Fordham Road - the "Hub" of The Bronx

Looking at a few old photographs of Fordham Road, shown to me by our own Alexandra Maruri, founder of Bronx Historical Tours, I was immediately intrigued to do some research into this well known thoroughfare that stretches east to west from the Harlem River to Bronx Park and from High Bridge on the south to Spuyten Duyvil on the north.

Sometimes I think, instead of being a writer, I should have embarked on a career as a historian. I cannot tell you how much I love history and delving into the details of people and places from times gone by.  

According to UrbanAreas.com, “Fordham Road we know today stems from the Fordham Manor, but it has its closest ties with a rural village (Fordham Village) that developed around the New York Central Railroad station of Fordham (on Webster Avenue and Fordham Road) and St. John’s College (now Fordham University).”

Prior to the 20th Century, most of The Bronx, including Fordham Village, was comprised predominantly of small farms and estates. Moving into the 1900’s, the Borough saw an influx of new residents coming from Manhattan and the lower Bronx which coincided with the emergence of inexpensive and accessible rapid transit like the Third Avenue El, the Jerome Avenue IRT, and the IND under the Grand Concourse.

Photo credit: Lehman College Collection

The new residents included a mix of ethnic groups, resulting in the development of a variety of diverse neighborhoods and an increase in the number of mom and pop shops and businesses in the area. “This little economic boom included the construction of the $4 million Loew’s Paradise Theater in 1929 and the opening of an Alexander’s department store in 1938.”

“Fordham Road went on to replace 149th Street (the Hub) as the Bronx’s prominent shopping and entertainment centers” according to UrbanAreas.com.

Photo credit: Unknown

​5 Fun Facts About Fordham Road

1. Fordham Road houses the borough's largest and most diverse shopping district.
   
2. Geographically, it separates the North Bronx from the South Bronx.
   
3. This two-way roadway is divided into East Fordham Road and West Fordham Road by Jerome Avenue in a grid system, with address numbers for both East Fordham Road and West Fordham Road with numbers increasing, traveling further from Jerome.
   
4. Fordham Road geographically separates the North Bronx from the South Bronx.
   
5. It runs through the neighborhood of University Heights, divides Fordham from Fordham-Bedford and runs along the northern border of Belmont.
   

Photo credit: Unknown

​Historically, Fordham Road has some of the most notable Bronx landmarks in all of the Borough and worth every moment of a visit whether you are a Proud Bronx resident or a visitor. 

1. St. Nicholas of Tolentine's Church
   This stone twin-towered church is deemed "The Cathedral of the Bronx" and is a prominent landmark on West Fordham Road at University Avenue in University Heights.
2. Rose Hill Campus of Fordham University
   Established in 1841 by bishop John Hughes, it is comprised of 85 acres in the central Bronx and among the largest privately owned green spaces in New York City. 
3. Theodore Roosevelt High School
   Located at the southern edge of Fordham University's campus and the northern edge of the Bronx's Belmont section, the former high school operated from November 1918 to June 30, 2006. 
4. The Bronx Zoo
   Comprising 265 acres of park lands and naturalistic habitats separated by the Bronx River, the zoo was opened on Nov 08, 1899 and features a number of NYC Designated Landmarks and National Register of Historic Places including The Rockefeller Fountain and the The Rainey Memorial Gates.
5. New York Botanical Garden
   Nearby The Bronx Zoo at the eastern terminus of Fordham Road in Bronx Park is The New York Botanical Garden, established in 1891, comprised of 250-acres, which supports over one million living plants in extensive collections.
6. Fordham Plaza
   While not necessarily an historic destination, it is a major commercial and transportation hub and the site of outdoor markets, conveniently located across from Fordham University, on Fordham road, right in the Heart of the Bronx!

-Till next time,
Elisa