Eastchester, Bronx
Encyclopedia
Eastchester is a working class neighborhood in the northeast Bronx
borough of New York City
in the United States
. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 12
. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: the Bronx-Westchester County
border to the north, the New England Thruway
to the east, Baychester Avenue to the south, and the intersection of 233 St and Baychester Avenue to the west. Boston Road is the primary thoroughfare through Eastchester and Dyre Ave is the main commercial strip through Eastchester. ZIP codes include 10475. The area is patrolled by the 47th Precinct located at 4111 Laconia Avenue in Williamsbridge.
It has the same name as a modern-day town located approximately 5 miles to the north, as the neighborhood was included in the Town of Eastchester's extent until the late 19th century upon annexation by the City of New York. The modern-day city of Mount Vernon
, located right across the city line and bordering the Eastchester neighborhood, was also once part of the town. While Mount Vernon has developed along similar lines as the neighborhood of Eastchester, the modern-day Town of Eastchester (i.e. north of Mount Vernon) is markedly more affluent.
233rd Street and Boston Road
are the major thoroughfares in Eastchester. Intersecting both of these streets, Dyre Avenue is the neighborhood's main commercial strip. There is also a shopping center, Shopwell Plaza (named for the former Shopwell supermarket chain) located on Boston Road next to the Boston-Secor housing project. In 2007 the city's parks department rehabilitated Seton Falls Park.
Since the mid-20th century, the neighborhood's name began to decline in currency, meaning that in recent years residents have not really been cognizant about living in a neighborhood called "Eastchester." This is perhaps due to confusion with Eastchester Road, a thoroughfare which runs through other parts of the Bronx, or with the Town of Eastchester
in Westchester County. It is more common to hear the Eastchester neighborhood described as "east of White Plains Road", "south of Mount Vernon", "near Pelham", "East 233rd Street", etc.
and Boston Road over the river. A far northeastern portion of Eastchester, on the left bank of the Hutchinson River, is often confused with Pelham Manor since a nearby shopping center is located in that town.
The former Public School 15
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1981.
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
borough of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 12
Bronx Community Board 12
Bronx Community Board 12 is a local government unit of the New York City borough of the Bronx, encompassing the neighborhoods of Edenwald, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Woodlawn, Fish Bay, Eastchester, Olinville and Baychester....
. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: the Bronx-Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
border to the north, the New England Thruway
New England Thruway
The New England Thruway is a portion of the U.S. Interstate highway system and of the New York State Thruway, within and operated by the New York State Thruway Authority, linking New York City with New England, specifically with southwestern Connecticut...
to the east, Baychester Avenue to the south, and the intersection of 233 St and Baychester Avenue to the west. Boston Road is the primary thoroughfare through Eastchester and Dyre Ave is the main commercial strip through Eastchester. ZIP codes include 10475. The area is patrolled by the 47th Precinct located at 4111 Laconia Avenue in Williamsbridge.
History
The neighborhood was historically heavily Ashkenazi-Jewish and Italian-American,It has the same name as a modern-day town located approximately 5 miles to the north, as the neighborhood was included in the Town of Eastchester's extent until the late 19th century upon annexation by the City of New York. The modern-day city of Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
, located right across the city line and bordering the Eastchester neighborhood, was also once part of the town. While Mount Vernon has developed along similar lines as the neighborhood of Eastchester, the modern-day Town of Eastchester (i.e. north of Mount Vernon) is markedly more affluent.
233rd Street and Boston Road
Boston Post Road
The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts that evolved into the first major highways in the United States.The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York...
are the major thoroughfares in Eastchester. Intersecting both of these streets, Dyre Avenue is the neighborhood's main commercial strip. There is also a shopping center, Shopwell Plaza (named for the former Shopwell supermarket chain) located on Boston Road next to the Boston-Secor housing project. In 2007 the city's parks department rehabilitated Seton Falls Park.
