Jonas Bronck arrived in the New Netherland colony in the spring of 1639, establishing the first European settlement that would eventually bear his name. A Swedish sea captain from the parish of Norra Ljunga in Småland, Bronck leased land from the Dutch West India Company on the mainland immediately north of New Haarlem, which is now Manhattan. He built a farmstead named Emmaus near the corner of what is today Willis Avenue and 132nd Street in Mott Haven. Bronck eventually accumulated land between the Harlem River and the Aquahung River, which later became known as Bronck's River or simply the Bronx River. The area was originally inhabited by the Siwanoy band of the Lenape people, who called the land Keskeskeck. European settlers displaced the native population after 1643, converting the rural landscape into farmlands that supplied city markets for generations. The name Bronx derives directly from this Swedish immigrant, though documents indicate his precise origins remain a subject of historical debate, with some claiming connections to the Faeroe Islands. The definite article The Bronx, used legally and colloquially, stems from the river's name and first appeared in the Annexed District of The Bronx created in 1874. A persistent story suggests the article comes from the phrase visiting the Broncks, referring to the settler's family, though this remains a time-worn tale. The borough is the only New York City borough located primarily on the North American mainland, distinct from the other four boroughs that are islands or located on islands. The Bronx River flows south from Westchester County through the borough, emptying into the East River, and serves as the only entirely freshwater river in New York City. It separates the hillier West Bronx from the flatter East Bronx, creating a natural division that has influenced the borough's development for centuries. The bedrock of the West Bronx is primarily Fordham gneiss, a high-grade heavily banded metamorphic rock containing significant amounts of pink feldspar. This geological difference from Manhattan's schist led to the expression The Bronx is gneiss but Manhattan is schist. Marble Hill, politically part of Manhattan but physically attached to the Bronx, is named for the Inwood marble formation found there. The borough's highest elevation is in the northwest corner, west of Van Cortlandt Park, while the southeastern side features four large low peninsulas or necks of low-lying land that jut into the waters of the East River. These peninsulas, including Hunts Point, Clason's Point, Screvin's Neck, and Throggs Neck, were once salt marshes. The irregular shoreline extends for miles, and the borough includes several small islands in the East River and Long Island Sound, such as City Island and Hart Island. Rikers Island, home to the large jail complex for the entire city, is also part of the Bronx. The land area of the Bronx is approximately 42 square miles, with about 27% being water. The population reached 1,472,654 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest borough by population and the third-highest in population density. About a quarter of the Bronx's area is open space, including Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo. The Thain Family Forest at the New York Botanical Garden is thousands of years old and represents New York City's largest remaining tract of the original forest that once covered the city. These open spaces were primarily reserved in the late 19th century as urban development progressed north and east from Manhattan. The Bronx was originally part of Westchester County, but it was ceded to New York City in two major parts. The West Bronx was annexed in 1874, and the areas east of the Bronx River were annexed in 1895. Bronx County was separated from New York County in 1914, becoming the 62nd and last county to be created by the state. The county's courts opened for business on the 2nd of January 1914, the same day that John P. Mitchel started work as Mayor of New York City. Despite the new Bronx County Court House not being completed, there was no delay in getting the court machinery in motion. All the new county officials were on hand, and the County Clerk, the District Attorney, the Surrogate, and the County Judge soon had things in working order. The seal to be used by the new county was selected by County Judge Louis D. Gibbs. It is circular, with a seated figure of Justice in the center, an American shield to her right, and the words Populi Suprema written over the figure. Surrogate George M. S. Schulz, with his office force, was busy at the stroke of 9 o'clock. Two wills were filed in the early morning, but owing to the absence of a safe they were recorded and then returned to the attorneys for safe keeping. There was a rush of business to the new County Clerk's office. Between seventy-five and a hundred men applied for first naturalization papers. Two certificates of incorporation were issued, and seventeen judgments, seven lis pendens, three mechanics' liens and one suit for negligence were filed. Sheriff O'Brien announced several additional appointments. The Bronx is home to Yankee Stadium of Major League Baseball, and the word Bronx originated with Jonas Bronck, who established the first European settlement in the area as part of the New Netherland colony in 1639. European settlers displaced the native Lenape after 1643. