A Historical Look into Woodlawn Heights, NY

The worker's comp lawyers in Woodlawn Heights, NY, at Banville Law, invite you to learn more about the neighborhood's history.

Woodlawn Heights

The 396.8-acre town is located within the Bronx borough in New York. The Bronx River helps to form the eastern border between neighboring town Wakefield. East 233rd Street creates the southern border while Van Cortlandt Park East lines the western edge. The historic Katonah Avenue runs north and south through the town's center and is lined with Irish restaurants and pubs. 

History

The neighborhood has been called Little Ireland due to its heavy population of Irish immigrants. Most residents have been here for many generations and come from a long line of Irish-Americans and Irish immigrants. 

The Woodlawn Cemetery, located on East 233rd Stree and Webster Avenue, is one of the largest in New York City and dates back to 1863 during the Civil War. This cemetery spans over a 400-acre area and has as many as 300,000 burials. The following famous architects designed some of the notable memorials found with the grounds:

• McKim, Mead & White - also designed the Brooklyn Museum and portions of the main Columbia University campus
• Sir Edwin Lutyens - helped design New Delhi, the seat of the Government of India
• John Russell Pope - also designed the Jefferson Memorial
• James Gamble Rogers - assisted in designing sections of Yale University
• Cass Gilbert - designed many skyscrapers in addition to the Woolworth Building and the United States Supreme Court Building

Some notable people that are buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery include:

• Harriet Quimby
• George M. Cohan
• Nellie Bly
• Dorthy Parke
• Miles Davis

Neighborhood Highlights

The area is saturated with Irish culture, including the Emerald Isle Immigration Center. Many of the restaurants and pubs located along with the historic Katonah Avenue display Irish-American pride. Some of these popular destinations include:

• Behan's Pub
• the Lark's Nest
• Mulligan's Fireside Pub

Down McLean Avenue, the area's shopping strip is more Irish businesses. Although the majority of the strip lies in the city limits of Southeast Yonkers, visitors can find the following Irish shops and restaurants along with the Aisling Irish Community Center:

• Shamrock Gift Shop
• Fagan's Ale House
• Heritage Bar & Restaurant

Demographics

Per to the 2010 census, the population of the neighborhood was 42,483. The racial makeup was the following:

• 17.6% white 
• 58.3% African American
• 16.1% Hispanic or Latino
• 3.4% Asian
• 0.4% Native American
• 0.0% Pacific Islander
• 2.0% other races
• 2.0% two or more races

Approximately 31% of the residents were born in countries other than the United States. Germans once dominated the area, but with a surge in Irish immigrants, the area quickly became the Little Ireland we see today. However, recently many people of Latin descent have moved into the area. The ancestral breakdown of the town's people is the following:

• 44.6% Irish
• 7.7% Italian
• 7.1% Puerto Rican
• 5.9% German
• 4.9% Asian
• 3.2% Jamaican

Follow along for more details on the community and its neighbors: Getting to Know Wakefield, NY

Our Local Office

If you have been injured while at work, let the experienced Woodlawn Heights, NY, worker's comp lawyers at Banville Law get you the compensation you deserve. Call our office now for a free consultation.

Banville Law
11 W Prospect Ave #37
Mt Vernon, NY 10550
(914) 825-4117