Yonkers is a charming city with lively community and plenty of places to see. It is known as the City of Vision with something going on year-round. Did you know that Yonkers is listed as the “Best Place to Live in Westchester” by the Westchester Magazine? Did you know that Yonkers hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the US? The city has got plenty of such exciting facts that will fascinate you. Read on and know more such interesting facts on Yonkers, “the Central City”.
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Yonkers Geographic and Demographic Fast Facts
- Yonkers is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River.
- It is less than twenty miles from the center of New York City.
- It is the fourth most populous city in New York.
- It is the largest city in the County of Westchester.
- The main transportation route of Yonkers is Interstate-87, also called as the New York State Thruway.
- The city borders the Bronx and the Hudson River flow along the western border of the city.
- The ethnic composition of Yonkers include White-58.8%, African American-18.7%, Native American-0.7%, Asian-5.9%, Pacific Islander-0.1%, from other races-14.7%, two or more races-4.1%.
Yonkers History Fast Facts
- The land on which the city is standing was once the part of the land grant known as Colen Donck.
- Adriaen Van der Donck in late 1640s took a land grant from the Dutch East India Company and formed one of the first saw mills of the New World at the intersection of Nepperhan Creek and the Hudson River.
- Yonkers was a farming town for the first 200 years.
- In 1853, first safety elevator was invented by Elisha Otis, founder of Otis Elevator Company.
- In 1872, the city of Yonkers was incorporated.
- In 1906, “Bakelite”- the first fully synthetic plastic was invented in Yonkers.
Yonkers Government and Economy Fast Facts
- Yonkers has a Mayor-Council form of government.
- The city was the headquarters of the biggest hat company in the US.
Yonkers Important and Interesting Fast Facts
- Yonkers is nicknamed as “The City of Hills”, “The Central City”, “The Terrace City”, “The City of Gracious Living”, “The Sixth Borough”, and “The City with Vision”.
- Residents of Yonkers are usually referred as Yonkersite or Yonkersonian.
- Yonkers is listed as the “Best Place to Live in Westchester” by the Westchester Magazine.
- The city hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the US, because of the large number of Italian-American population living in the city. The city is painted green for the day!
- The city is the birthplace of the youth activist and popular actor- Thomas Mikal Ford.
- The lead singer of the popular band “Aerosmith” Steve Tyler was born in Yonkers.
- Yonkers has over 137 bike trails. The favorite sport of the Yonkersonians is Biking.
- The first working electrical engine and the first practical dynamo were invented in Yonkers.
- The city has many in spotlight numerous times. It is one of the popular filming spot for films and TV series-
- Few episodes of “Fringe” one of the popular TV program was shot in Yonkers.
- The city is mentioned in the song “Raise Your Hands” by Bon Jovi.
- The movie “Riding in Cars with Boys” was filmed in Yonkers.
- Rapper Tyler, The Creator released his song “Yonkers” in 2011.
- Yonkers was used to film an HBO miniseries- “Show Me a Hero”.
- Some of the films shot through the streets of Yonkers were- Catch Me if You Can, Kate and Leopold, Big Daddy, A Beautiful Mind, and many more.
