The Bronx is New York City's northernmost borough, coterminous with Bronx County. It is the only one of the city's five boroughs situated primarily on the United States mainland rather than on an island.M.
As of 2005, the United States Census Bureau estimated that the borough's population was 1,357,589. If all five boroughs were independent cities, the Bronx would rank as the ninth most populous city in the United States. Recently, its population, which had been in decline since the 1960 census, has increased.
The borough had its peak population in 1950. The Bronx is the fourth most populous of New York City's five boroughs, and Bronx County is the fifth most populous county in the New York Metropolitan Area.In 1639, a man called Jonas Bronck was the first European colonist to an area that we now address as the Bronx. He settled down by the Harlem River, which is now known as the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. During Bronck's early colonization, the area was originally part of Westchester County, which comprised of primarily farmland. The area was quiet and regions were mainly suburban.
A good deal of the area did not start to industrialize until 1841 when railway services on the Harlem and NYC lines ran on a frequent basis between the Bronx and Manhattan.
In 1895, the area became part of New York City. Towards the earlier years of the 1900's, manufacturing plants were growing and urban localities became large. Most of the citizens who populated in the area worked in educational facilities, factories and racetracks. It wasn't until 1914, that the area became known as Bronx County, the 62nd and last county of the state of New York.
In that same year, the main boulevard of the Bronx was born. The birth of the Grand Concourse, reaching out 4 1/2 miles, gave fresh meaning to the idea of road access. It was prompted by the celebrated boulevard in Paris called, The Champs Elysees.
As the Bronx entered the 1920's, neighborhoods were heightened with artistic creation design and drew much attention. The Fordham Road and Grand Concourse areas were intersections of trees, luxuriant homes and apartments. These areas were built up and planned in the most recent art deco styles.
By the late 19th and into the first quarter of the twentieth century, landmarks helped develop and shape the history of the Bronx. Annually thousands of tourists and bronxites, traveled to places like The Bronx Zoo, The NY Botanical Gardens, Yankee Stadium and many other landmarks that enlightened the area of the beautiful Bronx.