The Pelham Islands
Encyclopedia
The Pelham Islands is a historical name for a group of islands in western Long Island Sound
that once belonged to Thomas Pell
. The main islands in the group are City Island, Hart Island, Hunters Island, Twin Island, Goose Island
, Davids' Island
, High Island, Rat Island, the Chimney Sweeps, the Blauzes and Travers Island.
City Island is by far the largest, and the only one currently populated. The 235 acre (0.9510121 km²) island was originally known as "Great Minnefords" before the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Palmer renamed it "City Island" as part of his plans to create a great port city. The onset of the Revolutionary War brought an end to those plans. It remained part of the Town of Pelham until June 6, 1895, when the present boundary line between the borough of the Bronx
and the rest of Westchester County was established, placing City Island within New York City
.
Hart Island, which is the second largest, formerly housed a prison, but is now uninhabited, and is currently used as a potters field. Along with David's Island, it has had a variety of military uses over the years, including its use as the site of Fort Slocum
.
Pell purchased the islands and much of the surrounding area from the Siwanoy
tribe, also known as the Minneford tribe. Before Pell bought these islands, they were known as the Minneford Islands after the two main islands, Greater Minneford Island (City Island) and Lesser Minneford Island (Hart Island). These islands were once part of the town of Pelham, but are now mostly part of the Bronx
, except for Davids' and Goose Islands which are part of New Rochelle
, and Travers Islands, which is still part of Pelham
.
Hunters Island and Twin Island are now part of Pelham Bay Park
, and are no longer islands; they were connected to Rodman's Neck by landfill
in the 1930s when Orchard Beach was constructed. One third of Pelham Bay was filled in to make the beach and its parking lot.
Travers Island is also now connected to the mainland by landfill, and is abreast Shore Park in Pelham Manor, New York
.
High Island is the site of several commercial radio transmitters. Goose Island, Rat Island, the Chimney Sweeps, and the Blauzes are nothing more than small outcroppings of rock, although Rat Island once housed quarantined typhoid patients.
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
that once belonged to Thomas Pell
Thomas Pell
Dates may not be entirely accurate in this article due to disagreements between sources.Thomas Pell was a physician who was famous for buying the area known as Pelham, Westchester, New York, as well as land that now includes the eastern Bronx and southern Westchester County. He founded the town...
. The main islands in the group are City Island, Hart Island, Hunters Island, Twin Island, Goose Island
Goose Island (New York)
Goose Island is the name of a town and two uninhabited islands in New York State.One Goose Island is a small rocky island in Westchester County, New York, just north of Hunter and Twin islands. It is part of the Pelham Islands. There is also a small island called Goose Island in the Hutchinson...
, Davids' Island
Davids' Island (New York)
Davids' Island is a island off the coast of New Rochelle, New York, in Long Island Sound. Currently uninhabited, in the past it was the site of Fort Slocum. Plans are to preserve the island as public parkland under the Westchester County Parks system. The island is home to the endangered Kemp’s...
, High Island, Rat Island, the Chimney Sweeps, the Blauzes and Travers Island.
City Island is by far the largest, and the only one currently populated. The 235 acre (0.9510121 km²) island was originally known as "Great Minnefords" before the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Palmer renamed it "City Island" as part of his plans to create a great port city. The onset of the Revolutionary War brought an end to those plans. It remained part of the Town of Pelham until June 6, 1895, when the present boundary line between the borough of the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
and the rest of Westchester County was established, placing City Island within New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Hart Island, which is the second largest, formerly housed a prison, but is now uninhabited, and is currently used as a potters field. Along with David's Island, it has had a variety of military uses over the years, including its use as the site of Fort Slocum
Fort Slocum (New York)
Fort Slocum, New York was a US military base occupying Davids' Island and Hart Island at the western end of Long Island Sound. The fort was named for Major General Henry W...
.
Pell purchased the islands and much of the surrounding area from the Siwanoy
Siwanoy
The Native American Siwanoy or Sinanoy were a band of Algonquian-speaking people, the Wappinger, in what is now the New York City area. By the mid-17th century, when their territory became hotly contested between Dutch and English colonial interests, the Siwanoy were settled along the East River...
tribe, also known as the Minneford tribe. Before Pell bought these islands, they were known as the Minneford Islands after the two main islands, Greater Minneford Island (City Island) and Lesser Minneford Island (Hart Island). These islands were once part of the town of Pelham, but are now mostly part of the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, except for Davids' and Goose Islands which are part of New Rochelle
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
, and Travers Islands, which is still part of Pelham
Pelham, New York
Pelham, New York is the name of two locations in Westchester County, New York:*Pelham , New York, the Town of Pelham*Pelham Manor , New York, the Village of Pelham Manor*Pelham , New York, the Village of Pelham...
.
Hunters Island and Twin Island are now part of Pelham Bay Park
Pelham Bay Park
Pelham Bay Park, located in the northeast corner of the New York City borough of The Bronx and extending partially into Westchester County, is at the largest public park in New York City. The section of the park within New York City's borders is more than three times the size of Manhattan's...
, and are no longer islands; they were connected to Rodman's Neck by landfill
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
in the 1930s when Orchard Beach was constructed. One third of Pelham Bay was filled in to make the beach and its parking lot.
Travers Island is also now connected to the mainland by landfill, and is abreast Shore Park in Pelham Manor, New York
Pelham Manor, New York
Pelham Manor is a village located in Westchester County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 5,486. It is located in the town of Pelham.- Demographics :...
.
High Island is the site of several commercial radio transmitters. Goose Island, Rat Island, the Chimney Sweeps, and the Blauzes are nothing more than small outcroppings of rock, although Rat Island once housed quarantined typhoid patients.
See also
- Green Flats ReefGreen Flats Reef (New York)Green Flats is a reef in City Island Harbor, between City Island and Rat Island.The reef is composed of mostly small round glacial alluvial rocks and a number of glacial erratics made of granite. It is covered in green seamoss and kelp...
- Execution Rocks LighthouseExecution Rocks LighthouseExecution Rocks Light is a lighthouse in the middle of Long Island Sound on the border between New Rochelle and Sands Point, New York. It stands 55 feet tall, with a white light flashing every 10 seconds. The granite tower is painted white with a brown band around the middle...
- Eastchester BayEastchester BayEastchester Bay is a protected body of water between City Island and the mainland Bronx, New York. Technically, it is a sound, not a bay, since it is open to larger bodies of water at both ends. The northern end connects via a narrow channel to Pelham Bay...
- The Cuban Ledge, New YorkThe Cuban Ledge, New YorkThe Cuban Ledge, New York is a reef composed chiefly of sand and small rocks in Eastchester Bay, The Bronx, in Long Island Sound. It is located between Rodman's Neck and Country Club in Eastchester Bay and only appears during periods of low-tide....
External links
- Aerial image of the Pelham Islands from USGS The National Map
- Satellite map of the Pelham Islands from Google MapsGoogle MapsGoogle Maps is a web mapping service application and technology provided by Google, free , that powers many map-based services, including the Google Maps website, Google Ride Finder, Google Transit, and maps embedded on third-party websites via the Google Maps API...