Bronx County · New York City
The Bronx
Yankee Stadium, the Grand Concourse and the city's greenest borough
The Bronx is New York City's northernmost borough and the only one on the mainland, coterminous with Bronx County. It runs from the Harlem River north to the Westchester line, with the Grand Concourse, Yankee Stadium and large parks shaping its identity.
History
The Bronx was settled as farmland by Dutch and English colonists and annexed to New York City in stages between 1874 and 1895. Subway extensions in the early 1900s brought dense apartment construction along the Grand Concourse, and postwar disinvestment, arson and highway construction reshaped the south and central Bronx before decades of rebuilding, new housing and park investment.
Local Character
The borough's character varies sharply: Riverdale and Fieldston are hilly, leafy and suburban in feel; Fordham and University Heights are dense and student-oriented around Fordham University; Belmont is the city's Arthur Avenue Italian market district; and Mott Haven, Hunts Point and Soundview line the Bronx River and East River waterfront.
Restaurants & Shopping
Arthur Avenue in Belmont anchors Italian-American dining and provisions, while Grand Concourse, Fordham Road, Westchester Avenue and 149th Street support Caribbean, West African, Latin American and South Asian restaurants. City Island is known for seafood houses along City Island Avenue. Fordham Road is the borough's busiest retail corridor, with 149th Street, Southern Boulevard, Westchester Avenue and Bay Plaza in Co-op City serving everyday shopping. Arthur Avenue's market halls specialize in cheese, cured meats, bread and pastries.
Housing & Residential Environment
The Bronx mixes early-20th-century apartment houses along the Grand Concourse, large postwar complexes such as Co-op City, and detached houses in Riverdale, Fieldston, Pelham Bay and Throgs Neck. It remains the most affordable of the five boroughs for renters.
Schools & Education
Public schools are operated by the New York City Department of Education, including the Bronx High School of Science and other selective programs. Fordham University, Lehman College, Hostos Community College and Monroe College are based in the borough, and the New York Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo support science education.
Parks & Recreation
Pelham Bay Park is the largest park in New York City, with Orchard Beach on Long Island Sound. Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx Park — home to the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden — Wave Hill, Crotona Park and St. Mary's Park provide woods, trails and playing fields.
Transportation
Subway lines 1/2/3, 4/5/6, B/D and the Bx12 Select Bus Service connect the borough to Manhattan, and Metro-North's Hudson and Harlem lines stop at Riverdale, Fordham, Tremont and Woodlawn. The Major Deegan, Bruckner Expressway, Cross Bronx Expressway and Hutchinson River Parkway carry traffic.
Neighborhoods & Communities
Getting Around The Bronx
Subway lines 1/2/3, 4/5/6, B/D and the Bx12 Select Bus Service connect the borough to Manhattan, and Metro-North's Hudson and Harlem lines stop at Riverdale, Fordham, Tremont and Woodlawn. The Major Deegan, Bruckner Expressway, Cross Bronx Expressway and Hutchinson River Parkway carry traffic.
Local Businesses
Small businesses line Fordham Road, Arthur Avenue, 149th Street, Westchester Avenue, Castle Hill Avenue and City Island Avenue: groceries, restaurants, barbershops, auto repair shops, contractors and professional offices serving their own neighborhoods.
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Popular Attractions
- Yankee Stadium
- Bronx Zoo
- New York Botanical Garden
- Arthur Avenue
- Wave Hill
- Orchard Beach
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bronx a borough or a county?
Both. The Bronx is a borough of New York City and is coterminous with Bronx County, so the boundaries are the same.
Is the Bronx on the mainland?
Yes. The Bronx is the only New York City borough connected to the North American mainland, bounded by the Harlem River to the south and the Westchester County line to the north.
What is Arthur Avenue known for?
Arthur Avenue in the Belmont neighborhood is the center of the city's Italian-American market district, known for its bakeries, butchers, cheese shops and restaurants.