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Revision as of 00:45, 7 December 2004 by 24.44.23.111 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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 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 is operated by the NYC Dept. Of Corrections is piered on Fordham Street. As of 2004, the island has a population of about 4500.
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 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. 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 is connected to the mainland by the City Island Bridge, a single 2-lane bridge. This 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. 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 .
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.
The Island has several landmarks like Samuel Pell Mansion on City Island Avenue near St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and has a number of old Victorian mansions complete with spires and gables such as Delmours Point on Tier Street.
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 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 Big Wilson, Ernest Hemingway, Harry Carey Sr. and Harry Carey Jr.
City Island also has a Mute Swan named Audrey that talks like a Parrot and can speak "Good Morning" and is now locally famous. It is the only known talking Swan on Earth.
130 years ago City Island was known as Greater Minneford Island.
External links
- Map of City Island
- 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
Nautical Chart of City Island and surrounding waters.
http://www.righttrak.com/sailing/charts.html
High Island, N.Y.
http://en.wikipedia.org/High_Island_%28New_York%29
Hart Island, N.Y.
http://en.wikipedia.org/Hart_Island%2C_New_York
Pell's Point, Rodman's Neck
http://en.wikipedia.org/The_Battle_of_Pell%27s_Point
Stepping Stones Lighthouse, Nassau County, N.Y.
http://en.wikipedia.org/The_Stepping_Stones_Lighthouse_New_York
City Island Bridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/City_Island_Bridge
Pelham Bay Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/Pelham_Bay_Park
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