Geography | |
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Location | Long Island Sound |
Coordinates | 40°53′00″N 73°46′13″W / 40.883417°N 73.770231°WCoordinates: 40°53′00″N 73°46′13″W / 40.883417°N 73.770231°W |
Total islands | 10 |
Major islands | 3 |
Administration | |
United States
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State | New York |
The Pelham Islands are a group of islands in western Long Island Sound which belonged to Thomas Pell, Lord of Pelham Manor in the 17th century. The islands, and most of the surrounding area, were purchased from the Siwanoy Indians by Pell in 1654, creating Pelham Manor. This large tract of land would eventually become the present day Town & Village of Pelham and Pelham Manor, Town of Eastchester, and cities of New Rochelle and Mount Vernon in Westchester County, and the Pelham Bay and Eastchester sections within the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Several of the Pelham Islands became part of New Rochelle after Jacob Leisler’s purchase of 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares) from the Pell family in 1688. The remaining islands became part of Bronx County in 1895 with the establishment of the current Westchester-Bronx County line.