Stuyvesant Heights, part of the small hamlet of Bedford was settled by the Dutch during the 17th century within the incorporated town of Breuckelen.  Originally farmland, it was later inducted as a community after the Revolutionary War.

Construction of masonry row houses in the 1870s began to transform the rural district into an urban area. Stuyvesant Heights was emerging as a neighborhood entity with its own distinctive characteristics. The houses had large rooms, high ceilings and large windows.

A sought after neighborhood, many of the new residents went so far as to build themselves mansions and villas peppered in between the more typical row houses. Today, the area has the largest collection of intact, Victorian architecture in the country.

A business improvement district has been launched with a redesigned streetscape to include new trees, furniture, and series of "wallscapes," or large outdoor murals. Other infrastructure upgrades in the neighborhood include major sewer and water modernization projects, as well as fiber-optic and cable service upgrades.  Improved natural and organic produce continue to become available at local delis and grocers.