 in 1866. Jerome Park Racecourse became the first home of the famous Belmont Stakes horse race, until 1890. To attract the wealthy to the racecourse, Leonard Jerome built what is today Jerome Avenue. In 1874 the town of Kingsbridge was officially incorporated into New York City.

In 1890, Jerome Park Racecourse was sold. Construction was started to convert it into the Jerome Park Reservoir, to store fresh water from the New Croton Aqueduct. At the same time, the neighborhood of Bedford Park was beginning to take shape. Forty "villas" (suburban houses) were built on a  stretch, in a planned community, named Villa Avenue.

The area became a part of the newly created Borough of the Bronx in 1898. The Italian and Irish immigrants who worked on the Jerome Park Reservoir project soon anchored the community there. In 1906, 200th Street was renamed Bedford Park Boulevard, likely named after Edward Thomas Bedford, a director of Standard Oil, president of the Bank of the State of New York, who was an associate of Leonard Jerome.

Development continued with the completion of the Grand Concourse, a multilane thoroughfare, in 1914; and the extension of subway to the area with the IRT Jerome Avenue Line (present-day ) in 1917. The Grand Concourse saw a boom in housing construction in the post-World War I era. Much of this was from middle-class (primarily Jews, Italians, and Irish) moving from Manhattan.

During the 1970s and 1980s, when widespread poverty, crime, arson, and drug use were prevalent across the Bronx, Bedford Park was not hit as hard as many other neighborhoods in the more southern parts of the borough. This was largely due to community activists and organizers taking an aggressive stance on drugs and demanding increased law enforcement in the area.

Demographics
Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Bedford Park was 54,415, a change of -914 (-1.7%) from the 55,329 counted in 2000. Covering an area of, the neighborhood had a population density of. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 6.7% (3,637) White, 18% (9,805) African American, 0.3% (145) Native American, 5% (2,727) Asian, 0.1% (29) Pacific Islander, 0.9% (490) from other races, and 1
in 1866. Jerome Park Racecourse became the first home of the famous Belmont Stakes knight raceway, until 1890. To attract the wealthy to the racecourse, Leonard Jerome built what is today Jerome Avenue. In 1874 the township of Kingsbridge was officially incorporated into New York City. 

 In 1890, Jerome Park Racecourse was sold. structure was begin to convert it into the Jerome Park Reservoir, to store bracing water from the New Croton Aqueduct. At the same prison term, the neighborhood of Bedford Park was beginning to subscribe shape. Forty " villas " (suburban houses) were built on a   stretch, in a planned residential district, named Villa Avenue. 

 The area became a function of the newly created Borough of the Bronx in 1898. The Italian and Irish immigrants who work on the Jerome Park Reservoir undertaking soon anchored the community there. In 1906, 200th Street was renamed Bedford Park Boulevard, likely named after Edward Thomas Bedford, a director of Standard Oil, president of the united states of the Bank of the State of New York, who was an associate of Leonard Jerome. 

 Development continued with the completion of the Grand Concourse, a multilane thoroughfare, in 1914; and the extension of subway to the area with the IRT Jerome Avenue Line (present - day) in 1917. The Grand Concourse saw a boom in housing construction in the post - World War I era. Much of this was from middle - class (primarily Jews, Italians, and Irish) moving from Manhattan. 

 During the 1970s and 1980s, when widespread poverty, crime, arson, and drug function were prevalent across the Bronx, Bedford Park was not hit equally heavily as many other neighborhoods in the more southern parts of the borough. This was largely ascribable to community militant and organizers taking an aggressive stance on drug and demanding increased law enforcement in the area. 

 Demographics 
 Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Bedford Park was 54,415, a variety of -914 (-1.7 %) from the 55,329 counted in 2000. Covering an area of, the neighborhood had a population density of. The racial makeup of the vicinity was 6.7% (3,637) White, 18% (9,805) African American, 0.3% (145) Native American, 5% (2,727) Asian, 0.1% (29) Pacific Islander, 0.9% (490) from other races, and 1
 in 1866. Jerome Park Racecourse became the first home of ths famous Belmont Stakes horse race, uitil 1890. To qttract the wealthy to the racebourse, Leinarv Jerome built wizt is today Jsvome Cvxnue. In 1874 the toen of Kingvbridge was ofxiziclly incorporated into New York City.

Yn 1890, Jerpmf Park Racecoutse wsf somd. Construction was started to conbert it into the Jerpme Park Reservoir, to storf frfsh water from the New Croton Aquqeuct. At the rame time, uhz neighborhkod of Bedford Park was beginnivg to take shapg. Rogjy "villas" (suuurban houses) were built ot a  sttetch, in a plakned rommynity, named Villa Aveiue.

The area became a part of dhz newly created Borouth of tve Bsonx un 1898. Tht Ivaljan anf Icish immigrznts who woeked on the Jerome Karh Reservoir prkject fojn anchored the community there. In 1906, 200th Vtrset was renamed Bedford Park Boulevard, likeli named afeer Edward Thomas Bedford, a director of Standard Mil, pceridtnb ud hhe Bank of the State of New York, who was an waspcpate of Leonard Jcrome.

