Cross River, South Salem, Goldens Bridge (the Metro-North station is here), Waccabuc and Vista. A rural, unspoiled environment–underscored by a dearth of stores or business centers–sets the tone for the community. Preserving this feeling is a priority here, as is enjoying it. Hiking and bike trails wind through small beach communities that surround the area's seven lakes.

Many of Lewisboro's recreation activities center around the striking scenery and the unspoiled wilderness that surrounds it. The town has two county parks, six town parks and several community preserves in addition to seven lakes covering about 1.9 square miles, many of which are accessible to residents. Homes in Lewisboro range from contemporary residences and rural homesteads to elaborate colonial mansions that date as far back as the 1700s. Lewisboro is also noted for its elaborate gardens.

Two historical characters are recognized as former Lewisboro residents. Sarah Bishop is the hermit of West Mountain. Apparently mistreated by British soldiers at the time of the Revolutionary War, she retreated to a solitary life in the Lewisboro area. A spot known as "Sarah Bishop's Cave" is on the hill on the north side of Lake Rippowam, near Mountain Lakes Camp. The second historical character lived around the time of the Civil War. The Leatherman was a wanderer who got his name from homemade leather garments. He is frequently mentioned as being in Lewisboro in the middle of the 19th century. He followed a route past homes that would offer him a meal and reappeared at the same doorsteps for 25 years. One of the hiking destinations in Ward Pound Ridge is to the Leatherman's cave, reportedly one of his more frequent homes.