Eastchester, Bronx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eastchester
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Neighborhood of the Bronx
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The historic PS 15 on Dyre Avenue
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| City |  New York City |
| Borough |  The Bronx |
| Community District | The Bronx 12 |
| Economics | |
| Ethnicity | |
| ZIP Codes |
10466 and 10475
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| Area code | 718, 347, 929, and 917 |
Eastchester is a neighborhood in the northeast Bronx area of New York City. It is known as a working-class community. Its borders are the Bronx-Westchester County line to the north and the New England Thruway to the east. Baychester Avenue is to the south, and the corner of 233rd Street and Baychester Avenue is to the west. Boston Road is the main street through Eastchester. Dyre Avenue is the main street for shops and businesses. The smaller area of Edenwald is also part of Eastchester.
Eastchester is part of Bronx Community Board 12. Its ZIP Codes are 10466 and 10475. The New York City Police Department's 47th Precinct patrols this area.
Contents
Eastchester's Past
This neighborhood was once home to many Ashkenazi Jewish people and Italian-American families. Eastchester shares its name with a town about 5 miles north. This is because the neighborhood was part of the Town of Eastchester until the late 1800s. At that time, it became part of New York City. The modern city of Mount Vernon, which is right next to Eastchester, was also once part of the old town. While Mount Vernon has grown in similar ways to the Eastchester neighborhood, the current Town of Eastchester (north of Mount Vernon) is much wealthier.
Boston Road and 233rd Street are important roads in Eastchester. Dyre Avenue crosses both of these streets and is the main shopping area. There is also a shopping center called Shopwell Plaza on Boston Road. It is next to the Boston-Secor housing project. In 2007, the city's parks department improved Seton Falls Park.
Over time, people started using the name "Eastchester" less often for this neighborhood. This might be because of confusion with Eastchester Road, a street that runs through other parts of the Bronx. It could also be confused with the Town of Eastchester in Westchester County. Today, people often describe the Eastchester neighborhood by saying it is "east of White Plains Road" or "south of Mount Vernon."
Land and Buildings
Eastchester has many one- and two-family homes. It also has one large public housing project and an area for businesses. The total land area is about half a square mile. The land is mostly flat and low. The Hutchinson River flows through Eastchester, partly along East 233rd Street. Bridges in Eastchester carry the New England Thruway and Boston Road over the river. A small part of Eastchester in the northeast, near the Hutchinson River, is sometimes mistaken for Pelham Manor. This is because a shopping center nearby is in that town.
The Boston Secor Houses are in Eastchester. They have four buildings that are 13, 14, 17, and 18 stories tall.
Edenwald Houses is the biggest housing development run by the New York City Housing Authority in the Bronx. It has forty buildings, either 3 or 14 stories high, on about 48.88 acres. About 5,300 people live in its 2,036 apartments. It was finished in 1953. It is bordered by Grenada Place, East 225th Street, and Baychester and Laconia Avenues. The Edenwald Projects are split into two parts by 229th Street. The Edenwald Community Center is on the south side. It offers after-school care and programs for young people. In the summer, it has a summer program for kids and jobs for older children.
People of Eastchester
Eastchester has more than 5,000 residents. The neighborhood is home to a mix of African Americans, West Indians, Asians, Hispanics, and White people. Some families in the area face financial challenges.
The wider area of Community District 12, which includes Eastchester and Williamsbridge, had 156,542 people in 2018. The average life expectancy there was 81.0 years. This is similar to the average for all New York City neighborhoods. Most residents are young people and middle-aged adults. About 24% are between 0 and 17 years old, 27% are between 25 and 44, and 26% are between 45 and 64. Fewer residents are college-aged (10%) or elderly (13%).
In 2017, the average household income in Community District 12 was $48,018. In 2018, about 22% of Eastchester and Williamsbridge residents lived in poverty. This is similar to the Bronx average of 25% but higher than New York City's 20%. About 13% of residents were unemployed. Many residents (57%) have trouble paying their rent.