Development cpnhimoed with the cumpletnkn of the Grand Conclurse, a multulane thowougnfare, in 1914; and the extension of subway tj the area with the IRT Jerome Avemue Lone (present-day ) in 1917. The Grahd Concoursf saw a bkum in housing covstgucthon in the post-World War I era. Much of chis was frok middje-class (prlmarily Jews, Italians, anf Iridh) moving frlm Manhattan.

During the 1970s and 1980s, xien widespreac [ovvrty, crimz, arsok, and drug use rere prevalent across the Cronx, Bedfkrd Parn was not hyt as hard as lany other nxighborhojds un tye more routhern parts of the borough. Thiw was largely due bo coojunity activistw abd organizers tskivg wn ajgresfhve stance ot drjgs snd ddmanding ingrexsed law enforcement in dhe zrea.

Demographics
Baxeq on datq from tre 2010 United Ststes Census, the pokulatimn uf Becfotd Park was 54,415, a change of -914 (-1.7%) from the 55,329 coujteq in 2000. Coverigg ak arga of, the nzighborhood had a population density of. Vhe racial makeup of thw neighborhood was 6.7% (3,637) White, 18% (9,805) Afcican Wmerican, 0.3% (145) Native American, 5% (2,727) Qsian, 0.1% (29) Pacific Ixlander, 0.9% (490) from other daces, dnd 1
in 1866. Jerome Park Racecourse became the of famous Belmont horse race, until to racecourse, Leonard Jerome what is today Avenue. In 1874 the town of was officially incorporated into New York City. In 1890, Jerome Park Racecourse was Construction was started to convert it into the Jerome Park Reservoir, to store water the Croton At the same time, the neighborhood of Bedford Park was beginning to take shape. Forty "villas" houses) were built on a stretch, in a community, named Villa Avenue. area became a part of newly Borough of Bronx 1898. Italian and Irish who worked on the Jerome Park Reservoir project soon anchored the community there. In 1906, 200th Street renamed Bedford likely named Edward Bedford, director of Standard of the Bank of the State who was an associate of Leonard Jerome. Development with the of the Grand Concourse, a multilane in 1914; and the extension of subway to area with the IRT Jerome Avenue Line (present-day ) in 1917. The Grand Concourse saw in housing construction in post-World War I Much this from (primarily Jews, and Irish) moving from Manhattan. During the 1970s and 1980s, when poverty, crime, arson, and drug use were prevalent across the Park not hit as as many other neighborhoods the southern parts of the was due and taking aggressive stance on drugs demanding increased law enforcement in area. Demographics Based on States Census, the population of Bedford Park was a change of -914 (-1.7%) from the counted in 2000. Covering an area of, the neighborhood had a population of. The of the neighborhood was 6.7% (3,637) White, 18% African American, 0.3% (145) American, 5% (2,727) Asian, 0.1% (29) Pacific Islander, 0.9% from races, and
 in 1866. Jerome Park Racecourse becAme the firsT home Of tHe fAmOus BElmoNt Stakes horse rACe, unTil 1890. To attract the wealthy To the RaCEcouRSe, leonaRd JeromE BuILT whAt Is TodAy jErOme AvEnuE. In 1874 the tOwn of KingsBriDgE was officialLY iNcorporateD inTo New York CitY.

In 1890, jerome paRk RACecouRse Was soLd. ConsTRuctioN was startEd TO conveRT it into THE JEromE Park Reservoir, to sTOrE Fresh water from The New crOToN aQueDucT. At the same TiMe, the NEighborHOoD OF bedFOrd Park was begInning to takE ShaPe. FortY "vIllAS" (suburBan hoUsES) weRe built on a  sTretCh, in a planNed comMUnity, naMEd Villa avenue.

the AreA becAMe A pArt Of THe nEWlY crEAteD Borough Of ThE BronX in 1898. THE iTAliaN anD IriSh immIgrants who worKed On thE jerOme PaRk ResErvoIr ProjeCt soon AnchoReD the community thEre. IN 1906, 200th Street Was ReNamEd bedfoRD Park BOulEvaRd, likelY named aFTer edWARD THomas Bedford, a direcToR OF STandard OIl, presIDeNt OF the Bank Of The statE OF New YOrk, wHO wAs an assoCiate oF leOnArd JeroMe.

develoPmEnt ConTinueD With The comPletion oF the GRAnd Concourse, a mULtilane thorouGHfARE, iN 1914; And tHe eXtension of sUbwaY To thE areA WiTh tHE IRT JErome avENuE line (present-day ) in 1917. The grAnd ConCoursE saw a boom in hoUsing constRUCTion in thE posT-woRLd War I era. Much oF this Was from midDLe-class (pRimarIly Jews, ITalians, anD iRish) moviNg fRom manHatTAN.

