Riverdale, Bronx

Riverdale, which had a population of 47,850 as of the 2000 United States Census, contains the city's northernmost point at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Riverdale's boundaries are disputed, but it is commonly agreed to be bordered by Yonkers to the north, Van Cortlandt Park and Broadway to the east, the Kingsbridge neighborhood to the southeast, either the Harlem River or the Spuyten Duyvil neighborhood to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Riverdale Avenue is the primary north–south thoroughfare through Riverdale.

Riverdale
Neighborhood of the Bronx
Bell Tower Park in Riverdale
Location in New York City. The indicated area on the map includes the Spuyten Duyvil Neighborhood.
Coordinates: 40°53′38″N 73°54′47″W / 40.894°N 73.913°W / 40.894; -73.913
Country	United States
State	New York
City	New York City
Borough	The Bronx
Community District	Bronx 8
Founded	1852
Named for	The numerous brooks, streams and meadows in the hilly region.
Area
• Total	7.03 km2 (2.714 sq mi)
Population  (2010)
• Total	47,850
• Density	6,800/km2 (18,000/sq mi)
Economics Includes Fieldston
• Median income (2019)	$64,360
ZIP Codes	10463, 10471
Area code	718, 347, 929, and 917

The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community District 8, and its ZIP Codes include 10463 and 10471. The area is patrolled by the 50th Precinct of the New York City Police Department.

Legend states that in 1664, Anthony Van Corlaer (later determined to be a fictional character) died while attempting to swim across the Harlem River from nearby Spuyten Duyvil. In the legend, a witness to Van Corlaer's death stated that "the devil" in the shape of a giant fish swam up and proceeded to "seize the sturdy Anthony by the leg and drag him beneath the waves." This fictional account may be a reference to the earliest recorded shark attack in the New World. In the late 17th century, Frederick Philipse, the lord of Philipse Manor in Westchester County, received permission to construct a bridge across Spuyten Duyvil Creek and charge tolls. "King's Bridge", located roughly south of and parallel to where West 230th Street lies today, opened in 1693.

Early in its residential development, Riverdale was a 19th-century estate district where many of Manhattan's moguls built their country estates; for example, in northern Riverdale, what is now Fieldston was part of the estate of Major Joseph Delafield, who purchased 250 acres (100 ha) in 1829, and named it after his family's estate in England. At the turn of the century, the new popularity of railroad commutes enabled wealthy businessmen to make Riverdale their year-round residence. Fieldston, owned by a private association, is a particularly intact example of a turn-of-the-century upper-class suburb. The Hudson Hill neighborhood retains many historic mansions. Riverdale's elite private schools and historic churches also reflect this past. Development of the neighborhood began in the latter half of the 19th century once the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad came through. The tracks originally crossed Spuyten Duyvil Creek and into Manhattan on the west side, but Cornelius Vanderbilt wanted to consolidate his railroad operations into one terminal. He had tracks laid along the north side of the Harlem River so that trains coming south from Albany could join with the Harlem and New Haven lines and come into Manhattan down the Park Avenue main line, along modern-day Park Avenue, into his new Grand Central Depot. This is the route still used by the Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line.

The Delafield family laid out lots in Fieldston in 1909 – the year after the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line (present-day 1 train) was extended to Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street, intending to develop the land, which at first was called "Delafield Woods". Rather than use a grid plan, civil engineer Albert E. Wheeler, following the suggestions made by Frederick Law Olmsted and James R. Croes in 1876, designed a street plan which followed the contours of the land and preserved as much of the wooded areas as possible. The first house was begun in 1910 and finished in 1911; by the beginning of the 21st century, Fieldston, a privately owned community, was one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in New York City. Leland Weintraub, the commissioner who moved for the district's creation, noted that "most of the features commonly associated with the American romantic suburb of the mid-19th century", including "a picturesque site, landscaping and architecture; connection to the city by accessible transportation and a layout adapted to the topography" are present in the area.

In 1928, Genevieve Ludlow Griscom, who was a member of a small religious group called the Outer Court of the Order of the Living Christ, built a 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m²) mansion at 360 West 253rd Street – also addressed as 5200 Longview Place – for the express purpose of housing Jesus Christ when the Second Coming occurred. After being derelict for a number of years under successive owners, the mansion was bought in 1987 by entrepreneur Jerry Galuten, who renovated it into an even more opulent 17 room home. After being on- and off-the market for eight years, with an asking price as high as $15 million, the house sold in January 2017 for $6.25 million.

As the 20th century progressed, upscale apartment buildings and smaller houses were added to the neighborhood. To this day, Riverdale continues to maintain its character as an affluent enclave in the city of New York. The rich history of Riverdale has led to the creation of the Riverdale Historic District.

