Talk:Kingsbridge Heights, Bronx

Demographics

Somebody out there has added the words "especially White and Hispanic" to the sentence which describes Northern Kingsbridge Heights as an area of "varied ethnicities". Either that person is unaware of the large numbers of residents who are not white or Hispanic, or he/she has some other personal agenda for denying the wide diversity of the area's population.

The vast majority of neighborhood residents who have seen this person's comments strongly disagree with them. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Manchego1944 (talk • contribs) 18:43, 31 May 2007 (UTC)

The northern part of Kingsbridge Height remains majority White, so no need to call it a predominately Dominican neighborhood. Also, where are your sources that "30% of the neighborhood" lives in poverty? —Preceding unsigned comment added by PassTheYouth (talk • contribs) 17:53, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

The northern end of Kingsbridge Heights is one of three portions of the neighborhood. According to census data only the census tract north of West 238th Street has a predominantly non-Hispanic White population. A concentration between 50-75%. The central and southern sections of Kingsbridge Heights, also the densest areas, are predominantly Dominican and according to census tract data have poverty rates over 30%. The Hispanic population overall is still growing in that area. The White non-Hispanic population is not growing in southern and central Kingsbridge Heights in fact that population is still shrinking. I do not know about the northernmost tract which was shrinking but may be growing due to a condo boom over the past few years. However housing in the Bronx is expected if not already starting to go stagnant, even decline in certain areas. This racial/poverty data was based on 2000 data and Kingsbridge Heights today has one of the highest concentrations of Dominicans in the Bronx. That population has grown significantly even since then in that area. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikiwiki718 (talk • contribs) 01:00, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

But most of this is based on assumption. Please post links and sources to support your claims. I live in Van Cortlandt Village, and I'd say this side of the neighborhood has gone from 1/3 White five years ago to 2/3 White now. A lot of Yuppies have been moving in, as well as young couples who are priced out of Manhattan. This in addition to the many elderly Jews and Irish families in the neighborhood. —Preceding unsigned comment added by PassTheYouth (talk • contribs) 03:24, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

It is not assumption. Take a look for yourself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bronxrace.PNG

The above link includes a block by block breakdown including the classification Hispanic. Notice over half of Kingsbridge Heights is predominantly Hispanic. At the same time in the densest sections of Kingsbridge Heights the population of Hispanics is over 75%. No areas in the White non-Hispanic section of Kingsbridge Heights are over 75% dominance. This is a decline from 1990 when there were blocks in the northern subsection Van Courtlandt Village of Kingsbridge Heights that were over 75% White non-hispanic.

Of the five tracts which make up Kingsbridge Heights 267, 273, 277, 279, even 281 are predominantly Hispanic. Largest ethnic group being Dominicans. 281 (the smallest tract) is the only tract in Kingsbridge Heights with blocks which are dominant White non-Hispanic population.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/lucds/bx8profile.pdf

From 1990 to 2000 the White non-Hispanic population in the area declined significantly as it has for decades.

The only possible explanation for growth in the White non-Hispanic category would be relocation due to condo growth in the northern most section of the neighborhood. However the neighborhood reflects the rest of the Bronx in that it is becoming poorer and less White non-Hispanic. There is no data to support a growth in the White non-Hispanic population of Kingsbridge Heights or even Van Courtlandt Village.

So basically the White non-Hispanic population is shrinking while the Hispanic population is growing in Kingsbridge Heights. Kingsbridge Heights today is possibly the most Dominican neighborhood in the borough of the Bronx. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikiwiki718 (talk • contribs) 04:27, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

No way is it the most Dominican neighborhood. What about University Heights? Bedford Park? They have much more Dominicans. That block you posted shows that a White majority still exists in parts of the neighborhood. —Preceding unsigned comment added by PassTheYouth (talk • contribs) 06:22, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

In other neighborhoods Dominicans are rivaled by Puerto Ricans in population. Along the Grand Concourse and as you stated University Heights. Dominicans are the majority in 3/4ths of Kingsbridge Heights and can be found in the northernmost section of the neighborhood. Not really a significant Puerto Rican population in that neighborhood at all. So Kingsbridge Heights may have the highest concentration of Dominicans in the Bronx. Unless you count Marble Hill. Bedford Park and Norwood can probably come close now too.

Still either way you put it Kingsbridge Heights is dominated by Hispanics, most of which are Dominican. 4-5 White non-Hispanic Blocks is a minority population. They are only the majority in Van Courtlandt Village. That's arguable now too considering the growth rate of Dominicans and loss of Whites in that overall community. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikiwiki718 (talk • contribs) 07:00, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

You have to mention the demographics of Van Cortlandt Village then as more than a "Small, aging Jewish community." It's more like a decent sized community. And they're not the only Whites in VCV. Yuppies have grown in recent years, and a considerable amount of Irish live there. In comparison to all of Kingsbridge Heights, they may not make up a lot of the population, but the majority of Van Cortlandt Village is White and that needs recognizion. Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by EnterPuppets (talk • contribs) 22:09, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Once again, this article discusses Kingsbridge Heights. Van Courtland Village is a small subsection of the greater neighborhood. Kingsbridge Heights overall is a Hispanic neighborhood. The White population of VCV is getting mention. The reason why I described it as "small" is due to the fact the population is small compared to the greater neighborhood. Feel free to update the article Van Courtlandt Village. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wikiwiki718 (talk • contribs) 17:50, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

There is no doubt that the hispanic population has grown significantly over the last thirty years. It began when the Western part of Fordham Road (University Avenue to Fordham Hill - Bailey & Sedwick Avenues) changed from a predominantly Irish to a predominantly hispanic community in the late 1970's. Since then, hispanics have moved north settling Kingsbridge Road. From Kingsbridge Road they have thoroughly settled Kingsbridge Heights and today clearly make up the majority of the population. After securing the Fordham Section & the lower part of Kingsbridge & the Heights, the Hispanics began to settle the valley region (i.e. 231st to 238th streets along Broadway) beginning in the late 1980's. By 1988 they were clearly becoming a significant portion of the valley's population especially near Bailey & Heath Avenues. There is no doubt today that the majority of the population throughout the entire Kingsbridge section of the Bronx (Kingsbridge Road, Kingsbridge Heights & the valley) is Hispanic. The earlier residents, such as the Irish, Germans, Jews, and Italians have moved to the suburbs or have relocated elsewhere in the country. In time as economic climates improve the current residents (Hispanics) will do the same and new groups will come to the area. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mrkennedy259 (talk • contribs) 05:37, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Basically, it doesn't matter who makes up the current ethnic majority in the neighborhood. What really matters is that Kingsbridge has been and always will be a community of newly arrived immigrants who first settle into this country (port of entry), learn the language & customs, find new & better paying jobs, send their american born children to school, save some money and eventually buy a house in the suburbs, or move to other parts of the country seeking something better. The fact that hispanics now constitute the majority in the neighborhood is irrelevant. What matters is that Kingsbridge is a community of newly arrived immigrants seeking the American Dream! —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mrkennedy259 (talk • contribs) 00:57, 6 September 2008 (UTC)