About New York

Bronx County, New York is one of the five counties that make up New York City. Bronx County contains the borough of The Bronx; both were named for settler Jonas Bronck. A Swedish sea captain, Jonas became the first European settler in this area in 1639.

The Bronx's land mass of 42 square miles is bounded by the East River, Harlem River and Long Island Sound. The Bronx is the only borough of New York that is part of the mainland; the other four (Manhattan, Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens) are islands. Some of the more popular and recognized names of the Bronx's 39 individual and distinct neighborhoods are: Bedford, Fordham, High Bridge, Kings Bridge, Pelham, Throgs Neck and, of course, the Bronx neighborhood itself.

Bronx County's population, at the time of the 2000 census, was 1,332,650, and its population density is 31,709.34 per square mile. The 2004 population estimate shows a minor increase to 1,365,536 persons. As of the official 2000 Census Median household income was at $27,611. The most prominent ethnic group residing in Bronx County is persons of Hispanic or Latino origin at 48.4 percent.

Bronx County, NY has more parkland (24% of its 42 square miles over 6000 acres) than any of the other four boroughs. It is well known for the renowned 250 acre New York Botanical Garden, the world-famous Bronx Zoo, stately mansions, historic sites and museums (Bronx Museum of the Arts, Judaica Museum, North Wind Undersea Institute, Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum), beaches, and even an island reminiscent of a New England fishing village (City Island).

The world-famous Yankee Stadium and the New York Yankees call the Bronx, and Bronx County, home.

There are 6 Colleges within Bronx County, New York: College of Mount Saint Vincent, SUNY Maritime College, CUNY - Lehman College, CUNY Bronx Community College, CUNY Hostos Community College, Manhattan College and one state university, The University of Fordham.

Two major interstate highways cross thru Bronx County, NY. I-95 is a major artery to the New England area. The Cross-Bronx Expressway carries I-95 across the south-central Bronx and is a major connection to the George Washington Bridge. In Bronx County, I-87 is referred to as the Major Deegan Expressway. It travels along the eastern edge of the Harlem River to Westchester County, where it becomes the New York State Thruway.

Bronx County, New York is not known as a tourist destination. This seems to suit the Bronx just fine. In fact, the Bronx cheer was named after the borough.