The Bronx
In the spring of 1639, a Swedish sea captain named Jonas Bronck arrived in New Netherland. He established the first European settlement on the mainland that would become the Bronx. Bronck built a farm called Emmaus near what is now the corner of Willis Avenue and 132nd Street in Mott Haven. He leased land from the Dutch West India Company and bought additional tracts from local tribes. The area eventually stretched between the Harlem River and the Aquahung River. This river later became known as Bronck's River or simply the Bronx River. Native Siwanoy people of the Lenape band had inhabited this territory for centuries before his arrival. They referred to the land as Keskeskeck. European colonists displaced these native communities after 1643. The name Bronx derives directly from the settler's surname. Documents indicate Bronck was born in Komstad, Norra Ljunga parish in Småland, Sweden. His precise origins remain disputed by some historians. A time-worn story suggests the definite article in the borough's name comes from the phrase visiting the Broncks. This refers to the settler's family. The use of the definite article appeared legally in the Annexed District of The Bronx created in 1874.
The present Bronx County was originally part of Westchester County. It was ceded to New York City in two major parts over several decades. In 1874, the state legislature annexed Kingsbridge, West Farms, and Morrisania to New York. These three towns were soon abolished in the process. A second annexation occurred in 1895 when the whole territory east of the Bronx River joined the city. This included the Town of Westchester which had voted against consolidation in 1894. Parts of Eastchester and Pelham also joined during this period. On the 1st of January 1898, the consolidated City of New York was born including the Bronx as one of five distinct boroughs. It remained part of New York County until Bronx County was created in 1914. On the 19th of April 1912, those parts of New York County newly constituted as Bronx County became the 62nd county created by the state. Bronx County courts opened for business on the 2nd of January 1914. John P. Mitchel started work as Mayor of New York City on that same day. The new County Clerk received between seventy-five and a hundred men applying for first naturalization papers. Two certificates of incorporation were issued along with seventeen judgments and seven lis pendens.
The urbanization of the Bronx truly began with the entrance of the subway into the area in 1904. As rapid transit came in spurts during 1905, 1910, 1918, and 1920, rail lines built their tracks into still-green fields and meadows. This caused the population to surge dramatically. Between 1900 and 1930, the population grew from 200,000 to 1.3 million people. Thousands of immigrants arrived including Irish Americans, Italian Americans, and Jewish Americans. By 1937, 592,185 Jews lived in the Bronx representing 43.9% of the borough's population. Only 54,000 Jews resided there by 2011. Many synagogues still stand but most have been converted to other uses. The South Bronx served as a manufacturing center for many years. In 1919, the borough hosted 63 piano factories employing more than 5,000 workers. Before World War I ended, the Bronx hosted the small 1918 World's Fair at 177th Street and DeVoe Avenue. Extensions of the New York City Subway contributed to residential construction booms throughout the early twentieth century.
From the mid-1960s to the early 1980s, quality of life changed drastically for some residents. Robert Moses Cross Bronx Expressway destroyed existing neighborhoods creating instant slums according to historian Robert Caro. Development of high-rise housing projects particularly in the South Bronx also played a role. A process known as redlining reduced real estate listings and property-related financial services like mortgage loans or insurance policies. Others suggested planned shrinkage of municipal services including fire-fighting resources. Between 1970 and 1980, seven census tracts lost more than 97% of their buildings to arson and abandonment. Another 44 tracts had more than 50% of buildings meet the same fate. By the early 1980s, the South Bronx experienced loss of 60% of its population and 40% of housing units. Landlords decided to burn low property-value buildings to take insurance money instead of refurbishing them. Tenants sometimes set fires to qualify for emergency relocations by city social service agencies. Out of 289 census tracts, only 7 retained most structures while others became blighted urban areas.
Since the late 1980s significant development has occurred first stimulated by the city's Ten-Year Housing Plan. Groups affiliated with churches in the South Bronx erected Nehemiah Homes containing about 1,000 units. The grassroots organization Nos Quedamos began rebuilding areas in the South Bronx through Melrose Commons projects. The IRT White Plains Road Line showed an increase in ridership. Chains such as Marshalls, Staples, and Target opened stores in the borough. Bank branches rose from 106 in 1997 to 149 in 2007 though not primarily in poor or minority neighborhoods. Between 2002 and June 2007, 33,687 new units of housing were built or under way. Four point eight billion dollars invested in new housing during that period. In the first six months of 2007 alone total investment reached $965 million with 5,187 residential units scheduled for completion. Much new development sprang up across formerly vacant lots in the South Bronx. Revitalization also came to existing markets in Hunts Point, Lower Concourse, and neighborhoods surrounding Third Avenue Bridge. Boutique and chain hotels opened in the 2010s within the South Bronx.
