New York

The Bronx is one of New York City's "must see" communities. It is one of the five boroughs of New York City located in the North American mainland, in the south of Westchester County. In 1898, Greater New York, a municipal government created by new legislation divided the New York City into The Borough of Manhattan, The Borough of Bronx covering the city and New York County, The Borough of Brooklyn consisting of the City of Brooklyn and several municipalities located in eastern Kings County, The Borough of Queens covering the Queens County and small cities and towns, The Borough of Staten Island covered the Richmond County. In 1914, Bronx County was created after shrinking New York County so it contained only Manhattan. Each borough elects their President, but their discretionary powers are limited. The Bronx was bought from the Indians by the Dutch West India Company, in 1639, which was a part of New Amsterdam. The first settler in the Bronx area was a Scandinavian sea captain named Jonas Bronck who bought 500 acres of land in 1641 to grow tobacco. The entire area belonged to Westchester County during those days.

The Bronx is named in his memory. Jonas died in 1643, leaving behind nobody to take care of his assets. Following the death of Jonas Bronck, the area experienced much hostility from the Indians for almost two decades. In 1664, the English took the control of New Amsterdam and called it New York. Frederick Philpse financed the construction of an excise bridge that linked Manhattan Island to the mainland. During this time towns like Eastchester and Westchester, and manors, such as, Pelham, Fordham, Philipseburgh and Morrisania greatly flourished. During the Revolutionary War, the British took the control of the Bronx until 1783. There was much action in the area during the war but it was not in favor of the Rebels. The aftermath of the war went in Bronx’s favor. The Bronx experienced rapid growth and many immigrants came into the area. In 1841, the area began to industrialize. The New York and Harlem Railroad began regular commuter service between The Bronx and Manhattan, and by 1895 this area became part of the city of New York. In the early decades of 20th century, the naive suburban streets and farms of The Bronx began to flourish with the progress of rapidly expanding factories and urban neighborhoods. In 1914, the borough’s main thoroughfare, the Grand Concourse, inspired by Paris’ great boulevard, the Champs Elysées, was completed. This stretch of road of 4 1/2 miles implied a new significance to the idea of road access giving birth to the 1920s the Fordham Road-Grand Concourse intersection, which became a great commercial nexus and a center of tree-lined avenues, with deluxe houses and apartment buildings designed in the latest Art Deco and contemporary styles. The Bronx is a place of world-famous attractions, diverse artistic expression, miles of parks, and over 60 landmarks and historic districts. The spectacular renaissance earned the place the esteemed All-America City Award and the Crown Community Award in 1997. The Georgian stone farmhouse was built in 1758.

It is the second oldest house in the Bronx built by Isaac Valentine in 1758. It is a must see for the visitors since today, it is the home of the Museum of Bronx History. The Bronx Zoo IS one of the world’s best zoo exhibits. It opened on November 8, 1899, with an aim to "advance the study of zoology, protect wildlife, and educate the public." It was one of the first zoos to move animals from cages to more naturalistic environments. Irish, Italian, German and Jewish primarily contribute to the population of area. The Bronx is the most vulnerable area as far crime is concerned. It has more institutions of higher education than most foreign countries. Also a must see in The Bronx are Yankee Stadium, Bronx High School of Science, Walton High School, Morris Park, the New York Botanical Garden, Wave Hill, Little Italy on Arthur Avenue, Fordham University and Manhattan College, Pelham Bay Park and Van Cortlandt Park, and The Hall of Fame for Great Americans. These great landmarks have continued to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to The Bronx every year.