Rebuilding and Trade

After the Revolution, Pound Ridge rebuilt its economy through agriculture, local trade, and small-scale industry. Sawmills, gristmills, blacksmith shops, and general stores helped anchor daily life, and by 1850 the population had grown to 1,486. While dairy farming remained central, the town also became known for hat making, shoemaking, and especially basket making, a craft with deep Indigenous roots in the region. Scotts Corners was widely known as “Basket Town,” and Pound Ridge baskets were prized by oyster fishermen along Long Island Sound. Together, these trades helped shape the town’s economy and identity throughout the 19th century.