About one fifth of the Bronx area is given over to parkland including Woodlawn Cemetery and Van Cortlandt Park. Pelham Bay Park covers 2,772 acres making it New York City's largest park. It includes Orchard Beach along the Westchester-Bronx border. Van Cortlandt Park spans 1,146 acres west of Woodlawn Cemetery. The Bronx Zoo houses the largest urban zoological gardens in the United States. Its northern end contains the New York Botanical Gardens preserving the last patch of original hemlock forest once covering the county. Chestnut Blight pathogen found at the Bronx Zoo in 1904 spread throughout eastern North America killing American Chestnuts over forty years. Jerome Park Reservoir built in the 1890s sits south of Van Cortlandt Park surrounded by stone walls. Crotona Park features a lake with 28 species of trees and a large swimming pool. Land for these parks was bought by New York City in 1888 while still open and inexpensive. A five-year $220-million program began in 2006 for capital improvements and natural restoration across 70 Bronx parks.
The borough's most populous racial group White declined from 99.3% in 1920 to 14.9% in 2018. As of 2010 census data 53.5% of population was Hispanic Latino or Spanish origin. Thirty point one percent identified as non-Hispanic Black or African American. Only 10.9% were non-Hispanic White people. The Bronx has the lowest number and proportion of white residents among all five boroughs. Over 495,200 Black people resided in the borough making up 35.4% of total population. People of Italian descent numbered over 55,000 individuals representing 3.9%. Irish descent accounted for over 43,500 individuals at 3.1%. German Americans made up 1.4% and Polish Americans 0.8%. The Bronx holds the largest Albanian community in the United States. Five hundred thirty-two thousand four hundred eighty-seven housing units exist with median value $371,800. Owner-occupancy rate stands at 19.7% lowest of all five boroughs. Median household income reached $36,593 while per capita income sat at $19,721.
The Bronx is home to New York Yankees nicknamed the Bronx Bombers of Major League Baseball. Team won 27 World Series titles more than any other franchise. Roster featured players like Babe Ruth Lou Gehrig Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. Original Yankee Stadium opened in 1923 as largest baseball park ever built. Field hosted college football games plus two National Football League teams including New York Giants from 1956 to 1973. Current Yankee Stadium replaced original facility in 2008. Borough also hosts only Major League Soccer team in five boroughs called New York City FC playing in Yankee Stadium. In early twentieth century it served center for Latin jazz evolution. During 1970s strongly associated with hip hop music development. DJ Kool Herc held parties in community room apartment building at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. He experimented with turntablist techniques mixing scratching funk records rapping during extended instrumentals. From 1889 to 1904 borough used horse racing facility Morris Park Racecourse later converted for motor racing reaching new land speed record there.
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Common questions
When did Jonas Bronck arrive in New Netherland to establish the first European settlement that became the Bronx?
Jonas Bronck arrived in New Netherland in the spring of 1639. He established the first European settlement on the mainland that would become the Bronx by building a farm called Emmaus near what is now the corner of Willis Avenue and 132nd Street in Mott Haven.
What dates mark the creation of Bronx County and when did its courts open for business?
Bronx County was created as the 62nd county by the state on the 19th of April 1912. The Bronx County courts opened for business on the 2nd of January 1914, which was also the day John P. Mitchel started work as Mayor of New York City.
How did the population of the Bronx change between 1900 and 1930 after the subway entered the area?
The population of the Bronx grew from 200,000 to 1.3 million people between 1900 and 1930. This dramatic surge occurred as rapid transit lines built their tracks into still-green fields and meadows during spurts in 1905, 1910, 1918, and 1920.
Which borough has the lowest number and proportion of white residents among all five boroughs of New York City?
The Bronx holds the lowest number and proportion of white residents among all five boroughs. White residents declined from 99.3% in 1920 to 14.9% in 2018 while over 495,200 Black people resided there making up 35.4% of the total population.
Where did DJ Kool Herc hold parties that are associated with the development of hip hop music in the Bronx?
DJ Kool Herc held parties in a community room apartment building at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. These events took place during the 1970s when the borough was strongly associated with hip hop music development through turntablist techniques mixing scratching funk records and rapping.