Hastings-on-Hudson as a village is part of the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York.  Incorporated in 1879, it had already been using the given name for about fifty years.  Though the village was originally a farm town like most of the area, one of its earliest industrial ventures was the blasting of marble.  Other industries included quarrying for bluestone and refining sugar.

When fires destroyed the refineries in 1875, the first volunteer firehouse was created, built from salvaged bricks from these burned buildings.  The area became largely industrialized, with many foreign workers manufacturing paving blocks, wire, cable, and chemical dyes.  It wasn’t until after the World Wars that demand for housing became important, and the large estates that had been built were divided up to build more residences.

Interestingly, the first police officer was hired upon incorporation of Hastings-on-Hudson as a village and was paid $40 a month to light and extinguish the street lamps, as well as enforce the six-mile per hour speed limit that was in effect!  Also, the first ordinance put into effect upon incorporation was a ban against allowing horses, swine, geese, goats, or any other animals running loose or pasturing on any public street within the village.