Manhattan and Brooklyn are the “hot” boroughs of New York City, having shed their previous image of being crime ridden, dirty and dangerous. Gentrification has been ongoing for several years, and newly created destinations such as the High Line in Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, have contributed to the boroughs popularity.

The Borough of the Bronx by Harry T. Cook, 1913

Several books within the Durst Collection also contain signatures from the author.

With the recent reopening of the High Bridge, New York City’s oldest standing bridge, connecting the neighborhoods of Washington Heights in Manhattan with Highbridge in the Bronx, the Bronx now also has a destination worthy of visitors.

Derived from The Beautiful Bronx 1920-1950 by Lloyd Ultan

The Bronx wasn’t always part of New York City. In 1898 the borough of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island (Richmond), Queens  and Manhattan were consolidated as Greater New York City. Before consolidation what is now the Bronx included the town of Westchester and the towns of Yonkers, Eastchester and Pelham. In the 19th century this was a rural area with farms dotting the landscape. However, by the turn of the 20th century, the pull of urban development reached the new borough and new neighborhoods developed and commercial life flourished. In 1904 the first subway connecting the Bronx to Manhattan opened and the population grew rapidly.

Derived from ‘The Story of the Bronx’ by Stephen Jenkins, 1912.

We still find many reminders of an earlier time if we travel through the borough. An amazing one-quarter of the Bronx is open space, and includes such iconic landmarks as the Woodlawn Cemetery (1863), Van Cortlandt Park (1888), Pelham Bay Park (1888), the New York Botanical Garden (1891) and the Bronx Zoo (1899). It is also home to several colleges and universities which trace their roots to the 19th century. Fordham University was originally St. Johns University and was founded in 1841, New York University (now the campus of Bronx Community College) opened its campus in 1894, the College of Mount St. Vincent began classes in 1847 and Manhattan College traces its beginnings to 1853.

Derived from ‘The Story of the Bronx’ by Stephen Jenkins, 1912.

The Bronx has evolved over the years to accommodate the influx of different ethnic groups and diverse cultures. It has undergone some difficult years with poverty reaching new highs and crime a constant problem. Hopefully the Bronx is coming back and once again it will be the borough of choice for New Yorkers to live and tourists to visit.