Pelham, New York

Pelham /pɛləm/ is a suburban town in Westchester County, approximately 10 miles northeast of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 13,078, an increase from the 2010 census.[4][5] Historically, Pelham was composed of five villages and became known as "the Pelhams". Pelham currently contains two independently incorporated villages: the Villages of Pelham and Pelham Manor.[1]

Pelham
Town
Official seal of Pelham
Seal
Location of Pelham, New York
Location of Pelham, New York
Coordinates: 40°54′38″N 73°48′27″W
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountyWestchester, Bronx
Incorporated1788
Government
[1][2]
 • Town SupervisorDan McLaughlin (R) (2019)
 • Town TrusteeAriel Spira-Cohen (D) (2019)
Area
[3]
 • Total2.22 sq mi (5.74 km2)
 • Land2.17 sq mi (5.63 km2)
 • Water0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)  2.27%
Elevation
63.1 ft (19.2 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,078
 • Density5,900/sq mi (2,300/km2)
Time zoneEastern
ZIP code
10803
Area code914
FIPS code36-119-57012
Websitehttp://www.townofpelham.com/

Approximately 28 minutes away from Grand Central Terminal by the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, Pelham is home to many New York City commuters and has an active social community for its residents. The Bronx–Whitestone Bridge is approximately 8.5 miles (13.7 km) south of the town. It is also 13 miles (21 km) northeast of LaGuardia Airport and 19.5 miles (31.4 km) north of John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2). It is directly north of the New York City borough of the Bronx, and borders Eastchester, New Rochelle, and Mount Vernon.

History
The historic Pelham Picture House

In 1654, Thomas Pell bought the area within the present-day town from the Siwanoy Indians. He named his manor "Pelham" in honor of his tutor, Pelham Burton.[6]

The Town of Pelham was part of Westchester County when it was established by the post-Revolution New York State legislature in 1788. It included all of City Island and present-day Pelham Bay Park east of the Hutchinson River. In 1889, the town was incorporated at its current boundaries. In 1891, the village of Pelham Manor incorporated. In 1896, the village of North Pelham and the village of Pelham incorporated. In 1975, the villages of North Pelham and Pelham merged, forming the present village of Pelham.[6]

The Village of Pelham and the Village of Pelham Manor share several services such as school and recreational activities. There is a grassroots movement to continue the consolidation of services in order to reduce taxes. Given the differences in debt levels, tax rates, population and tax base such a consolidation has been opposed by many Pelham Manor residents. Such a merger is unlikely under current conditions.

For many years after 1916, Pelham was the headquarters of the Sanborn Map Company, which produced Sanborn maps.

The Pelham Picture House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.[7]

The book, The Haunted History of Pelham, New York, documents the history of Pelham and the region, including ghost stories.[8]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790199—
1820283—
183033418.0%
1840789136.2%
1850577−26.9%
18601,02577.6%
18701,79074.6%
18802,54041.9%
18903,94155.2%
19001,571−60.1%
19102,99890.8%
19205,19573.3%
193011,851128.1%
194012,2723.6%
195012,195−0.6%
196013,4049.9%
197013,9333.9%
198012,978−6.9%
199011,903−8.3%
200011,866−0.3%
201012,3964.5%
202013,0785.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9][5]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 12,107 people, 4,149 households and 3,190 families residing in the town. The population density was 5,523.4 people per square mile (2,132.6 people/km2). There were 4,246 housing units at an average density of 1,976.4 per square mile (763.1/km2).

The racial makeup of the town was 87.33% White, 4.57% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.96% Asian, 1.82% from other races and 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.02% of the population.

There were 4,149 households, out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.1% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64 and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males.

For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $91,810 and the median income for a family was $112,339.[11] Males had a median income of $74,760 versus $46,086 for females. The per capita income for the town was $51,548. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Major employers in Pelham include Pico Electronics, Barksdale Home Care Services Corp., Pelham Public Schools, the New York Athletic Club, and the De Cicco & Sons grocery.[12] Other companies based in Pelham include Archie Comics.

Climate
Climate data for Pelham, NY
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 73
(23)		 75
(24)		 86
(30)		 96
(36)		 97
(36)		 99
(37)		 104
(40)		 102
(39)		 101
(38)		 89
(32)		 82
(28)		 77
(25)		 104
(40)
Average high °F (°C) 39.2
(4.0)		 42.9
(6.1)		 51.4
(10.8)		 62.6
(17.0)		 73.8
(23.2)		 81.6
(27.6)		 86.0
(30.0)		 83.9
(28.8)		 76.1
(24.5)		 65.4
(18.6)		 55.1
(12.8)		 43.8
(6.6)		 63.5
(17.5)
Average low °F (°C) 20.1
(−6.6)		 22.3
(−5.4)		 29.1
(−1.6)		 38.4
(3.6)		 47.2
(8.4)		 56.8
(13.8)		 62.3
(16.8)		 60.8
(16.0)		 53.0
(11.7)		 41.2
(5.1)		 34.6
(1.4)		 25.6
(−3.6)		 41.0
(5.0)
Record low °F (°C) −10
(−23)		 −5
(−21)		 2
(−17)		 17
(−8)		 29
(−2)		 38
(3)		 49
(9)		 44
(7)		 34
(1)		 27
(−3)		 12
(−11)		 −4
(−20)		 −10
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.56
(90)		 2.84
(72)		 4.07
(103)		 4.16
(106)		 4.33
(110)		 3.44
(87)		 4.20
(107)		 3.93
(100)		 4.37
(111)		 3.67
(93)		 4.09
(104)		 3.80
(97)		 46.46
(1,180)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 9.8
(25)		 10.9
(28)		 6.8
(17)		 1.4
(3.6)		 .2
(0.51)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 .1
(0.25)		 .8
(2.0)		 8.6
(22)		 38.6
(98)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.5 8.1 9.3 9.8 10.9 9.3 9.0 8.7 7.6 6.7 9.2 9.4 113.4
Source 1: Weatherbase[13]
Source 2: Homefacts (precipitation only)[14] The Weather Channel (extremes)[15]

