Morrisania, Bronx facts for kids

Morrisania is a neighborhood in the southwestern Bronx, New York City. It is a place where many people live, with homes and apartments.

The area is bordered by the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the north. Crotona-Prospect Avenue is to the east. East 163rd Street is to the south. Webster Avenue is to the west. Third Avenue is the main road that goes through Morrisania.

The name Morrisania comes from the Morris family. They were a very powerful and important family. They once owned a huge estate of 2,000 acres here. This family also owned much of the Bronx and parts of New Jersey.

Famous members of the Morris family include Lewis Morris. He signed the United States Declaration of Independence. Another famous member was Gouverneur Morris. He helped write the United States Constitution. Both are buried at St. Ann's Church of Morrisania. Today, the name Morrisania refers to a small part of their original large estate.

Morrisania is part of Bronx Community Board 3. Its ZIP Codes are 10456 and 10459. The local police department is the NYPD's 42nd Precinct.

Exploring Morrisania's Past

From 1644 until the early 1900s, this land was the large estate of the Morris family. It was located in Westchester County. In 1790, Lewis Morris, who owned the estate, suggested it could be the capital city of the United States.

The area did not have many people living there until 1840. That year, Gouverneur Morris Jr. allowed a railroad to be built across the family's land. He was the son of the famous Gouverneur Morris.

In 1848, he sold land near the railroad line. This land was used to build a new town called Morrisania Village. By 1855, more small towns grew along the railroad. These towns became the larger town of Morrisania. The original village became its political center in 1864.

At first, Morrisania Village was a place where people lived but worked in Manhattan. Soon, it grew to have its own businesses and workers. In 1874, Morrisania became part of New York City. The Third Avenue Elevated train line was extended here in 1887. This made it easy to travel to and from Manhattan.

By 1904, the New York City Subway reached the area. Many European immigrants moved to Morrisania. The neighborhood became more like a city. Apartment buildings called tenements replaced houses.

In the 1950s, new public housing was built. Later, the Cross-Bronx Expressway was constructed. Over time, many older buildings in the area were damaged or destroyed. The city then began to fix up many abandoned apartment buildings. These were turned into affordable housing in the late 1970s. New townhouses and apartment buildings have also been built on empty lots.

Who Lives in Morrisania?

Morrisania is a neighborhood with many different people. It is mainly home to Latin Americans and African Americans.

In 2010, the population of Morrisania was 37,865 people. This was a big increase from 29,797 people in 2000. The neighborhood covers about 387 acres. This means it has many people living in a small space.

About 38.4% of the people were African American. About 58.2% were Hispanic or Latino. A small number of people were White, Native American, or Asian.

In 2018, the average life expectancy in Morrisania was 76.2 years. This is a bit lower than the average for all of New York City. Many residents are young people and middle-aged adults. About 29% are under 18 years old. Another 29% are between 25 and 44 years old.

Buildings and Green Spaces

Morrisania has many public housing complexes. These are large groups of apartment buildings. There are also empty lots and older apartment buildings called tenements. Many of the original homes were damaged and later removed. The land in Morrisania is a bit hilly.

Historic Buildings and Areas

The Morris High School Historic District is an important area. It is north of the Forest Houses. This area has Morris High School and old brownstone buildings.

The Clay Avenue Historic District has two blocks of buildings on Clay Avenue. These buildings have beautiful old designs. They show how the Bronx looked when it first started to become a city. Before these buildings, this area was part of a horse racing track.

Public Housing in Morrisania

There are twenty different public housing developments in Morrisania. These are managed by NYCHA. They include:

• 1162-1176 Washington Avenue: one 6-story building.
• Butler Houses: six tall 21-story buildings.
• Claremont Parkway-Franklin Avenue Area: three buildings, 3 and 7 stories tall.
• Davidson Houses: one 8-story building.
• Eagle Avenue-East 163rd Street: one 6-story building.
• Forest Houses: fifteen buildings, 9, 10, and 14 stories tall.
• Franklin Avenue I (Conventional): three 5-story buildings.
• Franklin Avenue I M.H.O.P.: two 5-story buildings.
• Franklin Avenue II (Conventional): three 5-story buildings.
• Franklin Avenue III (Conventional): one 5-story building.
• Franklin Avenue III M.H.O.P.: three 5-story buildings.
• Jennings Street M.H.O.P.: three 5-story buildings.
• McKinley Houses: five 16-story buildings.
• Morris I: ten buildings, 16 and 20 stories tall.
• Morris II: seven buildings, 16 and 20 stories tall.
• Morrisania Air Rights: two 16-story buildings.
• PSS Grandparent: one 6-story building.
• Union Avenue-East 163rd Street: one 9-story building.
• Union Avenue-East 166th Street: six 3-story buildings.
• Webster Houses: five 21-story buildings.

