Pelham Gardens, Bronx facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pelham Gardens
Neighborhood of the Bronx
Country	United States
State	New York
City	New York City
Borough	The Bronx
Community District	Bronx 11
Area
• Total	1.96 km2 (0.757 sq mi)
Population
• Total	15,388
• Density	7,849/km2 (20,328/sq mi)
Economics
• Median income	$68,552
ZIP Codes	10469
Area code	718, 347, 929, and 917

Pelham Gardens is a neighborhood in the Bronx, New York City. It is located in the northeast part of the Bronx.

The neighborhood's borders are East Gun Hill Road to the north and east. Pelham Parkway is to the south. The IRT Dyre Avenue Line (5 train) is to the west. Eastchester Road is the main street that runs through Pelham Gardens.

Pelham Gardens is part of Bronx Community Board 11. Its ZIP Code is 10469. The New York City Police Department's 49th Precinct keeps the area safe.

History of Pelham Gardens

This area was first home to the Siwanoy people. They were a Native American tribe. The name Pelham Gardens comes from Thomas Pell. He bought the land from the Siwanoy on June 27, 1654. This happened at Treaty Oak. This tree is now in Pelham Bay Park.

The town of Westchester was started around this time. It was located where Westchester Square is today. This whole area was part of Westchester County, New York. It became part of New York City in 1895. The oldest house in the area was once a farmhouse. You can find it at Woodhull Avenue and Fielding Street.

Who Lives in Pelham Gardens?

Pelham Gardens is a diverse neighborhood. Many different kinds of people live here. There are working-class families and also many professionals. These include doctors, police officers, and lawyers. Many small business owners also live here. This is especially true for those in construction and food services.

The neighborhood has been home to many Italian-American families. There was also a large Jewish community. Since the 1980s, many Puerto Rican families have moved in. There are also Filipino-Americans, African-Americans, and Dominican-Americans. Other groups include Albanian-Americans, Korean Americans, and Vietnamese Americans.

In 2010, the population of Pelham Gardens and the nearby Allerton neighborhood was 28,903 people. This was a small increase from 2000. About 25% of residents were White. About 32% were African American. About 8% were Asian. About 32% were Hispanic or Latino.

Most people in Community District 11 are young or middle-aged adults. About 22% are under 18. About 30% are between 25 and 44. About 24% are between 45 and 64. The average life expectancy in this area is about 79.9 years.

Homes and Land in Pelham Gardens

Pelham Gardens mainly has single-family homes. There are also some small apartment buildings. Some homes are for 2 or 3 families. Many private homes have small apartments in their basements. However, they are still listed as one-family homes. The total land area is about two square miles.

The area is mostly flat. But there is a valley between Eastchester Road and Laconia Avenue. The lowest point is on Seymour Avenue. This dip in the land was likely formed by a glacier thousands of years ago.

Education in Pelham Gardens

Many adults in Pelham Gardens and Morris Park have a high school diploma. About 32% of adults have a college degree or higher. This is a bit lower than the average for New York City.

Students in Pelham Gardens and Morris Park are improving in math. In 2000, 32% of students were good at math. By 2011, this went up to 48%. Reading skills stayed about the same.

Sometimes, elementary school students miss school. In Pelham Gardens and Morris Park, about 23% of elementary students missed 20 or more days of school. This is a little higher than the city average. For high school students, about 74% graduate on time. This is similar to the city average.

Local Library

The New York Public Library (NYPL) has a branch here. It is called the Eastchester branch. You can find it at 1385 East Gun Hill Road. It opened in 1950. In 1985, it moved to its current building. This building is one story and about 7,500 square feet.

Getting Around Pelham Gardens

You can get around Pelham Gardens using buses and subways.

Bus Routes

The following MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes serve Pelham Gardens:

• Bx12 Local and Select Bus Service: These buses go to Bay Plaza Shopping Center. They also go to Inwood–207th Street (A train). They travel along Fordham Road and Pelham Parkway.
• Bx25, Bx26: These buses go to Co-op City and Lehman College. They travel along Bedford Park Blvd and Allerton Av.
• Bx28, Bx38: These buses go to Co-op City and Fordham. They travel along East Gun Hill Road.
• Bx31: This bus goes to Woodlawn and Westchester Square station. It travels along Eastchester Road.
• BxM10: This bus goes to the East Side of Manhattan.

Subway Stations

The following New York City Subway stations are in Pelham Gardens:

• Pelham Parkway (5 train)
• Gun Hill Road (5 train)

Famous People From Pelham Gardens

Some well-known people have lived in Pelham Gardens:

• Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez: She is a Commissioner for the New York City Department of Aging. She used to be the New York Secretary of State.
• Philip Foglia: He was a lawyer and activist for Italian Americans.
• Jake Lamotta: A famous boxer who lived on Pelham Parkway.
• Lea Michele: An actress known for the TV show Glee. She lived on Tiemann Avenue.