| Revision as of 05:33, 8 December 2004 editDecumanus (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users15,778 edits rm first heading (not wikipedia style to start article with one)← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:20, 8 December 2004 edit undo24.44.23.111 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit → | ||
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| Two AM Radio Transmitter towers for WCBS AM 88 and WFAN AM 66 are located on High Island causing radio interference on telephones and Hi Fi's. | Two AM Radio Transmitter towers for WCBS AM 88 and WFAN AM 66 are located on High Island causing radio interference on telephones and Hi Fi's. | ||
| The body of water between City Island and the even smaller (and uninhabited) ] to the east is known as City Island Harbor. A Ferry for Hart Island Prison, operated by the NYC Dept. Of Corrections, is piered on Fordham Street. ], marking the main shipping channel into New York, is off the southern tip of the island. | The body of water between City Island and the even smaller (and uninhabited) ] to the east is known as City Island Harbor. A Ferry for Hart Island Prison, operated by the NYC Dept. Of Corrections, is piered on Fordham Street. The pier is a Restricted Area. ], marking the main shipping channel into New York, is off the southern tip of the island, near the Long Island shore. | ||
| As of ], the island has a population of about 4500. | As of ], the island has a population of about 4500. | ||
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| ==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| The island has two supermarkets, one gas station, one bank, an elmentary school, Public School 175, a Roman Catholic Grade School, a U.S. Post Office (10464) and a firehouse, but no police station. There are three churches, and a synagogue. There is a branch of the ]. The branch is probably the smallest branch in the entire system, even after the recent expansion which doubled the size of the building. City Island has it's own small newspaper called "The Island Current" which is printed about 10 times a year. It's address is P.O Box 6 City Island Station. The island has many Antique Stores. There are many Community Access Beaches at many dead end streets. Most Community Beaches are illegally locked. | The island has two supermarkets, one gas station, one pharmacy, one bank, an elmentary school, Public School 175, a Roman Catholic Grade School, a U.S. Post Office (10464) and a firehouse, but no police station. There are three churches, and a synagogue. There is a branch of the ]. The branch is probably the smallest branch in the entire system, even after the recent expansion which doubled the size of the building. City Island has it's own small newspaper called "The Island Current" which is printed about 10 times a year. It's address is P.O Box 6 City Island Station, N.Y. 10464. The island has many Deli's Restaurants and Antique Stores. There are many Community Access Beaches at many dead end streets. Most Community Beaches are illegally locked by local residents to keep everyone else out. | ||
| ==Bridges and Public Transportation== | ==Bridges and Public Transportation== | ||
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| The island famous for its ] dining, notably for ]. Notable restaurants include Johnny's Reef Restaurant, Seafood City, Sea Shore Resaurant, The Harbor Inn, ]'s, Sammy's Fish Box, The Crab Shanty, Tony's Pier Restaurant. It also has big charter boats for fishing, though the Sail and Power boating industry has been declining in recent years as boatyards are being sold and being turned into ]s. | The island famous for its ] dining, notably for ]. Notable restaurants include Johnny's Reef Restaurant, Seafood City, Sea Shore Resaurant, The Harbor Inn, ]'s, Sammy's Fish Box, The Crab Shanty, Tony's Pier Restaurant. It also has big charter boats for fishing, though the Sail and Power boating industry has been declining in recent years as boatyards are being sold and being turned into ]s. | ||
| City Island has the City Island Nautical Museum full of maritime artifacts and antiques of great historical value. It is located at 190 Fordham Street and is open weekends. | |||
| The Island has several landmarks like Samuel Pell Mansion on City Island Avenue near St. Mary Star of the Sea Church. It was where "Arsenic & Old Lace" starring Fred Gwynne was filmed for TV and has a number of old Victorian mansions complete with tall poity spires and gables with gazebo's such as Delmours Point on Tier Street. The small beach at Belden Point between Johnny's Reef Resaurant and Tony's Pier Restaurant will be developed into a Public Park. The City Island Swamp on west Ditmars Street may become a wildlife sanctuary. | |||
| ==Boating== | ==Boating== | ||
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| City Island also has a ] named Audrey that talks like a Parrot and can actually speak "Good Morning" and is now locally famous. It is the only known talking Swan on Earth. | City Island also has a ] named Audrey that talks like a Parrot and can actually speak "Good Morning" and is now locally famous. It is the only known talking Swan on Earth. | ||
| In Colonial times City Island was called Greater Minneford Island and had about 1000 people. It had freshwater drinking wells and there were barns and horses and cattle and livestock and farms to grow food. Local residents of Scandinavian descent say they were the first Caucasians to live in City Island before The Hugenots from Belgium and archeaological evidence unearthed recently suggests they may be right. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 19:20, 8 December 2004
City Island is a small populated island approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) long by 0.5 mi (1 km) wide located in the Borough of the Bronx in New York City, New York. It is located in Long Island Sound, south of Pelham Bay and east of Eastchester Bay. It is adjacent to nearby Westchester County, New York.
The small island adjacent to the northeast of City Island is called High Island and is owned by Time Warner Inc. and is connected to City Island by a sandbar that emerges at low tide and a private bridge. Two AM Radio Transmitter towers for WCBS AM 88 and WFAN AM 66 are located on High Island causing radio interference on telephones and Hi Fi's.
