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Community Information  The Hamlet of Mahopac is part of the Town of Carmel located in southeastern Putnam County, and is 14 miles West of Danbury, CT and 45 miles North of New York City. The main thoroughfare is I684 which connects Mahopac with White Plains, New York City and neighboring Danbury.
The hamlet is named after the old Algonquian Indian word "Mahopac" which stands for "The Lake of the Great Serpent" or "Snake Lake." No one seems to know how or why the peaceful lake in the center of Mahopac got its name. Even maps made back in the days of the Revolution list a "Lake Mahopac". At other times, the lake has been called "Big Pond," "Carmel Big Pond," and "Hughson's Pond." George Hughson was the first white settler on its shores. Finally, "Mahopac" became the permanent name of the lake and the community that developed over time around it.
Putnam County was given as a Land Grant by King William III of England to a man names Adolph Philipse in 1697. This kind of a land grant was called a "Patent." Because there is a chain of mountains called the Highlands running through Putnam County, it was known as "Philipse Highland Patent." For some time, settlers in the region had not been happy with life under British rule. When the Revolution broke out, large numbers of the farmers decided to help the colonial army. However no battles were ever fought in Mahopac itself. Later in the 18th century Mahopac became a very popular vacation spot mostly frequented by well-to-do New York City dwellers. In 1843, the first of a number of hotels was put up on the lake shore. It was known as the Mahopac Hotel and was built by a man named Stephen Monk. This was the beginning of a new way of life for Lake Mahopac. A resort town had been born. In 1871, the New York City and Northern Railroad built its tracks all the way to Carmel. The first train run from New York to Mahopac left on July 4, 1871. It was an occasion for a big celebration. The Harlem Railroad then followed suit to extend its tracks to Mahopac as well. While its importance as a resort town declined dramatically throughout the 19th century it has remained to today a peaceful and picturesque hideaway. Of the housing in Mahopac, approximately 77% is occupied by their owners.The remainder of the housing in the town is used seasonally or for leisure or vacation purposes. Mahopac is served by the Mahopac Central School District and a number of private and parochial schools as well. |