1. History

2. Demographics

3. Land use and terrain

4. Police and crime

5. Fire safety

6. Health

7. Post office and ZIP codes

8. Education
    Schools  Schools 

9. Parks and recreation

10. Transportation

11. In popular culture

12. Notable people

13. References

14. External links

| coordinates = {{coord|40.819|-73.85|type:city_region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|New York}}
| subdivision_type2 = City
| subdivision_name2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of New York City.svg}} New York City
| subdivision_type3 = Borough
| subdivision_name3 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of The Bronx.svg}} Bronx
| subdivision_type4 = Community District
| subdivision_name4 = Bronx 9^[1]
| area_total_sq_mi = 0.478
| area_footnotes = ^[2]
| population_footnotes = ^[3]
| population_total = 8,079
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_density_km2 =
| population_density_sq_mi= auto
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| demographics_type1 = Economics
| demographics1_footnotes =
| demographics1_title1 = Median income
| demographics1_info1 = $42,171
| postal_code_type = ZIP codes
| postal_code = 10472, 10473, 10462
| area_code_type = Area code
| area_code = 718, 347, 929, and 917
| website = {{URL|www.castlehill.nyc}}
}}

Castle Hill is primarily a residential neighborhood geographically located in the South Central section of the borough of the Bronx in New York City. Its boundaries, starting from the North and moving clockwise are: Waterbury and Westchester Avenues to the North, Westchester Creek to the east, the East River to the South, and White Plains Road to the West.

The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 9.^[1] ZIP codes include 10472, 10473, and 10462. The area is patrolled by the NYPD's 43rd Precinct.^[5] New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) property in the area is patrolled by P.S.A. 8 at 2794 Randall Avenue.

History

Relatively undeveloped, the neighborhood began sprouting along the now defunct Castle Hill Avenue street-car system. Later, the neighborhood became more dense surrounding the construction of the Westchester Avenue Elevated. Castle Hill soon became home to many European immigrants looking for an alternative to the overpopulated immigrant communities found in Lower Manhattan. Traditionally an urban working-class neighborhood, an influx of lower-income earners and Latin American migrants beginning mid century diversified the income profile. Like most neighborhoods in NYC, the area went through a period of decay beginning in the 1950s and 1960s with a flight of moderate-income earners. The most severe flight occurred in the areas surrounding the Castle Hill Houses, a massive low-income public housing development.^[4] Since the late 1980s, and particularly since the 2000s, significant renewal has taken place. Many new residential and mixed use properties have been constructed and formally abandoned properties rehabilitated. For example, a New York City project to change the water pipes throughout the neighborhood has rejuvenated the area by rebuilding all sidewalks and renewing the asphalt in all of the streets.^[7]

Demographics

Castle Hill is a high density, urban neighborhood. The area has a relatively diverse population; primarily consisting of African Americans, and Latin Americans, most predominantly Puerto Ricans (Castle Hill has one of the highest concentrations of Puerto Ricans in all of New York City). As in most neighborhoods in New York City the vast majority of households are renter occupied. There is significant income diversity on a block by block basis.

Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Soundview/Clason Point/Castle Hill was 53,686, a change of 2,933 (5.5%) from the 50,753 counted in 2000. Covering an area of {{convert|1198.36|acres}}, the neighborhood had a population density of {{convert|44.8|PD/acre|PD/sqmi PD/sqkm}}.^[5] The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 2% (1,067) White, 37% (19,876) African American, 0.3% (161) Native American, 1.3% (709) Asian, 0% (22) Pacific Islander, 0.4% (239) from other races, and 1.1% (586) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 57.8% (31,026) of the population.^[6]

The entirety of Community District 9, which comprises Castle Hill, Clason Point, and Parkchester, had 184,105 inhabitants as of NYC Health's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 79.7 years.^[7]{{Rp|2, 20}} This is about the same as the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods.^[8]{{Rp|53 (PDF p. 84)}}^[9] Most inhabitants are youth and middle-aged adults: 25% are between the ages of between 0–17, 29% between 25–44, and 24% between 45–64. The ratio of college-aged and elderly residents was lower, at 10% and 12% respectively.^[7]{{Rp|2}}

As of 2017, the median household income in Community District 9 was $40,005.^[10] In 2018, an estimated 26% of Castle Hill and Parkchester residents lived in poverty, compared to 25% in all of the Bronx and 20% in all of New York City. One in eight residents (13%) were unemployed, compared to 13% in the Bronx and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 55% in Castle Hill and Parkchester, compared to the boroughwide and citywide rates of 58% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, {{as of|2018|lc=y}}, Castle Hill and Parkchester are considered low-income relative to the rest of the city and not gentrifying.^[7]{{Rp|7}}

