Pelham, New York

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²). It is directly north of the New York City borough of the Bronx and borders Eastchester, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon. It also includes a small portion of the borough of the Bronx, consisting of 1,444 residents as of the 2010 census. This small area, commonly called "Bronx Manor", consists of nine residential streets: Split Rock Road, Lincoln Avenue, Ropes Avenue, McOwen Avenue, Hutchinson Avenue, Flint Avenue, Hollers Avenue, Boston Road, Pelham Bay Park West, and Good Place. This location is technically located in the Bronx, and properties are taxed accordingly at Bronx rates. Students residing in this small portion of Pelham/Bronx are zoned for Pelham/Westchester public schools, per a 1948 contract between New York City and Westchester County. This portion of the Bronx shares the same fire department and police department as the town of Pelham. Bronx Manor residents enjoy the appeal of a New York City address with a Westchester telephone area code and exchange (914-738), and ZIP code (10803). This portion of the Bronx also includes Glover Field, the playing grounds for the athletic teams of the Pelham public schools. The name "Bronx Manor" is derived from a combination of the borough of the Bronx, and the village of Pelham Manor in Westchester. Bronx Manor is served by the Bx16 route of the MTA New York City Transit bus system, the only route in the entire five-borough system to extend beyond the border of New York City. Due to geographical constraints, the Bx16 must turn left from Ropes Avenue onto Boston Road, entering Westchester County at its final point of discharge/pickup. It is also one of very few MTA routes to travel on one-way streets in a residential neighborhood (Bronx Manor). This was designed, along with a specially-constructed island in the center of Boston Post Road, in order to accommodate residents of this neighborhood which had no access to other parts of the Bronx. It is also one of the rare examples of where a U-turn is permitted on a New York City thoroughfare (to accommodate the Bx16 route), and where a right turn on red is permitted. Residents of Bronx Manor are known to be quite particular regarding their status as Bronx residents with Westchester ZIP codes and Westchester privileges, having the benefits of both city and county life. As of 2016, it has been nine years (2007) since a Bronx Manor home has been placed on the market for sale. Residents of Bronx Manor, despite their Pelham ZIP code, are eligible for political jobs for which a New York City residence is required.

History

In 1654, Thomas Pell bought the area within the present-day town from the Siwanoy Indians. He named his manor "Pelham" in honor of his tutor, Pelham Burton.

Pelham was incorporated as a part of the Bronx in 1788. It included all of City Island and present-day Pelham Bay Park east of the Hutchinson River. In 1889, the town was incorporated at its current boundaries. In 1891, the village of Pelham Manor incorporated. In 1896, the village of North Pelham and the village of Pelham incorporated. In 1975, the villages of North Pelham and Pelham merged, forming the present village of Pelham. The Village of Pelham and the Village of Pelham Manor share several services such as school and recreational activities. There is a grassroots movement to continue the consolidation of services in order to reduce taxes.

The Pelham Picture House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

St. Catharine R.C.

St. Catharine's was originally a mission church of St Gabriel's parish in New Rochelle. In July 1896 a frame church was built on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Farrell. In December 1897 St. Catharine's became a separate parish with Rev. Francis P. McNichol as first pastor. A school was established in 1904, staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis. At the end of the school year in 1983 St. Catharine's School closed bringing to an end 75 years of Catholic education in the parish. The school building was converted to a Parish Center to provide space for Religious Education classes, parish activities and groups to meet. A new church was dedicated in 1909.

In 1936 W.T. Grant, who owned the chain of five-and-ten cent stores, gave property in Pelham Manor to St. Catharine’s to serve as a “mission” for what became Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In 2014 it was announced that the parishes of St. Catherine's and Our Lady of Perpetual Help would merge, with the newer, larger OLPH designated as the parish church. However, St. Catharine’s Church in the Village of Pelham was retained as a worship center.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,107 people, 4,149 households and 3,190 families residing in the town. The population density was 5,523.4 people per square mile (2,130.9/km²). There were 4,246 housing units at an average density of 1,976.4 per square mile (762.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.33% White, 4.57% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.96% Asian, 1.82% from other races and 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.02% of the population. Roman Catholics constituted 94.8% of the population.

There were 4,149 households out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.1% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.31.

Pelham's housing stock is conveniently summarized and accessible via http://townofpelham.sdgnys.com/index.aspx.

In the town, the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64 and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $91,810 and the median income for a family was $112,339. Males had a median income of $74,760 versus $46,086 for females. The per capita income for the town was $51,548. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Pelham is home to four elementary schools (two located in each village), one middle school, and one high school. The elementary schools are Hutchinson, Colonial, Siwanoy, and Prospect Hill. Pelham Middle School and Pelham Memorial High School gather students for all of Pelham. These are all part of the Pelham Union Free School District. There are also several private and religious based schools. Since 1948, New York City has paid the district to educate children who live in a small strip of land between Pelham and Pelham Bay Park that is part of the Bronx due to a boundary error, as doing so is less expensive than sending school buses there.

Fire Department

The Village of Pelham Fire Department has 10 firefighters and 5 Lieutenants using one Fire Station. The fleet has two Engines, one Ladder, one Utility Unit, and a Command Vehicle. The Pelham Fire Department responds to approximately 800 emergency calls annually.

Trains

On Amtrak, Pelham is located closest to the New Rochelle, New York stop ("NRO"), on the Northeast Corridor Line. On Metro-North Railroad, the Pelham station stop is within Fare Zone 12 on the New Haven Line. Pelham is also about 28 minutes from Grand Central Station, Manhattan, New York.

Notable people