Highbridge, Bronx

Highbridge
Neighborhood of The Bronx
Looking north from 161st Street pedestrian overpass at Major Deegan Expressway
Highbridge Location in New York City Highbridge Highbridge (New York) Highbridge Highbridge (the United States)
Coordinates: 40.8372222°N 73.9291667°W / 40.8372222; -73.9291667
Country	United States
State	New York
City	New York City
Borough	Bronx
Area
• Total	1.57 km2 (0.605 sq mi)
Population  (2010)
• Total	37,727
• Density	24,000/km2 (62,000/sq mi)
Economics
• Median income	$27,041
ZIP codes	10452
Area code	718, 347, 646

The High Bridge, part of the old Croton Aqueduct

PS 11, 1257 Ogden Avenue

Sacred Heart School, 1248 Nelson Avenue

Highbridge is a residential neighborhood geographically located in the central-west section of the Bronx, New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 4. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, East 161st Street to the south, and the Harlem River to the west. Ogden Avenue is the primary thoroughfare through Highbridge. ZIP codes include 10452. The area is patrolled by the 44th Precinct located at 2 East 169th Street. NYCHA property in the area is patrolled by P.S.A. 7 at 737 Melrose Avenue in the Melrose section of the Bronx.

Demographics

Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Highbridge was 37,727, an increase of 3,883 (11.5%) from the 33,844 counted in 2000. Covering an area of 373.14 acres (151.00 ha), the neighborhood had a population density of 101.1 inhabitants per acre (64,700/sq mi; 25,000/km²).

The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 32.9% (12,397) African American, 1.2% (462) White, 0.2% (69) Native American, 0.5% (176) Asian, 0.0% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.3% (103) from other races, and 0.7% (253) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 64.3% (24,265) of the population.

Prior to the 1960s, Highbridge was a predominately Irish American neighborhood. Today the vast majority of residents in the area are of Dominican, Puerto Rican and African American descent. Almost half of the population lives below the federal poverty line.

Land use and terrain

Highbridge is dominated by townhouses and 5 and 6-story apartment buildings. The total land area is roughly one square mile. The terrain is elevated and very hilly. Stair streets connect areas located at different elevations. The neighborhood has dozens of community gardens occupying lots that were left vacant between the 1970s and 1990s, such as Taqwa Community Farm.

Low income public housing projects

• There are three NYCHA developments located in Highbridge.

1. Highbridge Gardens; six, 13-story buildings.
2. Highbridge Rehabs (Nelson Avenue); three, 5 and 6-story rehabilitated tenement buildings.
3. Highbridge Rehabs (Anderson Avenue);

History

The neighborhood takes its name from the High Bridge built in 1848 by Irish immigrants to carry Croton Aqueduct water across the Harlem River. Up until 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.

Education

Public

• PS 11: High Bridge (Merriam and Ogden Avs)
• PS 73: Joseph Dellacava (West 165th St and Anderson Av)
• PS 114x: Luis Llorens Torres Schools (West 166th St and Cromwell Av)
• PS 126: Dr. Marjorie Dunbar (West 166th St and University Av)
• PS 199: William Shakespeare (West 172nd St and Shakespeare Av)
• PS/IS 128: Rafael Hernandez Dual Language Magnet School (West 167th St and Gerard Av)
• IS 361: The Highbridge Green School (200 W. 167th Street), a 2014-2015 Chancellor's Showcase School
• Bronx School for Law Government and Justice

Parochial

• Sacred Heart School (168th and Nelson Av)

Transportation

• Bx11: to Simpson Street station or George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal (via 170th St)
• Bx13: to George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal or 161st Street – Yankee Stadium station (4​, B, and ​D) (via Ogden Av)
• Bx35: to Simpson Street station or George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal (via 167th St)

External links

• Highbridge in Forgotten NY