In May 2009, the FBI ran a sting operation to prevent a bombing plot in which two Riverdale synagogues were the suggested targets. This followed a Molotov cocktail attack in 2000 on a different Riverdale synagogue and the 1989 firebombing of the Riverdale Press.

On July 26, 2010, the National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 tornado had hit Riverdale the day before. There were no fatalities, but seven people were injured.

On December 1, 2013, a train derailment near Spuyten Duyvil station resulted in four deaths and over 70 injuries, of which 11 were critical.

 

Riverdale covers about 3 square miles (7.8 km²) in area. It has one of the highest elevations in New York City, affording it views of the Empire State Building, George Washington Bridge, Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades. It is also noted for the numerous parks and expanses of greenery and original forest that complement its hilly landscape. The neighborhood is bordered on the north by the city of Yonkers in Westchester County, and on the west by the Hudson River, but its eastern and southern boundaries are frequently disputed. The AIA Guide to New York City gives Broadway as the eastern boundary, and the Harlem River as the southern. There are several long-debated subsections of Riverdale:

 

• Central Riverdale (the "downtown" area of Riverdale – from Manhattan College Parkway to West 232nd Street and from the Henry Hudson Parkway to Riverdale Avenue and Waldo Avenue)
• Fieldston (Riverdale south of West 250th Street, east of the Henry Hudson Parkway, north of Manhattan College Parkway, and west of Tibbett Avenue)
• Hudson Hill (Riverdale above West 246th Street and west of Henry Hudson Parkway)
• North Riverdale (Riverdale above West 254th Street and west of Fieldston Road)
• Mosholu (Riverdale East of Fieldston Road and above West 254th Street, includes Spencer Ave, Huxley Rd, Post Rd, and Broadway)
• Spuyten Duyvil / South Riverdale (the southernmost section of Riverdale, below West 232nd Street or West 239th Street by some definitions. Also included is the business, commercial and shopping district located at West 231st Street and Broadway)
• Villanova Heights (a sub-division bounded by Fieldston Road on the east, 250th Street on the south, and the Henry Hudson Parkway on the west and north)

The leafy, scenic enclave of Fieldston was designated a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2006. There is also a 15-acre Riverdale Historic District in the northwest of the neighborhood, designated in 1990.

 

Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Riverdale was 27,860, a change of −153 (−0.5%) from the 28,013 counted in 2000. Covering an area of 1,139.68 acres (461.21 ha), the neighborhood had a population density of 24.4 inhabitants per acre (15,600/sq mi; 6,000/km²).

The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 67.5% (18,794) White, 7.7% (2,136) African American, 0.1% (26) Native American, 5.3% (1,468) Asian, 0% (4) Pacific Islander, 0.3% (91) from other races, and 1.6% (446) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.6% (4,895) of the population. The neighborhood has a substantial Jewish presence. In 2003, a majority of the Jewish population in the Bronx lived in Riverdale.

The entirety of Community District 8, which comprises Riverdale, Fieldston, and Kingsbridge, had 102,927 inhabitants as of NYC Health's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 80.9 years.^: 2, 20 This is about the same as the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods.^{: 53 (PDF p. 84)} Most inhabitants are youth and middle-aged adults: 20% are between the ages of between 0–17, 28% between 25–44, and 25% between 45–64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents was lower, at 9% and 18% respectively.^: 2

As of 2017, the median household income in Community District 8 was $53,986. In 2018, an estimated 15% of Riverdale residents lived in poverty, compared to 25% in all of the Bronx and 20% in all of New York City. One in eleven residents (9%) were unemployed, compared to 13% in the Bronx and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 52% in Riverdale, compared to the boroughwide and citywide rates of 58% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018^[update], Riverdale is considered high-income relative to the rest of the city and not gentrifying.^: 7

Riverdale is home to the modernist landmark Saul Victor house, designed by Ferdinand Gottlieb in 1967. Other famous mansions in the Hudson Hill neighborhood include: Greyston (1864), Alderbrook (1880), Stonehurst (1861) and Oaklawn (1863). Since 2005, Central Riverdale has experienced a building boom with the addition of many mid- and high-rise condominium buildings. With a median residence value of $579,196 as of 2013, Riverdale is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in New York City and is considered one of the most sought-after residential neighborhoods.

