The village, from its organization in 1858, endured until 1899, when the present City of New Rochelle was instituted. It is noteworthy that the three cities of Westchester County -- Yonkers, Mount Vernon, and New Rochelle -- all had their birth as incorporated villages in the decade 1850-60. In this decade also the Township of Morrisania -- now the most populous portion of the old County of Westchester -- came into being as a separate political division. By the act of 1788, which divided

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the county into towns, Morrisania was designated as a distinct township, but shortly afterward it was restored to its ancient position as a portion of the Town of Westchester. In 1816 it became a pari of the new Township of West Farms, carved out of Westchester. Hal the great growth of this new township in population, consequent upon the railway development -- a growth of some 8,000 in the five years from 1850 to 1855, -- made its subdivision necessary, and on the Tth of December, 1855, the Town of Morrisania was created. Its " north line began at Harlem River, near the present Aqueduct Bridge, and extended east to Union Avenue, which was practically the east bounds of the Morrisania Manor. Its east boundary was Union Avenue, continued to the head of Bungay Creek, and thence to Harlem Kills, and its south and west boundaries the Harlem River and Kills/' The first supervisor of the town was Gouverneur Morris, son of the famous statesman. Morrisania Milage was incorporated in 1801, when the town was divided into four wards, in each of which three trustees were elected. The history of Westchester County to 1800 comprehends several matters of general interest in addition to the facts of development which have been noted in the preceding pages of this chapter.