Fire and Emergency Services

Morrisania has two New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire stations. Engine Co. 50/Ladder Co. 19/Battalion 26 is on Washington Avenue. Rescue 3 is also on Washington Avenue.

The FDNY EMS Station 26 is on Boston Road. This station provides emergency medical services.

Mail and ZIP Codes

Most of Morrisania uses the ZIP Code 10456. Some parts also use 10451 and 10457. The United States Postal Service has three post offices in Morrisania:

• Melcourt Station – 860 Melrose Avenue
• Morrisania Station – 442 East 167th Street
• Hub Station – 633 St. Ann's Avenue

Learning and Schools

Morrisania has many schools for students of all ages. In 2018, about 19% of adults in Morrisania had a college education. This is lower than the average for New York City.

However, students in Morrisania are improving in their studies. The number of students doing well in math went from 19% in 2000 to 41% in 2011. Reading skills also improved during the same time.

Sometimes, elementary school students in Morrisania miss more school days than other parts of the city. About 34% of elementary students missed 20 or more days in a school year. For high school students, about 63% graduate on time.

Schools in Morrisania

Here are some of the public schools in Morrisania:

Libraries for Learning

The New York Public Library has two branches in Morrisania. The Morrisania branch is at 610 East 169th Street. It opened in 1908. The Grand Concourse branch is at 155 East 173rd Street. It opened in 1959. These libraries offer books and resources for everyone.

Getting Around Morrisania

Morrisania does not have its own New York City Subway stations. However, several bus routes connect the neighborhood to subway stations and other parts of the city. These bus routes are:

• Bx6 and Bx6 SBS: travels to Hunts Point or Riverside Drive.
• Bx11: travels to Parkchester station or George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal.
• Bx15: travels to Fordham Plaza or The Hub along Third Avenue.
• Bx21: travels to Westchester Square–East Tremont Avenue or Third Avenue–138th Street.
• Bx35: travels to Crotona Park East or George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal.
• Bx41 and Bx41 SBS: travels to Gun Hill Road or Third Avenue–149th Street.

Famous People from Morrisania

Many well-known people have connections to Morrisania. Here are a few:

• Iran Barkley: A former professional boxer.
• Ray Barretto: A famous percussionist and bandleader.
• Big Pun: A rapper, who has a mural in his honor.
• Boogie Down Productions: A rap group, where KRS-1 was discovered.
• Geoffrey Canada: An educator and social activist.
• Coko: Lead singer of the R&B group SWV.
• Chick Corea: A jazz composer and keyboardist.
• Diamond D: A rapper and producer.
• Fat Joe: A rapper from Forest Houses.
• Grandmaster Flash: A hip-hop DJ, known for scratching and mixing.
• Lord Finesse: A rapper.
• Vincent Harding: A pastor and historian, known for his work on Martin Luther King Jr..
• Elmo Hope: A jazz pianist and composer.
• Keef Cowboy: A dancer known for coining the term "hip-hop."
• Cuban Link: A rapper.
• Orlando Marin: A Latin jazz and mambo bandleader.
• Melle Mel: A rapper and lead vocalist of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
• Jimmy Merchant: A member of the doo-wop group The Teenagers.
• Lewis Morris: An important historical figure who signed the Declaration of Independence.
• Gouverneur Morris: A statesman who wrote the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.
• The Kidd Creole: A member of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
• The Wrens: A doo-wop group formed at Morris High School.
• Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers: A Latin jazz, soul, and R&B group.
• The Chords: A doo-wop group.
• The Chantels: A pop, doo-wop, and rock and roll group.
• Lillian Leach: A doo-wop singer.
• Thelonious Monk: A jazz pianist and composer.
• Charlie Palmieri: A renowned salsa bandleader.
• Eddie Palmieri: A Grammy Award-winning pianist.
• Colin Powell: A politician and general who served as Secretary of State.
• Desi Rodriguez: A basketball player.
• Tito Rodriguez: A mambo and salsa bandleader and singer.
• Mongo Santamaria: An Afro-Cuban percussionist.
• Romeo Santos: A singer and lead vocalist of the band Aventura.
• Showbiz: A rapper and producer.
• Maxine Sullivan: A jazz vocalist.
• Frederick Trump: Grandfather of the 45th U.S. President, Donald Trump.
• Elsie Washington: A novelist.
• Xtreme: A bachata duo.
• Jerry Jemmott: A Grammy Award-winning musician.

Images for kids

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  Old Morrisania

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  Morrisania Town Hall

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  Morris High School Historic District

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  Webster Houses

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  Morrisania Air Rights