Land use and terrain

Castle Hill is dominated by multi-unit, 2 and 3 story homes and apartment buildings.^[11] In the 1990s and 2000s, construction of modern 2 and 3 unit row-houses and apartment buildings have increased the percentage of owners versus renters. There is also a slither of industry located along the Westchester Creek and Zerega Avenue. The area gradually comes to peak elevation along Castle Hill Avenue. The Castle Hill Avenue Business Improvement District was started with the assistance of Councilwoman Annabel Palma and James Vacca in June 2012.^[12]

Police and crime

Castle Hill and Parkchester are patrolled by the 43rd Precinct of the NYPD, located at 900 Fteley Avenue.^[13] The 43rd Precinct ranked 36th safest out of 69 city precincts for per-capita crime in 2010.^[14] With a non-fatal assault rate of 100 per 100,000 people, Castle Hill and Parkchester's rate of violent crimes per capita is more than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 603 per 100,000 people is higher than that of the city as a whole.^[7]{{Rp|8}}

The 43rd Precinct has a lower crime rate than in the 1990s, with crimes across all categories having decreased by 79.6% between 1990 and 2018. The precinct saw 14 murders, 45 rapes, 299 robberies, 589 felony assaults, 179 burglaries, 663 grand larcenies, and 151 grand larcenies auto in 2018.^[15]

Fire safety

Castle Hill contains two New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire stations:^[16]

• Engine Co. 64/Ladder Co. 47 – 1224 Castle Hill Avenue^[17]
• FDNY EMS Station 3 – 501 Zerega Avenue

Health

Preterm and teenage births are more common in Castle Hill and Parkchester than in other places citywide. In Castle Hill and Parkchester, there were 106 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 26.4 teenage births per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide).^[7]{{Rp|11}} Castle Hill and Parkchester has a relatively average population of residents who are uninsured. In 2018, this population of uninsured residents was estimated to be 16%, higher than the citywide rate of 14%.^[7]{{Rp|14}}

The concentration of fine particulate matter, the deadliest type of air pollutant, in Castle Hill and Parkchester is {{convert|0.0076|mg/m3|oz/ft3}}, more than the city average.^[7]{{Rp|9}} Eighteen percent of Castle Hill and Parkchester residents are smokers, which is higher than the city average of 14% of residents being smokers.^[7]{{Rp|13}} In Castle Hill and Parkchester, 32% of residents are obese, 16% are diabetic, and 34% have high blood pressure—compared to the citywide averages of 24%, 11%, and 28% respectively.^[7]{{Rp|16}} In addition, 25% of children are obese, compared to the citywide average of 20%.^[7]{{Rp|12}}

Eighty-three percent of residents eat some fruits and vegetables every day, which is less than the city's average of 87%. In 2018, 72% of residents described their health as "good," "very good," or "excellent," lower than the city's average of 78%.^[7]{{Rp|13}} For every supermarket in Castle Hill and Parkchester, there are 13 bodegas.^[7]{{Rp|10}}

The nearest hospital campuses are Montefiore Medical Center's Westchester Square and West Farms campuses, as well as Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center's Longwood campus. The nearest large hospital is NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi in Morris Park.^[18]

Post office and ZIP codes

Castle Hill is located within three ZIP Codes. The area north of Bruckner Expressway/Interstate 278 is in 10472, while the area between Bruckner Expressway and Cross Bronx Expressway/Interstate 95 is in 10473, and the area north of Cross Bronx Expressway is in 10462.^[19] The United States Postal Service operates the Castle Hill Station post office at 1163 Castle Hill Avenue.^[20]

Education

Castle Hill and Parkchester generally have a similar rate of college-educated residents to the rest of the city. While 23% of residents have a college education or higher, 30% have less than a high school education and 47% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 26% of Bronx residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher.^[7]{{Rp|6}} The percentage of Castle Hill and Parkchester students excelling in math rose from 23% in 2000 to 44% in 2011, and reading achievement increased from 27% to 30% during the same time period.^[21]

Castle Hill and Parkchester's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is higher than the rest of New York City. In Castle Hill and Parkchester, 28% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year, more than the citywide average of 20%.^[8]{{Rp|24 (PDF p. 55)}}^[7]{{Rp|6}} Additionally, 69% of high school students in Castle Hill and Parkchester graduate on time, lower than the citywide average of 75%.^[7]{{Rp|6}}