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Bronx received many immigrant and migrant groups as it was transformed into an urban community, first from European countries particularly Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe, and later from the Caribbean region particularly Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic, and immigrants from West Africa particularly from Ghana and Nigeria, African American migrants from the Southern United States, Panamanians, Hondurans, and South Asians. The Bronx contains what had been the poorest of all 435 U.S. congressional districts, New York's 15th, until redistricting following the 2020 census. As of 2017, the median household income in the district was estimated to be $28,042, well below the city's $33,562 poverty threshold at that time. The local congressman, Rep. José E. Serrano, is retiring. Most people of color: District 15 has the highest number of people of color, at 97%, compared with the rest of the country, as of 2017, according to the APM Research Lab. The borough also features upper- and middle-income neighborhoods, such as Riverdale, Fieldston, Spuyten Duyvil, Schuylerville, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Morris Park, and Country Club. Parts of the Bronx saw a steep decline in population, livable housing and quality of life starting from the mid-to-late 1960s, continuing throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, ultimately culminating in a wave of arson in the late 1970s, a period when hip hop music evolved. The South Bronx, in particular, experienced severe urban decay. The borough began experiencing new population growth starting in the late 1990s and continuing to the present day. The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York. The borough shares a land border with Westchester County, New York to its north; to its south and west, the New York City borough of Manhattan lies across the Harlem River; and to its south and east is the borough of Queens, across the East River. The Bronx, the only New York City borough located primarily on the U.S. mainland, has a land area of 42 square miles and a population of 1,472,654 at the 2020 census. It has the fourth-largest area, fourth-highest population, and third-highest population density of the boroughs. The Bronx is divided by the Bronx River into a hillier section in the west, and a flatter eastern section. East and west street names are divided by Jerome Avenue. The West Bronx was annexed to New York City in 1874, and the areas east of the Bronx River in 1895. Bronx County was separated from New York County in 1914. On the start of business for Bronx County: Bronx County In Motion. New Officials All Find Work to Do on Their First Day. The New York Times, the 3rd of January 1914. Despite the fact that the new Bronx County Court House is not completed there was no delay yesterday in getting the court machinery in motion. All the new county officials were on hand and the County Clerk, the District Attorney, the Surrogate, and the County Judge soon had things in working order. The seal to be used by the new county was selected by County Judge Louis D. Gibbs. It is circular. In the center is a seated figure of Justice. To her right is an American shield and over the figure is written Populi Suprema. Surrogate George M. S. Schulz, with his office force, was busy at the stroke of 9 o'clock. Two wills were filed in the early morning, but owing to the absence of a safe they were recorded and then returned to the attorneys for safe keeping. There was a rush of business to the new County Clerk's office. Between seventy-five and a hundred men applied for first naturalization papers. Two certificates of incorporation were issued, and seventeen judgments, seven lis pendens, three mechanics' liens and one suit for negligence were filed. Sheriff O'Brien announced several additional appointments. About a quarter of the Bronx's area is open space, including Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo in the borough's north and center. The Thain Family Forest at the New York Botanical Garden is thousands of years old and is New York City's largest remaining tract of the original forest that once covered the city. These open spaces are primarily on land reserved in the late 19th century as urban development progressed north and east from Manhattan. The Bronx is also home to Yankee Stadium of Major League Baseball. The word Bronx originated with Jonas Bronck, who established the first European settlement in the area as part of the New Netherland colony in 1639. European settlers displaced the native Lenape after 1643. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Bronx received many immigrant and migrant groups as it was transformed into an urban community, first from European countries particularly Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe, and later from the Caribbean region particularly Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic, and immigrants from West Africa particularly from Ghana and Nigeria, African American migrants from the Southern United States, Panamanians, Hondurans, and South Asians. The Bronx contains what had been the poorest of all 435 U.S. congressional districts, New York's 15th, until redistricting following the 2020 census. As of 2017, the median household income in the district was estimated to be $28,042, well below the city's $33,562 poverty threshold at that time. The local congressman, Rep. José E. Serrano, is retiring. Most people of color: District 15 has the highest number of people of color, at 97%, compared