Education

Pelham is home to four elementary schools[16] (two located in each village), one middle school, and one high school. The elementary schools are Hutchinson, Colonial, Siwanoy, and Prospect Hill. Pelham Middle School and Pelham Memorial High School gather students for all of Pelham. These are all part of the Pelham Union Free School District. There are also several private and religious based schools.[16] Since 1948, New York City has paid the district to educate children who live in Bronx Manor, as doing so is less expensive than sending school buses there.[17]

Fire department

The Village of Pelham Fire Department has 10 firefighters and five lieutenants, using one fire station. The fleet has two engines, one ladder, one utility unit, and a command vehicle. The Pelham Fire Department responds to approximately 800 emergency calls annually.

Religion

St. Catharine's Catholic Church
Saint Catherine's Church

St. Catharine's was originally a mission church of St Gabriel's parish in New Rochelle. In July 1896 a frame church was built in the newly incorporated village of Pelham on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Farrell. In December 1897 St. Catharine's became a separate parish with Rev. Francis P. McNichol as first pastor. A school was established in 1904, staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis. At the end of the school year in 1983 St. Catharine's School closed bringing to an end 75 years of Catholic education in the parish. The school building was converted to a Parish Center to provide space for Religious Education classes, parish activities and groups to meet.[18] A new church was dedicated in 1909.[19]

In 1936 W. T. Grant, who owned a chain of five-and-ten cent stores, gave property in Pelham Manor to St. Catharine's to serve as a separate “mission”. The mission evolved to become Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish, with its own church building. In 2014 it was announced that the two parishes would merge, with the newer, larger Our Lady of Perpetual Help building designated as the parish church. However, St. Catharine's Church in the Village of Pelham was retained as a worship center.[20]

Transportation

The Bee-Line Bus System provides bus service to Pelham.[21]

On Amtrak, Pelham is located closest to the New Rochelle station ("NRO") on the Northeast Corridor. On Metro-North Railroad, the Pelham station is within Fare Zone 12 on the New Haven Line. Pelham is also about 28 minutes from Grand Central Terminal.

Notable people
Michael Schwerner, murdered by the KKK
  • Pelham Train Station, also in the village
    Pelham Train Station, also in the village
  • Daronco Town House
    Daronco Town House
  • Pelham Town Hall
    Pelham Town Hall

References
  1. "Town of Pelham". Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  2. "Government - the Official Web site for the Town of Pelham, NY, Westchester County". Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  3. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  4. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Pelham town, Westchester County, New York". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
  5. United States Census Bureau, 2020 Report, Pelham town, New York
  6. Bell, Blake (2008). "Town of Pelham History". Town of Pelham. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  8. Blake A. Bell. The Haunted History of Pelham, New York: Including Ghostly Tales of the Bronx, Westchester County, and Long Island Sound. New York: Excelsior Editions, 2022. 221 pages. ISBN 1-4384-8674-X
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  11. "Pelham, New York (NY 10803) profile: Population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders".
  12. Search Results - Pelham, New York - ReferenceUSA Current Businesses
  13. "Historical Weather for New York, United States of America - Travel, Vacation and Reference Information". Canty and Associates LLC. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  14. "Pelham Westchester County New York average temperature, sunshine and precipitation data". Homefacts.com. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  15. "Monthly Averages for Pelham, NY (10803)". The Weather Channel. June 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  16. "Community-Schools". Retrieved May 1, 2009.
  17. Gross, Jane (May 6, 1997). "A Tiny Strip of New York That Feels Like the Suburbs". The New York Times. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  18. ""Parish History", Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Catherine Parish". Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  19. Lafort, Remigius. The Catholic Church in the United States of America, Vol. 3: The Province of Baltimore and the Province of New York, Section 1: Comprising the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn, Buffalo and Ogdensburg Together with some Supplementary Articles. (New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p.423
  20. ""St. Catharine's Merging into Our Lady of Perpetual Help But Remaining Open for Masses and Sacraments", The Pelhams-PLUS, November 5, 2014".
  21. "Bee-Line Bus System Map" (PDF). Bee-Line Bus System. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  22. "historicpelham Resources and Information". ww16.historicpelham.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010.
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