The body of water between City Island and the even smaller (and uninhabited) Hart Island to the east is known as City Island Harbor. A Ferry for Hart Island Prison, operated by the NYC Dept. Of Corrections, is piered on Fordham Street. The pier is a Restricted Area. Stepping Stones Lighthouse, marking the main shipping channel into New York, is off the southern tip of the island, near the Long Island shore.
As of 2004, the island has a population of about 4500.
130 years ago City Island was known as Greater Minneford Island.
Description
The island has two supermarkets, one gas station, one pharmacy, one bank, an elmentary school, Public School 175, a Roman Catholic Grade School, a U.S. Post Office (10464) and a firehouse, but no police station. There are three churches, and a synagogue. There is a branch of the New York Public Library. The branch is probably the smallest branch in the entire system, even after the recent expansion which doubled the size of the building. City Island has it's own small newspaper called "The Island Current" which is printed about 10 times a year. It's address is P.O Box 6 City Island Station, N.Y. 10464. The island has many Deli's Restaurants and Antique Stores. There are many Community Access Beaches at many dead end streets. Most Community Beaches are illegally locked by local residents to keep everyone else out.
Bridges and Public Transportation
City Island is connected to the mainland by the City Island Bridge, a single 2-lane bridge. A small footbridge connects City Island to High Island.
This City Island Bridge was originally a turntable bridge over the Harlem River to Manhattan Island but was moved to where the old wooden bridge was. The City Island Bridge crosses what local residents call the City Island Channel, a waterway that connects Eastchester Bay with Pelham Bay. This 101 year old bridge has been condemned and is due to be replaced with a modern Cable-Stayed design with two tall mastlike towers. The far end of the City Island Bridge touches down in Pelham Bay Park, which is where The Battle of Pell's Point occurred during the American Revolutionary War.
Public transportation consists of the Bx-29 bus run by the New York City Transit Authority, and an express bus run by the New York Bus Service. The Transit Authority does not even show City Island on its subway map .
Local Businesses and Attractions
The island famous for its seafood dining, notably for lobster. Notable restaurants include Johnny's Reef Restaurant, Seafood City, Sea Shore Resaurant, The Harbor Inn, Tito Puente's, Sammy's Fish Box, The Crab Shanty, Tony's Pier Restaurant. It also has big charter boats for fishing, though the Sail and Power boating industry has been declining in recent years as boatyards are being sold and being turned into condominiums.
City Island has the City Island Nautical Museum full of maritime artifacts and antiques of great historical value. It is located at 190 Fordham Street and is open weekends.
The Island has several landmarks like Samuel Pell Mansion on City Island Avenue near St. Mary Star of the Sea Church. It was where "Arsenic & Old Lace" starring Fred Gwynne was filmed for TV and has a number of old Victorian mansions complete with tall poity spires and gables with gazebo's such as Delmours Point on Tier Street. The small beach at Belden Point between Johnny's Reef Resaurant and Tony's Pier Restaurant will be developed into a Public Park. The City Island Swamp on west Ditmars Street may become a wildlife sanctuary.
Boating
The island has four yacht clubs, all situated on the Eastchester Bay side of the island. They are, from North to South, the Harlem Yacht Club, Stuyvesant Yacht Club, City Island Yacht Club, and Morris Yacht and Beach Club. The Touring Kayak Club is on the West side of the island. There are two active sail lofts (Ulmer-Kolius and Doyle). The island also has several commerical marinas.
Many of the boats which competed and won in the America's Cup in years past were built in Minneford Boat Yard on City Island. The Eastchester Bay Yacht Racing Association is the major organizer for sailboat races in the area.
Interesting Facts
The island has earned the nickname "Cinema Island" for the numerous films and television shows that been shot on the island. Films shot there include Long Days Journey into Night, starring Katharine Hepburn, Awakenings with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, and Love Is All There Is starring Lainie Kazan and Angelina Jolie. Television series include Coronet Blue. An episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent called Sound Bodies was also filmed there and was based on a real-life incident of several teenagers who drowned in Long Island Sound. Many TV Commercial have also been filmed in City Island. It has the telephone exchanges of 718 885 (Verizon)and 347 427(Cablevision).
Notable residents of the island include Oliver Sacks who wrote the Book "Awakenings" which was filmed on Marine Street at his home. Famous former residents include announcer Big Wilson, writer Ernest Hemingway, actors Harry Carey Sr. and Harry Carey Jr.
City Island also has a Mute Swan named Audrey that talks like a Parrot and can actually speak "Good Morning" and is now locally famous. It is the only known talking Swan on Earth.
In Colonial times City Island was called Greater Minneford Island and had about 1000 people. It had freshwater drinking wells and there were barns and horses and cattle and livestock and farms to grow food. Local residents of Scandinavian descent say they were the first Caucasians to live in City Island before The Hugenots from Belgium and archeaological evidence unearthed recently suggests they may be right.
External links
- Map of City Island
- Nautical Chart of City Island and surrounding waters
- Beyond Manhattan: City Island
- City Island, Bronx
- City Island Chamber of Commerce
- City Island Historical Society
- "Close-up on City Island," Village Voice, 2002
- Forgotten NY