Schools

• PS 138 Samuel Randall School (K-5)
• PS 36 - Unionport School (K-5)
• PS/MS 194

• St. John Vianney Cure of Ars School (now closed)
• Holy Family School (Pre K-8)
• Saint Raymond High School For Boys
• St. Raymond Academy for Girls, an all-girls', Catholic high school

• New LIFE School (5-8)

Schools

The New York Public Library (NYPL) operates the Castle Hill branch at 947 Castle Hill Avenue. The branch opened in 1963 and moved to its current location in 1981.^[22]

Parks and recreation

• On the southern end of Castle Hill Avenue is Castle Hill Point Park. This greenspace has boat ramps, fishing piers, and views of the Throgs Neck and Whitestone Bridges.
• Castle Hill YMCA (the only YMCA in the Bronx),^[23] has indoor and outdoor pools, a baseball field, basketball court, gym and an outdoor sitting area with views of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge.
• The Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club (Lucile Palmaro Clubhouse), located at 1930 Randall Avenue, has an ice skating rink.

Transportation

The following MTA Regional Bus Operations bus routes serve Castle Hill:^[24]

• {{NYC bus link|Bx4}}: to Westchester Square or Third Avenue-149th Street subway stations (via Westchester Avenue)
• {{NYC bus link|Bx5}}: to Pelham Bay Park or Simpson Street subway station (via Bruckner Boulevard and Story Avenue)
• {{NYC bus link|Bx22}}: to Bronx High School of Science (via Fordham Road/ Castle Hill Avenue)
• {{NYC bus link|Bx36}}: to George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal (via East 180th Street)
• {{NYC bus link|Bx39}}: to Wakefield–241st Street subway station or Clason Point (via White Plains Road)
• {{NYC bus link|Q44 SBS}}: to Bronx Zoo or Jamaica, Whitestone, Flushing (via Bronx-Whitestone Bridge)
• {{NYC bus link|BxM8}}: Express bus, to Pelham Bay or Midtown Manhattan

The following New York City Subway station serves Castle Hill:^[25]

• Castle Hill Avenue ({{NYCS trains|Pelham north}})

The Bruckner Expressway, carrying Interstate 278, also runs through the neighborhood.

In popular culture

Scenes from the 1984 movie The Pope of Greenwich Village directed by Stuart Rosenberg were filmed under the Castle Hill stop on the #6 train and on the platform as well.^[26]

Notable people

• Darrin Henson (born 1972), actor and choreographer, was raised in Castle Hill area.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
• Ed Kranepool (born 1944), former baseball player who played his entire MLB career as a first baseman/pinch-hitter with the New York Mets. Born and raised at 847 Castle Hill Avenue, living there until he was signed by the Mets in 1962.^[27]
• Jennifer Lopez "J-Lo" (born 1969), musician and actress, raised on 2210 Blackrock Avenue Castle Hill Hall of Fame Inductee Class of 2006, 1st ballot.^[23][28]
• Remy Ma (born 1980), female rapper, was raised in the Castle Hill Houses. Castle Hill Hall of Fame Inductee Class of 2007, 1st ballot.^[29]
• Big Dennis Rivera (born 1969), radio personality and producer, raised in Castle Hill area.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
• Kenny Satterfield (born 1981), former NBA player with the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks.^[30]
• Neil deGrasse Tyson (born 1958), astrophysicist, author, and science communicator, lived in the area as a child.^[31]
• Kerry Washington (born 1977), actress, was raised in Jamie Towers.^[32]

References

External links

• [https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/01/15/realestate/20090118LIVINGIN_index.html NY Times - Slideshow - Living in Castle Hill, Bronx]

• Rawlplug Ltd
• Rawls Byrd Elementary School
• Rawls College of Business Administration
• Rawls, North Carolina
• Rawlston Masaniai
• Rawls' veil of ignorance
• Rawl, West Virginia
• Raw Magazine
• Rawmarsh
• Rawmarsh School - A Sports College
• Rawmarsh Urban District
• Raw Material. (album)
• Raw Material (Uprok)
• Raw Material (Uprok)(album)
• Raw Material (Uprok album)
• Raw meat
• Raw Meat EP
• RAW Meiningen
• Raw mix
• Rawmix
• Rawmix preparation
• Raw mode
• Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second
• Raw Nerve
• Raw Nerve (1991)