Riverdale, Bronx

Riverdale, Bronx is a neighborhood located in the Northwest Bronx, bordered by Yonkers to the north, Fieldston to the south, Van Cortlandt Park to the east, and the Hudson River to the west, near Inwood and Marble Hill. The area is home to Riverdale Country School, Horace Mann School, and The Ethical Culture Fieldston School, as well as Manhattan College and College of Mount Saint Vincent. Residents of Riverdale, Bronx have access to various amenities, including Van Cortlandt Park, Wave Hill, and the New York Botanical Garden, which is also close to Fordham University and Fordham.

Geography

Riverdale, Bronx is situated on the western edge of the Bronx, overlooking the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades, with nearby neighborhoods including Spuyten Duyvil and Kingsbridge. The area's terrain is characterized by steep hills and scenic views of the Hudson River, similar to those found in Riverdale, Toronto and Hastings-on-Hudson. Riverdale, Bronx is bordered by Yonkers to the north, Fieldston to the south, Van Cortlandt Park to the east, and the Hudson River to the west, near Inwood and Marble Hill, and is close to Lehman College and the Bronx High School of Science. The neighborhood's geography is also influenced by its proximity to Van Cortlandt Lake and the Mosholu Parkway, which connects to the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden.

History

The history of Riverdale, Bronx dates back to the 18th century, when the area was part of the Colonial era Philipse Manor, which included parts of Westchester County and the Bronx. The neighborhood was later developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the construction of the New York Central Railroad and the Henry Hudson Parkway, which connected Riverdale, Bronx to Manhattan and other parts of the city, including Washington Heights and Inwood. The area was also home to several notable estates, including the Wave Hill estate, which was once owned by Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt, and is now a New York City designated landmark and part of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Riverdale, Bronx has also been home to many notable residents, including Alfred P. Sloan, John F. Kennedy, and Eleanor Roosevelt, who attended Hunter College and was a prominent figure in the United Nations.

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, the demographics of Riverdale, Bronx are diverse, with a population that includes a mix of White Americans, African Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, and Asian Americans, similar to the demographics of nearby University Heights and Fordham. The neighborhood is also home to a significant Jewish community, with several synagogues and Jewish schools, including the SAR Academy and the Riverdale Jewish Center, which is affiliated with the Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America. Riverdale, Bronx has a high percentage of residents with advanced degrees, with many attending institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, and Yeshiva University, which has a campus in the nearby Wilf Campus.

Education

Riverdale, Bronx is home to several highly-regarded educational institutions, including Riverdale Country School, Horace Mann School, and The Ethical Culture Fieldston School, as well as Manhattan College and College of Mount Saint Vincent. The neighborhood is also close to several other colleges and universities, including Fordham University, Lehman College, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which is part of Yeshiva University and is affiliated with the Montefiore Medical Center. Residents of Riverdale, Bronx have access to a range of educational resources, including the New York Public Library and the Bronx Museum of the Arts, which is located in the nearby Concourse, Bronx and is part of the Smithsonian Institution.

Transportation

Riverdale, Bronx is accessible by several modes of transportation, including the Metro-North Railroad and the New York City Subway, with nearby stations including the Riverdale station and the Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street station, which is served by the 1 train (IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line). The neighborhood is also connected to Manhattan and other parts of the city by several major highways, including the Henry Hudson Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway, which provide access to LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. Residents of Riverdale, Bronx can also use the Bx7 and Bx10 buses, which connect to the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden.

Landmarks

Riverdale, Bronx is home to several notable landmarks, including Wave Hill, a historic estate that was once owned by Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt, and is now a New York City designated landmark and part of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. The neighborhood is also home to Van Cortlandt Park, which includes the Van Cortlandt House Museum and the Van Cortlandt Lake, as well as the Riverdale Monument, which commemorates the American Revolutionary War. Other notable landmarks in the area include the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Fordham University Church, which is a New York City designated landmark and part of the Archdiocese of New York. Riverdale, Bronx is also close to the Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, and the New York Public Library, which has a branch in the nearby Fordham Library.