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Detailed pages on related topics: Yonkers colleges • Yonkers travel • Yonkers mortgages and property.
Introduction to Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is one of New York's largest cities and the largest city in Westchester County. It borders Manhattan (to the south) and is less than 20 miles from the heart of New York City. Other surrounding communities include Mt. Vernon and New Rochelle (to the east) and White Plains (to the north). The Hudson River flows along Yonkers' western border and the New York City borough of the Bronx is directly south of the city. The city's principal transportation artery is Interstate I-87 (also known as the New York State Thruway), but Yonkers is also serviced by a number of other important roads including U.S. Route 9, New York State Highway 9A, and several parkways (Saw Mill, Cross County, and Bronx River).
The history of Yonkers traces back to the late 1640s when Adriaen Van der Donck received a land grant from the Dutch East India Company and built one of the New World's first saw mills at the junction of the Hudson River and Nepperhan Creek. Van der Donck was often referred to as Jonk Herr ("young nobleman"), a phrase which would later be used to describe his land ("Jonk Heer's land"). This phrase evolved into "the Younckers" and finally Yonkers. The land's strategic location fostered its development into a major trading center and the birth of a diverse community. Farming was predominant in Yonkers through its early history, but a vibrant waterfront and innovations in travel later accelerated the development of industry in the city. At various times Yonkers served as a prime center for carpet and hat manufacturing, and the world's first elevated mass transit system was created in the city. Yonkers was incorporated in 1872 with a population about one-tenth of what it is today.
Things to See and Do in Yonkers
The best-known attraction in Yonkers is its harness racing track, Yonkers Raceway. The track has recently undergone renovations and has incorporated legalized video slot machines into its facility. Another of the city's treasures is the Hudson River Museum. Founded in 1919, the Museum of Westchester is housed in the restored Glenview mansion and features a planetarium along with spacious galleries for art exhibitions. The Yonkers Police Museum features artifacts, photos, and exhibits which chronicle the city's police force going as far back as 1866. The Philipse Manor Hall, built in 1682, is an elegant Georgian mansion which served as Yonkers' first City Hall from 1871 through 1908. The building, one of the region's oldest surviving structures, is used today for celebrations and ceremonies, special exhibitions, musical performances, and public meetings. Sherwood House, built in 1740, has been restored and furnished with appropriate period antiques, and is open to the public for tours conducted by hostesses dressed in period costume.
Annual events in Yonkers include the Yonkers Hudson Riverfest, a multi-cultural festival held each fall which draws tens of thousands annually to enjoy ethnic food, crafts, exhibits, and entertainment for all ages. The Untermyer Performing Arts Festival is an annual performing arts series held on Saturday nights in the summer. These free events, which take place on the banks of the Hudson River, include opera, dance, music, and street theater. The Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra, formed in the early 1960s, gives performances five times per year in the city.
Yonkers is a very short drive or train ride away from countless cultural venues in the metropolitan New York area. These include the following:
Less than ten miles from Yonkers is Yankee Stadium, home of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. The Stadium is situated in the Bronx, just minutes south of Yonkers. Other notable sports teams in the New York/New Jersey area include the following:
Comparing Yonkers to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in New York (State):
Ratings range from 
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(highest).
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Female Share of the Population | |  |
| Senior Citizens | |  |
| Age of the Population |  |  |
| Well-Paid Single Women | |  |
| Racial Diversity | | |
| Well-Paid Single Men | | |
| Children Under 5 Years Old |  | |
| Male Share of the Population | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | | |
| Portion of People Married | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Median Family Income | |  |
| People in Middle Class or Better | | |
| College Educated Adults | | |
| People Above Poverty | |  |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Public Transportation Use | | |
| Working at Home | | |
| Walking and Biking to Work | | |
| Short Commute Times | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals | | |
| Seasonal and Vacation Housing | | |
| People Living Alone | | |
| Housing Recently Built | | |
| Affordability of Rents | | |
| Affordability of Property Taxes | | |
| Characteristic | Compared to Peers | Compared to State |
|---|---|---|
| Low Property Crime | | |
| Low Violent Crime | | |
Detailed pages on related topics: Yonkers colleges • Yonkers travel • Yonkers mortgages and property.
 | Yonkers Colleges Yonkers colleges and trade schools. |
 | Yonkers Hotels & Travel Yonkers hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation. |
 | Yonkers Mortgage Yonkers property, mortgage, and real estate. |
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