The Quadrangle

Issue date: 2/23/05 Section: Features

The neighborhood that hosts two colleges and two prestigious high schools, Riverdale is a diverse neighborhood with plenty to offer for everyone. Though Manhattan sits on the edge of this wealthy neighborhood, few students are aware of the many things it has to offer.

One of the wealthiest zip codes in New York City, Riverdale stands out against the rest of the Bronx for it's beautiful houses, winding roads, and tree-lined sidewalks. Many of New York City's elite call this neighborhood home, as it's proximity to Manhattan's West Side Highway allows commuters to make it to work within a reasonable hour. The neighborhood is home to varied nationalities as Korean grocers work next to Jewish religious supply stores; and japanese restaurants thrive across the street from Irish pubs.

Originally, the area now known as the Bronx was bought from Native Americans by the Dutch West India Company in 1639. Jonas Bronck, a Scandanavian sea captain, was the first settler to the region, buying 500 acres of land for tobacco cultivation. Soon thereafter, other wealthy Dutch families began to settle in the region. Adriaen van den Donck, a wealthy lawyer, bought the area encompassing Spuyten Duyvil Creek, Riverdale, and Yonkers. Throughout the years, the Bronx, as it was now called, became home to increasing amounts of immigrants that had the ability to leave the tenements of Manhattan's Lower East Side. Originally, the South and East sections of the Bronx received the influx of citizens, leaving Riverdale and Fieldston alone. As the Great Depression subsided with the onset of World War II, plans were submitted to build Riverdale into a wealthy Bronx neighborhood. Luxury apartment buildings were erected, and the tudor homes dotting the streets were maintained in efforts to make the area into a secluded refuge from the bustling economic center of Manhattan, and also from the noisy, dirty stretch of Broadway that runs through the nearby neighborhood of Kingsbridge.

Today, Riverdale is still home to the wealthy. The neighborhood prides itself on the seclusion it provides, as it stis above the noisier region below the hill. Primarily residential, Riverdale also hosts the prestigious Fieldston Academy, the Horace Mann School, Manhattan College, and the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Riverdale is also home to varied communities for the aged, signifiying the seculsion Riverdale offers from the rest of the City. One of the most remarkable areas of the neighborhood is the stunning Wave Hill. Sitting on Independence Ave at 249th St, Wave Hill provides a nearly birds-eye view of Manhattan, and the rest of the Bronx. Revered by nature lovers throughout the area, Wave Hill is considered to be one of Riverdale's treasures. While Van Cortlandt Park is an obvious attraction for bike riders, the Riverdale Park, situated between 232nd and 254th street, allows for a walk or ride along the Hudson River. Riverdale Park is also home to cottages and old barns, a great departure from other neighborhoods in the area. For the history buff, a walk down Independence avenue allows for a glimpse at the mansion former President John F. Kennedy called home while attending the Riverdale Country School. The house sits at 5040 Independence Ave at 252nd St, and is a mere 10 blocks from the campus of Manhattan College.

Alongside these sites, Riverdale is home to food and drink that is as varied as it is enjoyable. Pizzerias, Chinese and Japanese take-out, and Kosher foods are all available just a few blocks off of the Manhattan Campus. Moderately priced, these restaurants and fast food joints allow for more variety than the food on Broadway, and are just as far for many Jaspers as the well known alternatives on 240th street. The section is also home to a few bars, notably An Beal Bocht, a truly Irish pub that stands out as a memory of Riverdale's Irish roots.

While some students at Manhattan College may take advantage of what Riverdale has to offer, many are unaware of the gems this area provides. From nature to food, Riverdale offers a plethora of activity, with no subway ride required.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools