across the u.s.mid-century modernnew york
Usonia, New York
A cooperative community in Pleasantville, Westchester County, New York, laid out by Frank Lloyd Wright. About 47 houses went up from 1949 to 1964: three designed by Wright himself, the rest by other architects with his approval. It was listed on the National Register in 2012.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- built1949–1964cooperative founded 1944
- housesabout 473 by Frank Lloyd Wright
- landabout 97 acreswith circular lots
- designation2012National Register
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- Circular lotsWright’s site plan used circular building sites: first 55, then revised to 50 slightly larger ones, set among shared land.
- Radiant floorsThe houses rest on concrete slabs with radiant heating.
- Flat roofs, big chimneysFlat roofs with overhanging eaves and massive masonry chimneys.
- Natural exteriorsNatural brick or stained cypress siding, with covered carports.
- Open plansOpen living areas with separate bedroom wings; most houses have grown beyond their original size of about 1,500 sq ft.
protection
Designation and the rules
- National Register, 2012Listed as the Usonia Historic District (reference 12000600). National Register listing alone doesn’t restrict private owners, and we found no town historic district.
- The community’s covenantsChanges are expected to be “sympathetic to the original organic/Usonian design,” and the community’s board reviews new additions.
- Shared landThe cooperative kept about 40 acres, including natural areas, roads and the water system, when lots passed to private ownership in 1955.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Radiant heatFind out what kind of heating is in the slab and what condition it’s in.
- Flat roofsHave the flat roofs and overhangs inspected.
- Wood and stone upkeepNatural cypress walls and stone need periodic care, such as washing and waxing the wood and repointing the stone.
- The board and the covenantsRead the covenants and ask how the board approves additions or fences before you plan either.
- What the cooperative ownsAsk what the cooperative still owns and maintains, such as roads and the water system, and what owners pay toward it.
- What’s originalMost houses were enlarged, so ask what is original and what was added.
Sources differ on Usonia’s acreage (95 to 100 acres), the year the land was bought (1945 to 1947) and the house count (46 to 48). We couldn’t read the full National Register nomination, which is a very large file.
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- Westchester County Historical Society (via Clio): Usonia Historic DistrictDates, acreage, design features, shared land, covenants.theclio.com/entry/140947/
- National Park Service: NRIS 12000600National Register listing.npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/12000600
- Drawing Matter: Usonia (2022)Circular lots and the site plan.drawingmatter.org/?p=33267
- University at Buffalo news release (2002)House count and Wright designs.www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2002/04/5636.html
- Cornellians: Wright’s last client (2025)Radiant floors and upkeep of one house.alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/reisley-wright-last-client
- National Park Service: National Register FAQNational Register listing places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property.www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm
questions
Questions we hear
Where is Usonia?
In Pleasantville, Westchester County, New York, on Usonia and Rocky Vale roads and Laurel Hill and Orchard Brook drives.
Did Frank Lloyd Wright design the houses?
Wright planned the site and designed five houses, three of which were built; other architects designed the rest with his approval.
Is Usonia a historic district?
It’s on the National Register (2012), which doesn’t restrict owners on its own. Changes are governed by the community’s covenants and board.
more to learn
Keep going
- Parkwyn Village and The AcresFrank Lloyd Wright’s cooperative communities near Kalamazoo.
- Lafayette Park, DetroitMies van der Rohe’s co-op townhouses near downtown Detroit.
- Mid-century modern across the U.S.Every guide in the series, coast to coast.
- Mid-century modern homes in Silicon ValleyThe style at home: where it is, what to look for.
- Silicon Valley Eichler tractsEvery Silicon Valley Eichler tract we cover, with live listings.
- Builder FilesThe builders and architects behind Bay Area homes.
General information from the sources listed, checked October 20, 2026; not legal, preservation or construction advice. Confirm designation and permit rules with the local preservation office before you buy or remodel. The Boyenga Team represents buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco.
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