City Island, Bronx, New York

City Island

Looking southwest at marina and distant Throgs Neck Bridge
City Island Location of City Island in the Bronx, which is in red
Geography
Location	Long Island Sound
Coordinates	40°50′51″N 73°47′11″W / 40.84758°N 73.786476°W / 40.84758; -73.786476Coordinates: 40°50′51″N 73°47′11″W / 40.84758°N 73.786476°W / 40.84758; -73.786476
Archipelago	The Pelham Islands
Area	0.39505 sq mi (1.0232 km2)
Length	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Width	0.5 mi (0.8 km)
Administration
United States
State	New York
City	New York City
Borough	Bronx
Demographics
Population	4,387 (2010)
Pop. density	11,441.6 /sq mi (4,417.63 /km2)

City Island is a small island and a neighborhood approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long by 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide. At one time it was incorporated within the boundaries of Pelham, Westchester County, but it is now part of the New York City borough of the Bronx. As of the 2010 census the island had a population of 4,362. 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. The Stepping Stones Light, 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 once belonging to Thomas Pell.

Originally inhabited by the Siwanoy band of Lenape Indians, City Island later was 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 letters patent that covered the ownership of waterfront properties 400 feet out from the high tide mark under water and 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 been upheld.