City Island is a small community at the edge of New York City located just beyond Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx and surrounded by the waters of the Long Island Sound and Eastchester Bay.
The shipbuilding industry on City Island prospered into the 20th century. During the First and Second World Wars, City Island produced minesweepers and tugboats, as well as many of the landing craft used in beach invasions. In the post-war period, yacht production continued to prosper and City Island has produced seven Americas Cup-winning yachts.
Today, the island has the look and feel of a small New England fishing village, with no spot more than a few minutes walking distance to the water. Most businesses are clustered along centrally-located City Island Avenue. The island is most famous for its numerous seafood restaurants and antique stores which line both sides of the avenue.
Located on the eastern side of City Island, Pelham Cemetery which overlooks Pelham Sound, is the only waterfront cemetery in all of New York City.
Hart Island, visible in the distance from Pelham Cemetery, is the potter's field for New York City and the largest tax-funded cemetery in the world. Throughout its history, Hart Island has also had a Nike missile base. The island's area is about 131acres and had no *living* permanent population as of the 2000 census.
More than 850,000 dead are buried there — approximately 2,000 a year — one third of them infants and stillborn. The dead are buried in trenches; babies are placed in coffins of various sizes, and are stacked five coffins high and usually twenty coffins across; adults are placed in larger pine boxes priced according to size and are stacked three coffins high and two coffins across. The potter's field is also used to dispose of amputated body parts, which are placed in boxes labeled "limbs." In the past, burial trenches were re-used after 25–50 years, allowing for sufficient decomposition of the remains. Presently, historic buildings are being torn down to make room for new burials.
The shipbuilding industry on City Island prospered into the 20th century. During the First and Second World Wars, City Island produced minesweepers and tugboats, as well as many of the landing craft used in beach invasions. In the post-war period, yacht production continued to prosper and City Island has produced seven Americas Cup-winning yachts.
Today, the island has the look and feel of a small New England fishing village, with no spot more than a few minutes walking distance to the water. Most businesses are clustered along centrally-located City Island Avenue. The island is most famous for its numerous seafood restaurants and antique stores which line both sides of the avenue.
Located on the eastern side of City Island, Pelham Cemetery which overlooks Pelham Sound, is the only waterfront cemetery in all of New York City.
Hart Island, visible in the distance from Pelham Cemetery, is the potter's field for New York City and the largest tax-funded cemetery in the world. Throughout its history, Hart Island has also had a Nike missile base. The island's area is about 131acres and had no *living* permanent population as of the 2000 census.
More than 850,000 dead are buried there — approximately 2,000 a year — one third of them infants and stillborn. The dead are buried in trenches; babies are placed in coffins of various sizes, and are stacked five coffins high and usually twenty coffins across; adults are placed in larger pine boxes priced according to size and are stacked three coffins high and two coffins across. The potter's field is also used to dispose of amputated body parts, which are placed in boxes labeled "limbs." In the past, burial trenches were re-used after 25–50 years, allowing for sufficient decomposition of the remains. Presently, historic buildings are being torn down to make room for new burials.
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