City Island

City Island is a small island approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) long by .5 mi (1 km) wide. At one time attached to the town of Pelham, Westchester County, it is now part of the New York City borough of the Bronx. As of the 2000 census the island had a population of 4,520. Its land area is 1.023 km² (0.395 sq mi, or 252.835 acres). The island is part of Bronx Community Board 10.

City Island is located at the extreme western end of Long Island Sound, south of Pelham Bay and east of Eastchester Bay. The body of water between City Island and the even smaller (and uninhabited) Hart Island to the east is known as City Island Harbor. The small island adjacent to the northeast is High Island. Stepping Stones Lighthouse, marking the main shipping channel into New York, is off the southern tip of the island, near the Long Island shore. It is part of the Pelham Islands, a group of islands originally belonging to Thomas Pell.

Geology
City Island was created by glacial deposits at the end of the last ice age. There is a layer of bedrock and then a thick layer of red clay topped with sand, with topsoil above that. The southern end has deposits of rare blue clay. The area is strewn with glacial erratic boulders. Local bedrock is Manhattan schist with glacial striations.

Indigenous wildlife
City Island is an urbanized area, reminiscent of a small New England town. The forms of animal life on the island are typical of such an environment: raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, skunk, occasional deer. Coyotes and turkeys have also been sighted.

The real diversity of wildlife on and around City Island is among birds, especially aquatic species. There are many varieties of duck; buffleheads, goldeneyes, mallards, and cormorants. Canada geese are common, as are mute swans, great blue herons, great white egrets, and several types of gull. A small protected wetlands area on west Ditmars Street is home to many of these species. Of course, no list of urban wildlife would be complete without New York's ubiquitous feral pigeon.

Surprisingly, bright green parrots (monk parakeets), originally imported from South America as pets, have adapted to the climate and breed in the wild in New York. They are a common sight on City Island and in nearby Pelham Bay Park. Flocks of wild turkeys are also often seen in the park. A herd of five or more deer live in Pelham Bay Park but one deer made a couple of short visits to City Island by crossing the bridge.

Another surprising resident of the island is the brown or dekay's snake. This small serpent has adapted superbly to live amongst the island's growing community. Natives often tell stories of encounters with this snake while gardening.

History
Originally inhabited by the Siwanoy band of Lenape Indians, City Island was later settled by Europeans as part of property and estate bought by English nobleman, Thomas Pell, in 1654. Prior to that, English settlers led by Anne Hutchinson (seeking religious freedom) settled in an area nearby on the river (now known as the Hutchinson River) in 1642. After changing hands several times, in 1761 the Island (at that time known as Minefer's Island), was bought by Benjamin Palmer of New York. Up to this point the island had been inhabited by only a few homes and farms. It had a population of about 1000 people, who tended farms and livestock. Palmer had the vision of developing the island into a port, which could rival that of New York. He knew that ships heading north and south passed City Island using Long Island Sound as a safe inshore waterway. He envisioned shipyards, and stores that could cater to the ships. He went as far as to have the island mapped out in different plots designated as shipyards, docks, business, farms, homes, schools, and houses of worship, along with streets, paths, and access routes. Benjamin Palmer appealed to the British Crown and received a patent that covered the ownership of waterfront properties 400' out from the high tide mark under water, around the perimeter of the Island. This patent, known as the "Palmer Grant" is unique to City Island; it has been contested in courts since, but has always held up.

Palmer is also responsible for changing the name from Minefer's Island to City Island in anticipation of things to come. However, Palmer's vision never fully materialized as the timing just before the American Revolution halted all progress, and the war depleted the capital of Palmer and his investors. It would be another sixty years before the island again started to be developed when oystermen, Hell-Gate pilots, and eventually shipbuilders arrived and introduced these industries.

The history of the island has been chronicled in Tales Of The Clamdiggers by Alice Payne (ISBN 0-9747823-1-9) and City Island and Orchard Beach (Images Of America) by Catherine A Scott (ISBN 0-7385-3546-X).

Description
The island has the look and feel of a small New England fishing village, with no spot more than a few minutes walking distance to the water. Most businesses are clustered along centrally-located City Island Avenue. There are two small supermarkets, a gas station, a pharmacy, a bank, a hardware store and a variety of other small shops. The island is most famous for its numerous seafood restaurants and antique stores which line both sides of the avenue.

Government services include the City Island Station post office (10464) and a FDNY firehouse (Engine 70, Ladder 53 (pending removal July 1, 2009)). The New York City Police Department presence (mostly traffic control on summer weekends) is provided by the 45th Precinct, located in the mainland Bronx. The City Island Branch is possibly the smallest of the New York Public Library system, even after the recent expansion which doubled the size of the building.

Houses of worship are Saint Mary's Star of the Sea Holy Roman Catholic Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, Grace Episcopal Church, and Temple Beth El.

A local paper, The Island Current is printed 10 times a year, and chronicles mostly community issues and local news.

Education
City Island is within the New York City Department of Education

P.S. 175 City Island School, located on City Island Avenue, serves grades K-8 for the island.

The School of St. Mary Star of the Sea is a Catholic grade school on City Island.

Bridges and transportation
Starting in 1760, a small ferry powered by a rope between Rodman's Neck and City Island was used to transport people and supplies between the mainland and City Island. It was not until 1873 that a bridge was built by a syndicate of City Island businessman including G.W. Horton, Ben Hedgeman, and David Carll. Then, in 1901, City Island became connected to the mainland by a new, steel three-lane City Island Bridge. There is another small, private bridge on the northeastern end of City Island which connects it to High Island, site of the radio transmitter for New York AM stations WFAN (660) and WCBS (880); a security gate prevents access to High Island.

In the early 1900s, the Pelham Park and City Island Railroad provided rail service to the island.

Bus transportation consists of the Bx29 local bus to Bay Plaza via the Pelham Bay Park subway station and the BxM7B express bus to Manhattan, both run by the MTA. There is also the City Island Seaside Trolley run by the Bronx Tourism Council. Although the island was not displayed on previous prints of the Bronx Subway Map, it is clearly placed on recent prints of the Subway Map.

Local businesses and attractions
The island is famous for its seafood restaurants, with lobster being a common specialty. Over 30 eating establishments compete for business, ranging from fast food (Johnny's Reef) to The Lobster Box to a French bed & breakfast and a popular spot, The Black Whale, famous for its desserts. The 'Snug' is a popular local Irish pub. While a few of the restaurants close during the winter months, most are open year round.



Local shops include Focal Point Gallery (a gallery of photography), Starving Artist Cafe & Gallery (featuring musical talents), Exotiqa International Arts (featuring art objects, gift items and jewelry from around the world), Early Ruth's Antiques, Midtown Antiques, My Dolls And Things, and recently-opened (April 9) Calico Juno Designs, a handcrafted jewelry store where all the jewelry is handmade on the premises.

The City Island Nautical Museum displays maritime artifacts and antiques. It is located at 190 Fordham Street and is open only on Saturday and Sunday afternoons (other times by appointment). Admission is free, and there is a small gift shop.

The Island has several landmarks like Samuel Pell Mansion on City Island Avenue near St. Mary Star of the Sea Church. It was where Arsenic and Old Lace starring Cary Grant was filmed for TV; there are a number of old Victorian mansions throughout City Island, mostly on the Sound side, complete with tall pointy spires and gables with gazebos, such as Delmours Point on Tier Street.

The City Island Theater Group is the local community theater that produces entertaining shows year round.

Boating


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 commercial marinas. The island has what are called "special anchorages" where boats of all sizes are freely moored or anchored, and there are many docks with boat slips for mooring boats in a secure and restricted way. There are also many large piers around the island that can receive large ships.

The island is home to the Columbia University Sailing Team, whose fleet of dinghies is docked at City Island Yacht Club. The team comes from Manhattan to practice off the western shore of City Island three times a week. Fordham University's Sailing Team sails out of Morris Yacht and Beach Club.

In the novel Bluebeard, by Kurt Vonnegut, the character Dan Gregory states that his 80 ft yacht, the Ararat, was dry-docked on City Island.

Many of the boats which competed and won in the America's Cup in years past were built in The Minneford Boat Yard on City Island. The Eastchester Bay Yacht Racing Association is the major organizer for sailboat races in the area. J/24 sailboats are the active one design racing fleet on the island.

A small fleet of head boats (The Island Current, the RipTide III, and the North Star III) take paying passengers on fishing trips to Long Island Sound. One can also rent smaller boats by the day. The sail and power boating industry has been declining in recent years as boatyards are being sold and being turned into condominiums.

