History

Until 1846, Riverdale was part of Westchester County and was known as Riverdale-on-Hudson. It later became part of a new town, West Farms, which was created by secession from Westchester, yet remained part of Yonkers.

In 1873, Riverdale seceded from Yonkers. While much of the surrounding area was named after Jonas Bronck, a Swede, who owned much of the area's property, Riverdale remained an enclave. Today, with a population of approximately 45,000, it is part of New York City.

Riverdale has been and continues to be the home of notable figures such as Toscanini, Mark Twain, Lou Gehrig, Fiorello H. La Guardia, Christopher Lehman Haupt, Jennifer Rabb, Theodore Kheel, Tracey Morgan and Steven Tyler.

Riverdale comprises the high ground along the Hudson River from the Harlem River to the Yonkers city line, and to the east it is bordered by Van Cortlandt Park and the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx.