Tremont, Bronx
Encyclopedia
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...
, 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...
. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5
Bronx Community Board 5
Bronx Community Board 5 is a local government unit of the city of New York, encompassing the neighborhoods of Fordham, Morris Heights, Mount Hope, and University Heights...
. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: East 183rd Street to the north, Webster Avenue to the east, the Cross-Bronx Expressway
Cross-Bronx Expressway
The Cross Bronx Expressway is a major expressway in the New York City borough of the Bronx, conceived by Robert Moses and built between 1948 and 1972. It carries traffic on Interstate 95 through the city, and serves as a portion of Interstate 295 toward Long Island; a portion is also designated U.S...
to the south, and the Jerome Avenue to the west. The Grand Concourse
Grand Concourse (Bronx)
The Grand Concourse is a major thoroughfare in the borough of the Bronx in New York City...
is the primary thoroughfare through Tremont. The local subway is the IND Concourse Line
IND Concourse Line
The Concourse Line is an IND subway branch line of the New York City Subway system. It runs from Norwood – 205th Street in Norwood, Bronx to 145th Street in Harlem, Manhattan. It is the only "B" Division and only fully underground line in the Bronx....
, operating along the Grand Concourse. Zip codes include 10453 and 10457. The area is patrolled by the 46th Precinct located at 2120 Ryer Avenue within Tremont.
Demographics
Tremont has a population under 45,000. For decades, Tremont has been one of the poorest communities in America. Over half the population lives below the poverty line and receives public assistance (AFDC, Home Relief, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid). The neighborhood is now predominantly Dominican with a significant longstanding Puerto Rican and African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
population. The vast majority of households are renter occupied.
Land use and terrain
Morris Avenue Historic District
The landmarked Morris Avenue Historic District lines Morris Avenue between East Tremont and East 179th Street. The district consist of attached brownstones, most of which have been converted into S.R.O.'s (Single Room Occupancy).History
Rather than having come from a colonial settlement, the name "Tremont" was invented by a postmaster in the 1800s, derived from the three ("tre") neighborhoods of Mount Eden, Mount Hope, and Fairmount in the west-central Bronx.The Cross Bronx Expressway bisects Tremont, by design of developer Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
.
Social problems
Crack Epidemic
The United States crack epidemic refers to the surge of crack houses and crack cocaine use in major cities in the United States between 1984 and 1990...
s violent crime continues to be a serious problem in the community. Tremont's rates of dropout
Dropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
and violence in its schools are significantly higher than average. Students must pass through metal detectors and swipe ID cards to enter the buildings. It is reminiscent of a prison environment which many feel encourages bad behavior. Other problems in local schools include low test scores and high truancy rates. Drug addiction is also a serious problem in the community. Due to the lucrative drug trade in the area many addicted reside in the community. Peer pressure among children from broken homes contributes to the high rate of usage. Many households in the area are headed by a single mother which contributes to the high poverty rate. Many had their children at a very young age and could not provide for their children. Many of the families living in Tremont have been in poverty for generations. The incarceration rate in the area is also very high. Many if not most males in the community have been arrested at some point in their lives. This has a direct correlation to aggressive policing tactics including "sweeps" due to the area's high crime rate. Tremont is home to a significant number of inmates currently held in New York state prison and jail facilities.
Urban renewal
After a wave of arson ravaged the low income communities of New York City throughout the 1970s, many of the residential structures in Tremont were left seriously damaged or destroyed. The city began to rehabilitate many formally abandoned tenement style apartment buildings and designate them low income housing beginning in the late 1970s. Also many subsidized attached multi-unit townhouses and newly constructed apartment buildings have been or are being built on vacant lots across the neighborhood.Schools
- PS 9: Ryer (East 183rd Street and Ryer Avenue)
- PS 28: Mount Hope (Mount Hope Place and Anthony Avenue)
- PS 79: Creston (East 181st Street and Creston Avenue)
- PS 163: Arthur Alonso Schomburg (East 180th Street and Webster Avenue)
- PS 173: (Walton Avenue and Mount Hope Place)
- PS/MS 279: Captain Manuel Rivera (East 181st Street and Walton Avenue)
- MS 117: Joseph H. Wade (East 176th Street and Morris Avenue)
- PS 306/MS 331 (West Tremont Avenue and Davidson Avenue)
- MS 391: Angelo Patri (East 182nd Street and Webster Avenue)
Transportation
- Bx1: RiverdaleRiverdale, BronxRiverdale is an affluent residential neighborhood in the northwest portion of the Bronx in New York City. Riverdale contains the northernmost point in New York City.-History:...
to Third Avenue–138th Street station (via Grand ConcourseGrand Concourse (Bronx)The Grand Concourse is a major thoroughfare in the borough of the Bronx in New York City...
) - Bx2: Kingsbridge HeightsKingsbridge Heights, BronxKingsbridge Heights is a working class residential neighborhood geographically located in the northwest Bronx, New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 8. Its boundaries are Van Cortlandt Park to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, Kingsbridge Road to the south, and the...
to Third Avenue–138th Street station (via Grand ConcourseGrand Concourse (Bronx)The Grand Concourse is a major thoroughfare in the borough of the Bronx in New York City...
) - Bx36: Castle HillCastle Hill, BronxCastle Hill is primarily a residential neighborhood geographically located in the South Central section of the borough of The Bronx in New York City. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 9...
to George Washington Bridge Bus TerminalGeorge Washington Bridge Bus TerminalThe George Washington Bridge Bus Station is a commuter bus terminal located at the east end of the George Washington Bridge in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan in New York City, New York....
(via 180th Street) - Bx40: to SUNY Maritime College or Morris HeightsMorris Heights, BronxMorris Heights is a low income residential neighborhood located in the west Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: West Burnside Avenue to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the...
(via Tremont–Burnside Avenues) - Bx41: to Wakefield-241st Street stationWakefield-241st Street (IRT White Plains Road Line)Wakefield – 241st Street is a terminal station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 241st Street and White Plains Road in the Wakefield neighborhood of the Bronx, it is served by the 2 train at all times and the only station on the 2 that is...
or Third Avenue-149th Street stationThird Avenue-149th Street (IRT White Plains Road Line)Third Avenue – 149th Street is a station on the IRT White Plains Road Line of the New York City Subway. It is located at Third Avenue and East 149th Street in Mott Haven, Bronx and is served by the 2 and 5 trains, the latter of which does not stop here during late night hours...
(via Webster Avenue) - Bx42: Throg's Neck to Morris HeightsMorris Heights, BronxMorris Heights is a low income residential neighborhood located in the west Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: West Burnside Avenue to the north, Jerome Avenue to the east, the Cross-Bronx Expressway to the...
(via Tremont–Burnside Avenues) - Tremont AvenueTremont Avenue (IND Concourse Line)Tremont Avenue is an express station on the IND Concourse Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of East Tremont Avenue and Grand Concourse, it is served by the D train at all times and B train during rush hours only...
station - 182nd-183rd Streets station
- 176th Street176th Street (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)176th Street is a local station in on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 176th Street and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times...
station - Burnside AvenueBurnside Avenue (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)Burnside Avenue is an express station on the IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of Burnside and Jerome Avenues in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times....
station - 183rd Street183rd Street (IRT Jerome Avenue Line)183rd Street is a rehabilitated local station on the elevated IRT Jerome Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at the intersection of 183rd Street and Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, it is served by the 4 train at all times....
station