City Island in film and TV
Numerous films, television shows, and commercials have been filmed on City Island. Films include BUtterfield 8 starring Elizabeth Taylor,  Long Day's Journey Into Night (Katharine Hepburn),   Awakenings (Robert De Niro and Robin Williams), Love Is All There Is (Lainie Kazan and Angelina Jolie),  and A Bronx Tale (Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri), which featured the City Island Bridge and one scene which was filmed in the parking lot of Johnny's Reef Restaurant. Michael Douglas filmed Don't Say a Word at the Hart Island Ferry and Hart Island. Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums was filmed at Delmours Point, which is the mansion where Long Days Journey Into Night was filmed.

The movie City Island, starring Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies, is set on City Island and was also shot there. Its scheduled release date is March 19, 2010. The film won the Audience Favorite Award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.

City Island was also the setting for the 2006 film The Groomsmen, which was directed by Edward Burns; filming took place at many locations on City Island.

In 1999, Spike Lee directed and produced Summer of Sam, a crime drama based around the Son of Sam murders, and set in the neighborhood of City Island.

In 2006 "Margot at the Wedding" starring Nicole Kidman and Ciarán Hinds was filmed on City Island Avenue and other locations on the island.

In 2008 actor Michael Douglas returned to City Island to film with actor Danny De Vito to film "Solitary Man (2009)" in the City Island Diner and Jessica Alba was filmed in "An Invisible Sign of My Own (2009)" there as well.

A very early film shot in a City Island studio was Richard III, made in 1912.

Television series that were filmed on the island include the classic Coronet Blue, Naked City, Car 54, Where Are You? and, more recently, an episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent called "Sound Bodies" which was based on a real-life story of several local teenagers who drowned in Long Island Sound near City Island. Also the "Law and Order" episode of "Maritime" showing the City Island bridge.

Since 2002, the film production company Harrington Talents has had its offices and studio located on City Island. Notable celebrities who have worked on their productions include rapper/actor Ice-T, professional wrestler Bruno Sammartino. They also shot many scenes from their movie Doughboys starring Louis Lombardi, Vincent Pastore, Andrew Keengan, Mike Star and James Madio. The company is owned and operated by Frank Mosca, Stephen Franciosa Jr. and John Morena.

Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of the island include:
 * Anthony (b. 1920) and Sally Amato (1917–2000); founders & directors, Amato Opera   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amato_Opera
 * Harry Carey (1878–1947), one of silent film's earliest superstars.
 * Adolfo Carrión, Jr. (born 1961), former Bronx Borough President.
 * Bruce McRae (1867–1927), silent film actor.
 * George Meany (1894–1980), union leader who served as president of the AFL-CIO.
 * Henry B. Nevins (1878-1959), master yacht builder and author.
 * Vincent Pastore (born 1946), actor known for his role on the TV series The Sopranos.
 * Carlos D. Ramirez (1946–1999), publisher of El Diario La Prensa.
 * Oliver Sacks (born 1933), who wrote the book Awakenings, whose adaptation was filmed at a house similar to his own but on a different street on the island.
 * Salvatore Santoro (1913–2000), Lucchese crime family underboss.
 * Richard Waring (1911–1994), TV and film actor.
 * Warren Weith, columnist for Car and Driver in the 1960s and 1970s.

Miscellaneous

 * Chamber of Commerce
 * City Island
 * City Island Branch Library
 * City Island Nautical Museum
 * City Island Theatre Group
 * Grace Episcopal Church
 * P.S. 175 City Island School
 * The Adaptable Monk Parakeets, Environmental Education Science Masters Program, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Businesses

 * Eating establishments on City Island
 * The Black Whale
 * Calico Juno Designs
 * City Island Yacht Club
 * Early Ruth's Antiques
 * Exotiqa International Arts
 * Focal Point Gallery
 * Harlem Yacht Club
 * J/24 Fleet
 * Johnny's Reef Restaurant (review, photographs)
 * Midtown Antiques
 * Morris Yacht and Beach Club
 * My Dolls And Things
 * Starving Artist Cafe & Gallery
 * Stuyvesant Yacht Club

Maps and charts

 * City Island Tide Chart


 * Subway Map

Americana

 * The Island Current Newspaper online
 * City Island Chamber of Commerce
 * City Island.com, Bronx
 * Transportation from Manhattan
 * "Close-up on City Island," Village Voice, 2002
 * Forgotten NY
 * The City Island Digital Image Gallery

Literature

 * City Island & Orchard Beach (ISBN 0-7385-3546-X)
 * The Other Islands Of New York City (ISBN 0-88150-502-1)
 * East Bronx, East Of The Bronx River (ISBN 0-7385-0301-0)
 * Tales of the Clamdiggers (ISBN 0-9747823-1-9)

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