Before the wider development of Riverdale, housing consisted of large, architecturally distinguished mansions built in the early 20th century, mostly in Georgian- and Tudor-revival styles, which recall scenes of "rural Connecticut" rather than the city. These are mostly concentrated in the Fieldston section of Riverdale, known as the estate area. In addition, more affordable pre-war buildings and smaller houses are scattered throughout Riverdale. The 1950s saw the construction of many low-rise (six-story) brick buildings. By the early to mid-1960s, a number of larger brick towers (10–20 stories) started popping up. Many of these full-service buildings featuring doormen were designed by architect Philip Birnbaum, who designed more thn 300 buildings in the city, including Skyview, the Windsors and the Whitehall in Riverdale.

In 1974, a large, fortress-like residential compound and school was established in North Riverdale by the Permanent Mission of the USSR to the United Nations (now the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN) to house diplomats and their families. The 20-story building was constructed from the top down, with the upper floors built first.

By the 1980s, most of the apartment buildings that were owned by single landlords and rented, were converted into cooperatives. Unlike most of the Bronx, Riverdale is mostly owner-occupied housing. Spuyten Duyvil has the greatest concentration of high rises in Riverdale with the Century, 555 Kappock, and Winston Churchill next to one another. Since 2005, Central Riverdale has experienced a building boom with the addition of many mid- and high-rise condominium buildings that contrast with the older brick style.

Arbor

In August 2008, Columbia University purchased an almost-completed apartment building near Henry Hudson Parkway for use as faculty housing. This building would go on to be named the Arbor. The Arbor is located at 3260 Henry Hudson Parkway, at the corner of West 235th Street. It houses Columbia students who take classes at the CUIMC, Morningside, or Manhattanville campuses. Students sign one-year leases for apartments that have between one and three bedrooms.

The Arbor Shuttle operates between Morningside, CUIMC, and the Arbor, using cutaway vans. It is billed as the main means of transport between the Arbor and Morningside, but it only operates on weekdays on an hourly schedule. The shuttle formerly also served the 231st Street station, but has since been cut back to only serve the Arbor.

Gallery

A Pulitzer-Prize-winning weekly newspaper, the Riverdale Press brings news of interest to residents of the neighborhood.

In the United States House of Representatives, Riverdale is located within New York's 15th congressional district, which is represented by Democrat Ritchie Torres. Riverdale is part of 34th district of the New York State Senate, represented by Democrat Alessandra Biaggi, and the 81st Assembly district, represented by Democrat Jeffrey Dinowitz. In the New York City Council, Riverdale is part of District 11, represented by Democrat Eric Dinowitz.

 

Riverdale is patrolled by the 50th Precinct of the NYPD, located at 3450 Kingsbridge Avenue. The 50th Precinct ranked 13th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010. As of 2018^[update], with a non-fatal assault rate of 40 per 100,000 people, Riverdale's rate of violent crimes per capita is less than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 225 per 100,000 people is lower than that of the city as a whole.^: 8 Riverdale is known for having some of the lowest crime rates in New York City.

The 50th Precinct has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 69.9% between 1990 and 2022. The precinct reported three murders, 22 rapes, 185 robberies, 213 felony assaults, 126 burglaries, 695 grand larcenies, and 288 grand larcenies auto in 2022.

Riverdale contains a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire station, Engine Co. 52/Ladder Co. 52, at 4550 Henry Hudson Parkway East. Engine Co. 52/Ladder Co. 52 is the only firehouse in Riverdale and the northernmost fire station operated by the FDNY.

As of 2018^[update], preterm births are slightly more common in Riverdale than in other places citywide, though births to teenage mothers are less common. In Riverdale, there were 89 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 13.1 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide).^: 11 Riverdale has a relatively average population of residents who are uninsured. In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 16%, higher than the citywide rate of 12%.^: 14

The concentration of fine particulate matter, the deadliest type of air pollutant, in Riverdale is 0.0075 milligrams per cubic metre (7.5×10⁻⁹ oz/cu ft), more than the city average.^: 9 Ten percent of Riverdale residents are smokers, which is lower than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers.^: 13 In Riverdale, 24% of residents are obese, 12% are diabetic, and 28% have high blood pressure—compared to the citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively.^: 16 In addition, 21% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%.^: 12

Eighty-six percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which is less than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 83% of residents described their health as "good", "very good", or "excellent", higher than the city's average of 78%.^: 13 For every supermarket in Riverdale, there are 10 bodegas.^: 10

The nearest hospitals are James J. Peters VA Medical Center in Kingsbridge Heights, North Central Bronx Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center in Norwood.

