Highbridge, Bronx


Highbridge is a residential neighborhood geographically located in the central-west section of the Bronx, New York City. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, Macombs Dam Bridge to the south, and the Harlem River to the west. Ogden Avenue is the primary thoroughfare through Highbridge.
The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 4, and its ZIP Code is 10452. The local subway is the IND Concourse Line, operating along the Grand Concourse, and the IRT Jerome Avenue Line, operating along Jerome Avenue. The area is patrolled by the New York City Police Department's 44th Precinct. NYCHA property in the area is patrolled by P.S.A. 7 at 737 Melrose Avenue in the Melrose section of the Bronx.

History

At the time of European settlement, the southern Bronx was inhabited by the Siwanoy, a tribe of the Wappinger Confederacy. They called the hill that is now Highbridge "Nuasin," or "the land between," for its location between the Harlem River and an estuary that formerly flowed in the area of modern-day Jerome Avenue.
The neighborhood takes its name from the High Bridge built in 1848 by Irish immigrants to carry Croton Aqueduct water across the Harlem River.
In the mid-late 19th century, the area was developed as a suburban retreat for the elite, who built large homes overlooking the Harlem River. The names of these families and their estates are still reflected in the names of Highbridge's north-south avenues: Ogden Avenue and Boscobel Place for William B. Ogden, Merriam Avenue for Francis W. Merriam, Anderson Avenue and Woodycrest Avenue for the Anderson family, and Shakespeare Avenue for the Shakespeare Garden on the Marcher family estate. Around the turn of the 20th Century, many of these estates were subdivided for urban development, however a few older houses still remain.
In the early 20th Century, the neighborhood was served by the Anderson–Jerome Avenues station, which connected the New York City Subway's Ninth Avenue elevated Line with the IRT Jerome Avenue Line.
In the late 1960s, the residents of Highbridge were predominantly of Irish, Italian and Eastern European Jewish descent. They have since been replaced by large numbers of Hispanics and African Americans. As of 2017, the neighborhood is undergoing gentrification.

Demographics

Prior to the 1960s, Highbridge was a predominantly Irish American neighborhood. Today the vast majority of residents in the area are of Dominican, Puerto Rican and African American descent. Almost 40% of families live below the federal poverty line.
Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Highbridge was 37,727, an increase of 3,883 from the 33,844 counted in 2000. Covering an area of, the neighborhood had a population density of.
In 2010, the racial makeup of the neighborhood was 32.9% African American, 1.2% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 64.3% of the population.
The entirety of Community District 4, which comprises Highbridge and Concourse, had 155,835 inhabitants as of NYC Health's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 78.6 years. This is lower than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are youth and middle-aged adults: 27% are between the ages of between 0–17, 29% between 25–44, and 23% between 45–64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents was lower, at 11% and 10% respectively.
As of 2017, the median household income in Community District 4 was $30,900. In 2018, an estimated 32% of Highbridge and Concourse residents lived in poverty, compared to 25% in all of the Bronx and 20% in all of New York City. One in eight residents were unemployed, compared to 13% in the Bronx and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 61% in Highbridge and Concourse, compared to the boroughwide and citywide rates of 58% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018, Highbridge and Concourse are considered low-income relative to the rest of the city and not gentrifying. However, as of 2017, rents in Highbridge have risen more than any other neighborhood in New York City, at a rate of 22%.

Land use and terrain

Highbridge is dominated by townhouses and 5 and 6-story apartment buildings, including numerous Art Deco landmarks built by the developer Bernard J. Noonan and the architects Horace Ginsberg and Marvin Fine. Many older detached mansions still remain on Woodycrest Avenue and Ogden Avenue. The total land area is roughly one square mile. The terrain is elevated and very hilly.
Stair streets connect the parts of the neighborhood that are located at different elevations. One particular stair street between Shakespeare and Anderson Avenues became known as the "Joker Stairs", drawing tourists after the 2019 film Joker was filmed there.

Landmarks

The neighborhood has dozens of community gardens occupying lots that were left vacant between the 1970s and 1990s, including:
There are three NYCHA developments located in Highbridge:
Highbridge is part of New York's 15th congressional district, the United States' smallest congressional district by area. The district is represented by Democrat José E. Serrano.
Highbridge is part of New York State Senate District 29, represented by José M. Serrano. Highbridge is divided between two districts of the New York State Assembly. The 77th District is represented by Latoya Joyner, while the 84th District is represented by Carmen E. Arroyo.
Highbridge is part of New York City Council District 8. As of 2017, it is represented by Diana Ayala.

Police and crime

Highbridge and Concourse are patrolled by the 44th Precinct of the NYPD, located at 2 East 169th Street. The 44th Precinct ranked 39th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010. With a non-fatal assault rate of 123 per 100,000 people, Highbridge and Concourse's rate of violent crimes per capita is greater than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 813 per 100,000 people is higher than that of the city as a whole.
The 44th Precinct has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 76.7% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct reported 11 murders, 44 rapes, 382 robberies, 615 felony assaults, 215 burglaries, 668 grand larcenies, and 120 grand larcenies auto in 2018.

Fire safety

High Bridge is located near two New York City Fire Department fire stations. Engine Co. 50/Ladder Co. 19/Battalion 26 is located at 1155 Washington Avenue, while Engine Co. 68/Ladder Co. 49 is located at 1160 Ogden Avenue.
In addition, FDNY EMS Station 17 is located at 1080 Ogden Avenue.

Health

and teenage births are more common in Highbridge and Concourse than in other places citywide. In Highbridge and Concourse, there were 93 preterm births per 1,000 live births, and 34 teenage births per 1,000 live births. Highbridge and Concourse has a relatively average population of residents who are uninsured. In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 13%, slightly higher than the citywide rate of 12%.
The concentration of fine particulate matter, the deadliest type of air pollutant, in Highbridge and Concourse is, more than the city average. Fifteen percent of Highbridge and Concourse residents are smokers, which is higher than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers. In Highbridge and Concourse, 34% of residents are obese, 17% are diabetic, and 42% have high blood pressure—compared to the citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively. In addition, 23% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%.
Eighty-three percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which is less than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 72% of residents described their health as "good," "very good," or "excellent," lower than the city's average of 78%. For every supermarket in Highbridge and Concourse, there are 18 bodegas.
The nearest hospital is Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in Claremont.

Post office and ZIP Code

Highbridge is covered by ZIP Code 10452. The United States Postal Service operates the Highbridge Station post office at 1315 Inwood Avenue.

Education

Highbridge and Concourse generally have a lower rate of college-educated residents than the rest of the city. While 36% of residents age 25 and older have a college education or higher, 43% have less than a high school education and 21% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 26% of Bronx residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher. The percentage of Highbridge and Concourse students excelling in math rose from 17% in 2000 to 40% in 2011, and reading achievement increased from 21% to 25% during the same time period.
Highbridge and Concourse's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is more than the rest of New York City. In Highbridge and Concourse, 28% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year, higher than the citywide average of 20%. Additionally, 67% of high school students in Highbridge and Concourse graduate on time, lower than the citywide average of 75%.

Schools

Public schools include:
Parochial schools include:
The New York Public Library operates two branches near Highbridge. The Grand Concourse branch is located at 155 East 173rd Street. The branch is a two-story structure that opened in 1959. The High Bridge branch is located at 78 West 168th Street. The branch was opened in the early 20th century and was renovated in 2010.

Transportation

The following New York City Subway stations serve Highbridge:
The following MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes serve Highbridge:
The Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line also serves Highbridge at the Yankees–East 153rd Street station.

Notable residents