Pelham Bay (neighborhood), Bronx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pelham Bay
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Neighborhood of the Bronx
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Zulette Avenue in Pelham Bay
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New York |
| City |  New York City |
| Borough |  The Bronx |
| Community District | Bronx 10 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.09 km2 (0.421 sq mi) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 11,931 |
| • Density | 10,942/km2 (28,340/sq mi) |
| Economics | |
| • Median income | $53,503 |
| ZIP Codes |
10461
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| Area code | 718, 347, 929, and 917 |
Pelham Bay is a neighborhood in the Bronx, New York City. It's named after Pelham Bay Park, which is New York City's biggest park and borders the neighborhood. It's also named after Pelham Bay, a body of water inside the park.
The neighborhood is surrounded by major roads. Pelham Parkway is to the north, the New England Thruway (I-95) is to the east, the Bruckner Expressway (I-95) is to the south, and the Hutchinson River Parkway is to the west.
Pelham Bay is part of Bronx Community District 10. Its ZIP Code is 10461. The New York City Police Department's 45th Precinct keeps the area safe.
Contents
History of Pelham Bay
Most of the land that makes up Pelham Bay was bought by Thomas Pell in 1654. This land was originally given to the Dutch West India Company.
Even though it's called Pelham Bay, this area was not part of the old Town of Pelham. That town included modern-day Pelham in Westchester County and parts of the Bronx like Pelham Bay Park and City Island. These Bronx areas became part of New York City in 1895.
What is Land Use Like in Pelham Bay?
Pelham Bay's borders are Pelham Parkway to the north and the New England Thruway to the east. The Bruckner Expressway is to the south, and the Hutchinson River Parkway is to the west.
A part of the neighborhood called Country Club is located east of Interstate 95 (I-95). The main part of Pelham Bay is west of I-95 and north of Middletown Road.
Pelham Bay is part of Bronx Community District 10. This district also includes Throgs Neck and Co-op City. The neighborhood has many active groups, like the Pelham Bay Little League.
You can find many stores and restaurants along streets like Westchester Avenue, Buhre Avenue, Middletown Road, and Crosby Avenue. Middletown Road and Crosby Avenue cross to form a main intersection.
Arnow Place, a small street in Pelham Bay, was renamed Daniel Enchautegui Way in 2006. This was done to honor a police officer.
There is a community playground called Westchester Square Playground. It is next to the Hutchinson River Parkway. It has a baseball field, swing sets, and a paddle ball court for everyone to enjoy.
Who Lives in Pelham Bay?
Pelham Bay has a long history with Italian Americans. Recently, more Hispanic families have moved into the area. You might see both Italian and American flags waving proudly on some homes. There's also a good number of Greeks living here.
Most people in Pelham Bay are white. However, there is a large Hispanic group, mainly Puerto Ricans. Pelham Bay is known as one of the safest and most desired neighborhoods in the Bronx. It was even ranked as the best neighborhood for children in the Bronx. It's also considered a top 10 neighborhood in all of New York City.
Based on the 2010 United States Census, the population of Pelham Bay-Country Club-City Island was 26,583. This was a small decrease from the 27,140 people counted in 2000.
The entire Community District 10 had 121,868 people in 2018. The average life expectancy here is 81.1 years. This is similar to the average for all New York City neighborhoods. Most residents are young people and middle-aged adults. About 20% are under 18, 26% are between 25 and 44, and 27% are between 45 and 64.
In 2017, the average household income in Community District 10 was $59,522. In 2018, about 14% of residents lived in poverty. This is lower than the Bronx average of 25% and the New York City average of 20%.
Fire Safety in Pelham Bay
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) has two fire stations serving Pelham Bay. Engine Co. 89/Ladder Co. 50 is located on Bruckner Boulevard. Squad 61/Battalion 20 is on Williamsbridge Road. These stations help keep the community safe from fires.
Post Office and ZIP Code
Pelham Bay uses the ZIP Code 10461. The United States Postal Service has a post office called Pilgrim Station. It is located at 1545 Crosby Avenue.
Education in Pelham Bay
Community District 10 has fewer college-educated residents than the rest of New York City. About 34% of adults aged 25 and older have a college degree or higher. In contrast, 16% have less than a high school education. About 50% are high school graduates or have some college education.
The percentage of elementary school students doing well in math increased from 29% in 2000 to 47% in 2011. Reading achievement also went up from 33% to 35% during the same time.
The number of elementary school students missing many days of school is a bit higher here. About 21% of elementary students missed twenty or more days per school year. This is slightly more than the citywide average of 20%. About 75% of high school students in Community District 10 graduate on time. This is the same as the citywide average.
Local Schools in Pelham Bay
The New York City Department of Education runs the schools here. The neighborhood has two elementary schools:
- Public School 71 (named the Rose E. Scala School)
- Public School 14 (named the John D. Calandra School)
Herbert H. Lehman High School is also right on the neighborhood's border. Several private and religious schools serve the area too. These include Roman Catholic elementary schools linked to St. Theresa Church. There is also the Greek American Institute, which is a Greek Orthodox religious school.
Pelham Bay Library
The New York Public Library (NYPL) has a branch in Pelham Bay. It is located at 3060 Middletown Road. The library building is a one-story brick structure that opened in 1976.
Transportation in Pelham Bay
Pelham Bay is served by several bus routes from MTA Regional Bus Operations and the Bee-Line. These buses help people get around the neighborhood and to other parts of the city.
Bus Routes
- Bx5: Travels to Bay Plaza Shopping Center or the Simpson Street subway station.
- Bx8: Goes to Williamsbridge or Locust Point.
- Bx12: Connects to University Heights via Fordham Road and Pelham Parkway.
- Bx12 SBS: An express bus to Bay Plaza Shopping Center or the Inwood – 207th Street subway station.
- Bx23: Travels to Co-op City.
- Bx24: Serves the Country Club area.
- Bx29: Goes to City Island.
- Q50: Connects to Co-op City or the Flushing–Main Street subway station in Queens.
- BxM8: An express bus to Midtown Manhattan.
- BL45: Travels to Eastchester in Westchester County.
Subway Stations
The New York City Subway also serves Pelham Bay with these stations on the IRT Pelham Line:
- Middletown Road
- Buhre Avenue
- Pelham Bay Park
Famous People from Pelham Bay
Many notable people have lived in Pelham Bay:
- Paul Attanasio (born 1959), a screenwriter and producer for movies and TV shows like House.
- James Coco (1930–1987), an actor known for his roles in films like Man of La Mancha.
- John Fox (1952–1990), a novelist and short-story writer.
- John F. Good (1936-2016), an FBI agent who created the Abscam operation. This operation was shown in the 2013 movie American Hustle.
- James Madio (born 1975), an actor known for his roles in Hook and Band of Brothers.
- Ronnie Ortiz-Magro (born 1985), an actor best known from the MTV reality series Jersey Shore.
- Thomas Pell (1612-1669), a doctor who bought the land that became Pelham, New York.
Pelham Bay in Movies
The movie The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) and its 2009 remake are famous for their connection to Pelham Bay. These movies are about a subway train hijacking that starts at the Pelham Bay Park station.
