Sleepy Hollow is a historic Hudson River village in Westchester County, New York, just north of New York City. It is internationally known through its connection to Washington Irving, whose 1820 short story *The Legend of Sleepy Hollow* turned the area into one of the most recognizable place names in American literature. That literary identity still shapes local culture, tourism, and civic branding.
The village sits on the east bank of the Hudson River and forms part of a long-settled corridor that includes Tarrytown and Irvington. Sleepy Hollow is also significant for American industrial history. It was once home to a major General Motors assembly plant, and in the 21st century the waterfront has been reshaped by redevelopment, housing construction, and expanded public access.
For residents, Sleepy Hollow is more than a storybook setting. It is a working suburban community with schools, local businesses, riverfront parks, regional rail access, and a diverse population. Key landmarks include Philipsburg Manor, the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, and nearby Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate. The village's identity blends colonial history, immigration, literature, and modern Hudson Valley living.
A notable point of interest is that the municipality was originally called North Tarrytown and formally changed its name to Sleepy Hollow in 1996, reflecting both local heritage and the enduring power of Irving's story.