with the rest of the country, as of 2017, according to the APM Research Lab. The borough also features upper- and middle-income neighborhoods, such as Riverdale, Fieldston, Spuyten Duyvil, Schuylerville, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Morris Park, and Country Club. Parts of the Bronx saw a steep decline in population, livable housing and quality of life starting from the mid-to-late 1960s, continuing throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, ultimately culminating in a wave of arson in the late 1970s, a period when hip hop music evolved. The South Bronx, in particular, experienced severe urban decay. The borough began experiencing new population growth starting in the late 1990s and continuing to the present day. The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York. The borough shares a land border with Westchester County, New York to its north; to its south and west, the New York City borough of Manhattan lies across the Harlem River; and to its south and east is the borough of Queens, across the East River. The Bronx, the only New York City borough located primarily on the U.S. mainland, has a land area of 42 square miles and a population of 1,472,654 at the 2020 census. It has the fourth-largest area, fourth-highest population, and third-highest population density of the boroughs. The Bronx is divided by the Bronx River into a hillier section in the west, and a flatter eastern section. East and west street names are divided by Jerome Avenue. The West Bronx was annexed to New York City in 1874, and the areas east of the Bronx River in 1895. Bronx County was separated from New York County in 1914. On the start of business for Bronx County: Bronx County In Motion. New Officials All Find Work to Do on Their First Day. The New York Times, the 3rd of January 1914. Despite the fact that the new Bronx County Court House is not completed there was no delay yesterday in getting the court machinery in motion. All the new county officials were on hand and the County Clerk, the District Attorney, the Surrogate, and the County Judge soon had things in working order. The seal to be used by the new county was selected by County Judge Louis D. Gibbs. It is circular. In the center is a seated figure of Justice. To her right is an American shield and over the figure is written Populi Suprema. Surrogate George M. S. Schulz, with his office force, was busy at the stroke of 9 o'clock. Two wills were filed in the early morning, but owing to the absence of a safe they were recorded and then returned to the attorneys for safe keeping. There was a rush of business to the new County Clerk's office. Between seventy-five and a hundred men applied for first naturalization papers. Two certificates of incorporation were issued, and seventeen judgments, seven lis pendens, three mechanics' liens and one suit for negligence were filed. Sheriff O'Brien announced several additional appointments. About a quarter of the Bronx's area is open space, including Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Cortlandt Park, Pelham Bay Park, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo in the borough's north and center. The Thain Family Forest at the New York Botanical Garden is thousands of years old and is New York City's largest remaining tract of the original forest that once covered the city. These open spaces are primarily on land reserved in the late 19th century as urban development progressed north and east from Manhattan. The Bronx is also home to Yankee Stadium of Major League Baseball. The word Bronx originated with Jonas Bronck, who established the first European settlement in the area as part of the New Netherland colony in 1639. European settlers displaced the native Lenape after 1643. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Bronx received many immigrant and migrant groups as it was transformed into an urban community, first from European countries particularly Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Eastern Europe, and later from the Caribbean region particularly Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, and the Dominican Republic, and immigrants from West Africa particularly from Ghana and Nigeria, African American migrants from the Southern United States, Panamanians, Hondurans, and South Asians. The Bronx contains what had been the poorest of all 435 U.S. congressional districts, New York's 15th, until redistricting following the 2020 census. As of 2017, the median household income in the district was estimated to be $28,042, well below the city's $33,562 poverty threshold at that time. The local congressman, Rep. José E. Serrano, is retiring. Most people of color: District 15 has the highest number of people of color, at 97%, compared with the rest of the country, as of 2017, according to the APM Research Lab. The borough also features upper- and middle-income neighborhoods, such as Riverdale, Fieldston, Spuyten Duyvil, Schuylerville, Pelham Bay, Pelham Gardens, Morris Park, and Country Club. Parts of the Bronx saw a steep decline in population, livable housing and quality of life starting from the mid-to-late 1960s, continuing throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, ultimately culminating in a wave of arson in the late 1970s, a period when hip hop music evolved. The South Bronx, in particular, experienced severe urban decay. The borough began experiencing new population growth starting in the late 1990s and continuing to the present day.