The Weckquaeskeck tribe, members of the Mohican nation, who had lived on the land in harmony with nature and its creatures, called their home Quarropas. The name was descriptive of the fogs that hung above the swamplands and remained suspended for days on end like a white opaque blanket. Translated, Quarropas means the white marshes or the White Plains . The land White Plains now occupies - first settled by New England colonists who bought it from the Mohican Indians in 1683 - has been a focal point in the history of New York State and the nation. The White Plains Armory on South Broadway stands on the site of the original County Courthouse where, on July 11, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read publicly in New York State for the first time. This historical event supports the claim that White Plains is the birthplace of the State of New York . George Washington later established headquarters here, and the Battle of White Plains marked a turning point in the struggle for independence. In 1778, White Plains became county seat of Westchester by legislative act. On April 3, 1866, White Plains became an incorporated village and in 1916, the Village was incorporated as a City.