Since the mid-20th century, the neighborhood's name began to decline in currency, meaning that in recent years residents have not really been cognizant about living in a neighborhood called "Eastchester." This is perhaps due to confusion with Eastchester Road, a thoroughfare which runs through other parts of the Bronx, or with the Town of Eastchester
Eastchester (town), New York
Eastchester is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 32,363 at the 2010 census. The town includes the villages of Bronxville and Tuckahoe.The Town of Eastchester is in the south part of the county.- History :...
in Westchester County. It is more common to hear the Eastchester neighborhood described as "east of White Plains Road", "south of Mount Vernon", "near Pelham", "East 233rd Street", etc.
Land use and terrain
Eastchester is dominated by one and two family homes of various types, one large public housing project, and an industrial district. The total land area is roughly half a square mile. The area is low laying and flat. The Hutchinson River runs through Eastchester, partly along the line of East 233rd Street. Bridges in Eastchester carry the New England ThruwayNew England Thruway
The New England Thruway is a portion of the U.S. Interstate highway system and of the New York State Thruway, within and operated by the New York State Thruway Authority, linking New York City with New England, specifically with southwestern Connecticut...
and Boston Road over the river. A far northeastern portion of Eastchester, on the left bank of the Hutchinson River, is often confused with Pelham Manor since a nearby shopping center is located in that town.
Demographics
Eastchester has a population over 5,000. The neighborhood is predominantly African American and West Indian. 17.8% of the population lives below the poverty line.Transportation
- Bx16: to Norwood-205th St stationNorwood-205th Street (IND Concourse Line)Norwood – 205th Street is a terminal station on the IND Concourse Line of the New York City Subway. Located in at the intersection of 205th Street and Bainbridge Avenue in the Norwood section of the Bronx, it serves as the northern terminal of the D train at all times.The station has two tracks...
(via Nereid Av) - Bx30: to Co-op CityCo-op City, BronxCo-op City , located in the Baychester section of the Borough of the Bronx in northeast New York City, is one of the largest cooperative housing developments in the world. Situated at the intersection of Interstate 95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway, the community is part of Bronx Community Board 10...
or Norwood-205th St stationNorwood-205th Street (IND Concourse Line)Norwood – 205th Street is a terminal station on the IND Concourse Line of the New York City Subway. Located in at the intersection of 205th Street and Bainbridge Avenue in the Norwood section of the Bronx, it serves as the northern terminal of the D train at all times.The station has two tracks...
(via Boston Rd) - Westchester Bee-Line Bus 52 to Mt. Vernon, New York & Bronxville (at Boston-Secor)
- Westchester Bee-Line Bus 55 to Cross County Shopping CenterCross County Shopping CenterCross County Shopping Center, also known as Cross County Center is an open-air shopping mall located in Yonkers, New York, United States. Over 100 stores and restaurants are featured in the mall, including anchor stores Macy's, Old Navy and Sears. The mall is managed by Macerich.-History:Cross...
(Yonkers) (at Eastchester-Dyre Ave station) - Westchester Bee-Line Bus 60 to White Plains, New YorkWhite Plains, New YorkWhite Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
(through Boston Road) - Westchester Bee-Line Bus 61 to Port Chester (through Boston Road)
- Eastchester-Dyre Avenue (IRT Dyre Avenue Line)Eastchester-Dyre Avenue (IRT Dyre Avenue Line)Eastchester – Dyre Avenue is a terminal station on the IRT Dyre Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at Dyre Avenue and East 233rd Street in the Bronx neighborhood of Eastchester, it is served by the 5 train at all times....
- Baychester Avenue (IRT Dyre Avenue Line)Baychester Avenue (IRT Dyre Avenue Line)Baychester Avenue is a station on the IRT Dyre Avenue Line of the New York City Subway, located at the intersection of Baychester and Tillotson Avenues in the Bronx. It is served by the 5 train at all times....
Facts
There is one NYCHA development located in Eastchester.- Boston Secor Houses; four buildings, 13, 14, 17 and 18-stories tall.
The former Public School 15
Public School 15
Public School 15 is a historic school located at Eastchester, The Bronx, New York, New York. It was built in 1877 in the Victorian Gothic style. It is an "H" shaped red brick building on a stone foundation. It features a central picturesque bell tower with a steep pyramidal roof topped by a...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1981.