Children's Health Magazine recently named Yonkers one of the top ten best places to raise a family. What convinced the editors that moving to Yonkers, New York would be a great idea? Yonkers is a safe, wholesome city with a small-town atmosphere. It's known for its focused efforts at urban renewal, and for a city, it's surprisingly green.
Whether you're a single person or the head of a large household, it might be time to call up a few vanlines and talk about relocating to Yonkers, New York. But before you dial up moving companies, take a moment to learn what makes this city great.
Economy:
Although the economic recession of 2008 affected the city of Yonkers, it is positioned to recover quickly along with the national economy. The waterfront and downtown areas have recently seen several revitalization projects completed, including a restoration of the historic Metro station, as well as a restoration of the only Victorian-era pier on the Hudson River. Other restoration projects are planned for the future, including an makeover of historic Teutonia Hall. Yonkers also boasts several new housing development projects, as well as a new pediatric center in the northwest part of the city. Perhaps the most ambitious project is the city's plan to unearth the Saw Mill River, which has been buried beneath the buildings and streets of Yonkers for several generations. These aggressive improvements to the city's historic downtown will only improve its potential for attracting tourist dollars.
History:
Yonkers was founded by a young Dutch man named Adriaen Van der Donck in the late 1840s. He acquired the land as part of a grant from the Dutch East India Company, and he called his new town "Colon Donck," or "Donck's Colony." Local residents referred to him as "Jonk Herr," or "young gentleman" in recognition of his high status in Holland. Over time, his land came to be called Jonk Herr's Land, then The Younckers, then The Yonkers and finally, simple, Yonkers.
In the late 17th century, the Philipse family acquired the colony and erected the Philipse Manor Hall where the Hudson and Nepperhan rivers meet. The colony's location at the confluence of two rivers helped it grow from a sleepy farming community into a center of waterfront trade.
Tourism:
One of the finest aspects of the City of Yonkers is its urban green spaces, which offer lovely views of the Hudson River. Boating and fishing on the river are popular sports, but the urban parks also offer excellent public facilities for golf, baseball, tennis, basketball and skating. Visitors aren't limited to team sports, because the 373 acres of parkland leave room for hiking, bird watching, horseback riding and skiing.
Any stay in Yonkers must include a stop at the Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway. The facility is one of only a few tracks that offer year-round harness racing, which draw crowds of excited racing enthusiasts and bettors. The nearby casino also has slot-machine gambling accompanied by live bands or karaoke.