Riverdale is located within two ZIP Codes. The area north of Manhattan College Parkway and 239th Street is in 10471, while the area south of these two streets is in 10463. While 10471 is entirely in Riverdale, 10463 also covers the adjacent neighborhoods of Kingsbridge, Bronx, and Marble Hill, Manhattan. The United States Postal Service operates three post offices nearby:

• Riverdale Station – 5951 Riverdale Avenue
• Fieldston Station – 444 West 238th Street
• Spuyten Duyvil Station – 444 West 238th Street

 

Riverdale generally has a similar rate of college-educated residents to the rest of the city as of 2018^[update]. While 45% of residents age 25 and older have a college education or higher, 18% have less than a high school education and 37% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 26% of Bronx residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher.^: 6 The percentage of Riverdale students excelling in math rose from 21% in 2000 to 48% in 2011, and reading achievement increased from 28% to 33% during the same time period.

Riverdale's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is about the same as the rest of New York City. In Riverdale, 20% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year, higher than the citywide average of 20%.^{: 24 (PDF p. 55) : 6} Additionally, 78% of high school students in Riverdale graduate on time, higher than the citywide average of 75%.^: 6

Schools

Public schools

The public schools are a part of the New York City Department of Education. The public elementary schools are the Spuyten Duyvil School (P.S. 24) and the Robert J. Christen School (P.S. 81). There is one zoned public middle and high school in Riverdale: M.S./H.S 141, the Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy. Nearby public high schools that serve the community include the Bronx High School of Science, a specialized high school; John F. Kennedy High School Campus, consisting of four separate high schools; and the IN-Tech Academy MS/HS 368, which also contains a middle school.

Private schools

Riverdale is home to three top-tier private schools: Horace Mann, Riverdale Country, and Fieldston, all members of the Ivy Preparatory School League; and two Roman Catholic colleges: The College of Mount Saint Vincent and Manhattan College.

An increase in the Jewish population of the neighborhood in the late twentieth century led to Riverdale now being home to top-ranked Jewish day schools including the SAR Academy (an elementary school), the SAR High School, and Kinneret Day School (pre-K through 8th). Yeshivas include the Yeshiva of Telshe Alumni, Yeshiva Ohavei Torah, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Yeshivat Maharat. Catholic elementary schools in the area are Visitation School, St. Gabriel's School, and St. Margaret of Cortona School, where President John F. Kennedy received his Confirmation.

 

The area also has several preschools including BedRock Preschool, Kinneret Day School's Nursery and Pre-K progams, the Riverdale Temple Nursery School, Spuyten Duyvil Preschool, SAR Academy (Early Learning Center), Riverdale Nursery School and Family Center, the Riverdale Presbyterian Church Nursery School, and Riverdale Montessori School.

The Russian Mission School in New York is located in Riverdale, on the grounds of the Russian Mission Residency.

Libraries

The New York Public Library (NYPL) operates three branches near Riverdale.

• The Van Cortlandt branch is located at 3882 Cannon Place. The two-story, 5,800-square-foot (540 m²) branch opened in 2019, replacing a smaller one-story branch a few blocks away, which opened in 1969 and consisted of a single room.
• The Riverdale branch is located at 5540 Mosholu Avenue. The branch opened in 1967, replacing a smaller library, and is located in a one-story L-shaped brick building surrounded by a garden.
• The Spuyten Duyvil branch is located at 650 West 235th Street. The one-story branch opened in 1971 and was designed by Giorgio Cavaglieri.

Public transportation

 

The following MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes serve Riverdale:

• Bx1: to Third Avenue–138th Street station (via Grand Concourse)
• Bx7: to 168th Street station, Manhattan (via Riverdale Avenue, and Broadway)
• Bx9: to West Farms Square–East Tremont Avenue station (via Broadway)
• Bx10: to Norwood–205th Street station (via Riverdale Avenue, Henry Hudson Parkway, and Johnson Avenue)
• Bx20: to Inwood–207th Street station, Manhattan (via Henry Hudson Parkway, and Johnson Avenue)
• BxM1: express to Midtown Manhattan (via East Side)
• BxM2: express to Penn Station (via West Side)
• BxM3: express to Midtown Manhattan (via Major Deegan Expressway/East Side)
• BxM18: express to Lower Manhattan

Columbia Transportation's Arbor Shuttle terminates at West 235th Street and Henry Hudson Pkwy. The Queens Riverdale Commuter Route terminates at West 238th Street and Riverdale Avenue.

Riverdale is served by the 1 train of the New York City Subway, at the following stations:

• 231st Street station
• 238th Street station
• Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street station

Riverdale is also served by the following Bee-Line Bus System routes, which run to Westchester County:

• Bee-Line 1: to Tarrytown, Valhalla, White Plains, or Yonkers
• Bee-Line 1X: express to Westchester Community College and Westchester Medical Center
• Bee-Line 2: to South Westchester Executive Park or Yonkers
• Bee-Line 3 Limited: to Purchase
• Bee-Line 8: to Tuckahoe station

Metro-North commuter railroad service is available at two stations, both on the Hudson Line: the Spuyten Duyvil station at Edsall Avenue and the Riverdale station between West 254th and 255th Streets. Hudson Rail Link connects the Metro-North stations to the surrounding area, with Routes A, B, C, and D serving Riverdale station, and Routes J, K, L, and M serving Spuyten Duyvil station.

Road

By car, Riverdale is commonly reached by the Henry Hudson Parkway (NY 9A) via the Henry Hudson Bridge, and by Broadway (US 9) via the Broadway Bridge.

Parks

• Bell Tower Park next to the Henry Hudson Parkway has the Riverdale Monument, a stone war memorial built in 1930. The Bell Tower was designed by architect Dwight James Baum. The plaque that sits on the Bell Tower lists the names of individuals from Riverdale and neighboring areas who served in World War I.
• Brust Park, on 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) fronting Manhattan College Parkway and Greystone Avenue, is maintained by Stewards of Brust Park and its volunteers from the community and Manhattan College's Green Club.
• Gaelic Park, located at West 240th Street, has been owned by Manhattan College since 1991, and is the home field of many of its sports teams, including lacrosse, soccer and softball, as well as the school's intramural sports. Gaelic Park also is headquarters of the New York GAA, where Gaelic football and hurling are played in the New York metropolitan area. Gaelic Park is the home field for Rugby New York in Major League Rugby.
• Riverdale Waterfront Promenade is a tiny sliver of land along the Hudson River immediately adjacent to the Riverdale Metro-North train station. Inaugurated in 2005 by mayor Michael Bloomberg, the park was created to improve riverside access to local residents. Access to the park is only through the station, crossing the railroad tracks on an elevated walkway. It provides the only local public access to unobstructed views of the Hudson River. Access to the river has been blocked for over 150 years, first by railroads, later by the Major Deegan Expressway. In 2023, plans were announced to expand the Harlem River Greenway north from Manhattan into the Bronx.
• Seton Park, between 232nd and 235th Street on the west side of Henry Hudson Parkway, formerly the site of Seton Hospital, which was demolished in 1955. The park includes a large green space, tennis courts, two baseball fields, and playgrounds.
• Wave Hill, a combination botanical garden and outdoor art gallery, is located in the so-called Hudson Hill. Covering 20 acres (8.1 ha) overlooking the Hudson River, the property was developed in the 1840s by William Lewis Morris. The property was used by Theodore Roosevelt and Mark Twain, and later owned by George Walbridge Perkins. The city parks department describes it as "one of New York City's most beautiful parks".

Houses of worship

Community organizations

• Bronx Community Board 8 is a group of community members working under the mandate of the City Charter to monitor the delivery of city services, establish budget priorities, and influence land-use decisions.
• Riverdale Hatzalah Volunteer Ambulance Corp. is supported by community donations, and offers fast, reliable medical treatment and transport free of charge.
• Riverdale YM-YWHA is a community center for youth, adult and senior activities.
• Riverdale Children's Theater is a local theater company that has performed many pilot productions of musicals. This 501 c-3 theater arts program was founded in 2010 and offers a myriad of theater programs.

Museums

• Derfner Judaica Museum maintains a collection of approximately 1,400 objects used in traditional Jewish ceremonies and rituals, as well as Jewish art.
• Wave Hill, the former residence of Mark Twain among others, is a botanical garden featuring two preserved historic mansions. It has exhibit spaces with a rotating series of art exhibitions, and performance spaces with a noted series of concerts.

Riverdale has often been cited in literature, film and television. Exteriors of many of Riverdale's locations have been used in both television and movie production.

Literature

• In On the Road, Horace Mann School–educated Jack Kerouac writes about getting off at a subway stop in Riverdale: "Filled with dreams of what I'd do in Chicago, in Denver, and then finally in San Fran, I took the Seventh Avenue Subway to the end of the line at 242nd Street, and there took a trolley into Yonkers; in downtown Yonkers I transferred to an outgoing trolley and went to the city limits on the east bank of the Hudson River."

Films

• In the 2013 remake of the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Windsor South, an apartment building along the Henry Hudson Parkway, is shown.

Television

• On television's Mad Men, Joan Holloway reveals that she and her husband are considering relocating to Riverdale, explaining, "It's close to Columbia Presbyterian. Plus, Greg wants a yard".

•   New York City portal

Notes