[5] At the time of the Dutch settlement of Manhattan in the early 17th century, the region had been used as farmland by the Weckquaeskeck tribe, a Wappinger people, and was called "Quarropas".

[6] However, John Richbell of Mamaroneck claimed to have earlier title to much of the territory through his purchase of a far larger plot extending 20 miles (32 km) inland, perhaps from a different tribe.

[9] Ironically, one of Washington's subordinates, Major John Austin, who was probably drunk after having celebrated the enemy's withdrawal, reentered the village with his detachment and proceeded to burn it down.

After World War II, White Plains' downtown area developed into a shopping district featuring branches of many famous New York-based department and specialty stores.

[citation needed] In 1949, Macy's launched a grand White Plains store on Main Street across from City Hall.

Other prestigious stores followed, such as B. Altman and Co., Rogers Peet, Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Alexander's, Wallachs, and a short-lived branch of Bergdorf Goodman, which was converted to sister chain Neiman Marcus in 1981.

During the late 1960s, the city of White Plains developed an extensive urban renewal plan for residential, commercial and mixed-use redevelopment that called for the demolition of its entire central business district from the Bronx River Parkway east to Mamaroneck Avenue.

[citation needed] Beginning in the 1950s, many major corporations based in New York City moved operations to White Plains and other suburban locations.

Since March 1999, visual and performing artists, emerging cultural organizations and new creative businesses have had studios and offices in the building.

[citation needed] For a time, White Plains had one of the highest office vacancy rates in the northeastern United States.

After its bankruptcy, the B. Altman store closed in 1989 and was demolished to make way for The Westchester, an upscale mall that opened in 1995 with anchors Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

A freestanding branch of Macy's, one of downtown's original retail anchor stores, was moved two blocks away to The Galleria mall by its parent company, Federated Department Stores, replacing sister retailer Abraham & Straus when these two store divisions were merged in 1995 A new courthouse for the Southern District of New York was opened in 1998 and several large-scale office properties in and near downtown, including the former General Foods headquarters building, were retrofitted and leased to accommodate smaller businesses.

[11] The Macy's store on Main Street remained vacant for several years until it was also later demolished to make way for the massive City Center at White Plains complex.

[12] This large mixed-use development features two 35-story apartment and condominium towers, 600,000-square-foot (60,000 m2) of retail, restaurant and entertainment space and new parking facilities.

In early 2003, the Saks Fifth Avenue location was closed and demolished; it was replaced in 2004 with the large retail complex called The Source at White Plains.

The city receives about 229 clear or partly cloudy days per annum,[17] with July typically being the sunniest month, averaging more than 70 percent of possible sunshine.

Other companies based in White Plains include Alliance Bernstein, PURE Insurance, Dannon, the New York Power Authority, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Krasdale Foods (which supplies products for the C-Town supermarket chain), Nine West, and AboveNet, as well as the U.S. headquarters of Heineken International.

[28][29] White Plains continues to attract regional and national business as well as international headquarters such as Nine West Group, Allegiance Financial, ITT Corporation, Nokia, Heineken USA, Alliance Bernstein, AT&T and Verizon.

The five elementary schools, in addition to teaching core competencies, have different educational focuses including science and technology, communication arts and global understanding.

The 10605 zip code, spanning the southern portion of the city, encompasses much of White Plains' residential neighborhoods and is primarily composed of single-family housing.

[39] The White Plains Performing Arts Center, which can seat up to 410 people, serves as a venue for a variety of events, such as Broadway theatre and concerts.

[41][42] The White Plains Farmers' Market operates year-round in the city, setting up Downtown at 255 Main Street from May to November, and in the Westchester County Center the rest of the year.

At its western end, I-287 meets I-87 and the New York State Thruway on its approach to the Tappan Zee Bridge, which crosses the Hudson River into Rockland County.

Vegetation removals have upset some in the community but it is reported that the area will be fixed and trees will be replanted when work on the highway comes to an end.

It serves as a minor hub for JetBlue Airways, which offer regularly scheduled flights to several destinations in Florida.

Bee Line is Westchester County's public bus system and several routes pass through White Plains offering local service to many surrounding communities.

Other regional bus services that serve White Plains include the Hudson Link to Rockland County; Leprechaun Lines to Poughkeepsie; CT Transit's I-Bus to Stamford, Connecticut; as well as Greyhound, Trailways and Coach USA service to upstate New York and Long Island.

The WPFD also operates a frontline fire apparatus fleet of five engines, three ladders, one rescue, and numerous other special, support, and reserve units.

[51][52][53] The Journal News, the major daily newspaper for the Lower Hudson Valley region, is based in White Plains.