Fire Safety
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) helps keep Eastchester safe. Engine Co. 38/Ladder Co. 51 fire station is located at 3446 Eastchester Road.
Mail Services and ZIP Codes
Eastchester uses several ZIP Codes. Most of the neighborhood, especially north of Boston Road, is in 10466. The area south of Boston Road is split into two ZIP Codes. 10475 is east of Baychester Avenue, and 10469 is west of Baychester Avenue. The United States Postal Service has two post offices nearby. The Hillside Station is at 3482 Boston Road. The Co-op City Station is at 3300 Conner Street.
Learning and Schools
Eastchester and Williamsbridge generally have fewer college-educated residents than other parts of New York City. In 2018, about 32% of adults aged 25 and older had a college degree or higher. However, 20% had less than a high school education. About 48% were high school graduates or had some college education. For comparison, 43% of all New York City residents have a college education or higher. The number of Eastchester and Williamsbridge students doing well in math increased from 32% in 2000 to 48% in 2011. Reading skills stayed about the same, at 37%.
Eastchester and Williamsbridge elementary school students miss school slightly more often than the city average. About 29% of elementary students missed twenty or more days in a school year. The city average is 20%. Also, 70% of high school students in Eastchester and Williamsbridge graduate on time. This is similar to the citywide average of 75%.
Local Schools
The old PS 15 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. There are three public elementary schools: PS 68, PS 111, and PS 112. Students in sixth to eighth grade attend John Philip Sousa MS 142. The only public high school in the area is Albert Tuitt Educational Campus. However, many students go to Harry S. Truman High School in nearby Co-op City. For private religious education, students can attend Cardinal Spellman High School (for both boys and girls). Boys can go to Mount Saint Michael Academy in Wakefield. Girls can go to St. Barnabas High School in Woodlawn.
Libraries for Everyone
The New York Public Library (NYPL) has an Edenwald branch at 1255 East 233rd Street. This one-story library opened in 1973. The NYPL also has a Baychester branch at 2049 Asch Loop North in Co-op City. This library opened in 1973 and was updated in 2003.
Getting Around Eastchester
Subway service is available through the New York City Subway on the IRT Dyre Avenue Line. The 5 train train stops at these stations:
- Eastchester–Dyre Avenue
- Baychester Avenue
Bus service is provided by New York City Bus and Bee-Line Bus System routes:
- Bx16: travels to Pelham or Norwood–205th Street (via Nereid Avenue)
- Bx30: travels to Co-op City or Pelham Parkway (via Boston Road)
- BL52: travels to Eastchester, Bronx or Bronxville via Mt. Vernon, New York
- BL55: travels to Eastchester, Bronx or Cross County Shopping Center (Yonkers)
- BL60: travels to Fordham, Bronx or White Plains, NY (via US Route 1)
- BL61: travels to Fordham, Bronx or Port Chester, NY (via US Route 1)
- BL62x: travels to Fordham, Bronx or White Plains, NY (via US Route 1; Express from New Rochelle to East White Plains)
Famous People from Eastchester
- 88-Keys (born 1976), a music producer and rapper.
- Emmanuel Andújar (born 1992), a professional basketball player. He grew up in the Edenwald Houses.
- Jamaal Bowman (born 1976), a U.S. Congressman. He was a school principal in Eastchester.
- DreamDoll (born 1992), a rapper and TV personality. She grew up in the Edenwald Houses.
- Andy González (1951-2020), a Latin jazz musician. He grew up in the Edenwald Houses.
- Jerry González (1949-2018), a Latin jazz musician. He grew up in the Edenwald Houses.
- Leo Isacson (1910-1996), a lawyer and politician.
- Sharissa (born 1975), an R&B singer. She grew up in the Edenwald Houses.
- Scoochie Smith (born 1994), a professional basketball player. He grew up in the Edenwald Houses.
- Christopher Williams (born 1967), an R&B singer and actor. He grew up in the Edenwald Houses.
Images for kids
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Richard Hauptmann residence 1279 East 222nd Street jeh.jpg
The former home of Richard Hauptmann at 1279 East 222nd Street.