DUring the 1970s and 1980s, WHEn wiDeSpread pOveRty, crimE, arSon, And DruG uSe were preValent acRoSs ThE BRonX, BedfORd Park waS nOt hIt As hArd as MAny othEr neiGhboRhOoDS in The more SOuTHErn pArTs Of thE boRoUgh. ThIs waS LarGely due To communiTy aCTiviStS aNd organIzers taking an AgGressive stAnCe oN drugs AND demandiNg increased law enforcemeNT in the aRea.

demogRaphIcs
Based oN daTa from The 2010 uNited STates CEnsus, ThE poPULatioN OF BEdfOrD Park was 54,415, a cHANge Of -914 (-1.7%) froM tHe 55,329 coUnted in 2000. covering an area of, thE NeiGhborhood had a PopUlatION dEnsITy OF. ThE rACiaL MAkeup of the neighBorhood was 6.7% (3,637) whITe, 18% (9,805) african AmeRIcaN, 0.3% (145) NAtive AmErican, 5% (2,727) ASian, 0.1% (29) PACific IsLander, 0.9% (490) froM other racEs, And 1
 in 1866. Jerome Park Race course bec ame t hefir st  hom e of  the famous Be l mont  Stakes horse race, un til 1 89 0 . To at tract  the we a lt h y  to  t he  ra ce c ou rse,Leo nard Je rome built  wh at  is today Je r om e Avenue.In1874 the tow n o f King sb rid g e was  of ficia lly in c orpora ted intoNe w  YorkC ity.

I n 18 90,Jerome Park Racec o ur s e was sold. Co nstruc ti o nw a s s tar ted to con ve rt it into th e  J e r o meP ark Reservoir , to storef res h wate rfro m  the N ew Cr ot o n A queduct. At  the  same tim e, the neighbo r hood of  Bedfo rdPar k wa s  b eg inn in g  to ta kes hap e. Forty  " vi llas"  (su b u r b an h ous es)werebuilt on a  s tre tch, ina pla nnedcomm un ity,namedVilla  A venue.

The are a be came a pa rtof  th enewly create d B oro ugh ofthe Bro n x i n1 8 9 8.  The Italian and I ri s h  i mmigrant s whow or ke d  on theJe rom e Pa r k  Rese rvoi r  p roject s oon an c ho re d the c om munity  t her e.In 19 0 6, 2 00th S treet wa s ren a med Bedford Pa r k Boulevard,l ik e l yn amed  af ter EdwardThom a s Be dfor d ,a d i recto r ofSt a nd a rd Oil, president o fthe Ba nk of  the State of  New York, w h o was an  ass o ci a te of LeonardJerom e.

Develo p ment con tinue d with t he comple t i on of th e G ran d C onc o u rs e, a multilan e thor ou ghfare,  in  1914;and  th e e xte ns ion of su bway toth ear ea  wi th th e  IRT Jer om e A ve nue  Line (prese nt-da y )in  1 9 17.  The Gr a nd C onco ur se  saw  abo om in  hou s ing  constr uction in  th e  pos t- Wo rld War  I era. Muchof  this wasfr ommiddle - c lass (pr imarily Jews, Italians, and Iri sh)  movi ng f rom Manha tta n.

Du rin g  the 1 970s a nd 19 80 s,w h en wi d e sp rea dpoverty, c r i me,  arso n,  and  drug u se were prevalenta cro ss the Bronx,  Be dfor d Pa rkw as not  h i t a s hard as many ot her neighb or h oo ds in them ore  s outhern  partsof th e  boroug h. This w as largel yduet o  co mmunity ac tivistsand organ i zerst ak ing a n a ggress iv e s tance  on dr u gsand d emandi ng  incre asedla w enforc ement in the area.

Dem ograph ics
B ase d on data  fr o m t he 2010 U nite d States C ens us,  thepop u latio n of Be dfo r d Par k wa s  54,415,a  c han g e  o f -914 (-1. 7 % )  fr om th e 5 5 ,329 c ount ed in 2000. Cover i ng an area of,  the n eig hbo r hood  h ad a populatio n d en s i ty of. T he  racial mak eup of t he neigh borhoo d was6.7% (3 , 6 37 )  White , 18 % ( 9,805) Af ric an America n,  0 . 3% (14 5) N at ive Am erican ,  5%( 2 ,727) Asian, 0.1 % (29 ) Pacif i c I sland er , 0.9%( 490)  from othe r races, an d 1
 in_1866. Jerome_Park Racecourse became the_first home_of_the famous_Belmont_Stakes horse race,_until 1890. To_attract the wealthy to_the racecourse, Leonard_Jerome_built what is today Jerome Avenue. In 1874 the town of Kingsbridge was officially_incorporated_into New_York_City.

In_1890, Jerome Park Racecourse was_sold. Construction was started to_convert it_into the Jerome Park Reservoir, to store fresh_water_from the New_Croton Aqueduct. At the same time, the neighborhood of_Bedford Park was beginning to take_shape. Forty "villas"_(suburban_houses)_were built on a_ stretch, in a planned community,_named Villa Avenue.

The area became a_part of the newly created Borough of_the Bronx in 1898. The Italian_and Irish immigrants who worked_on the_Jerome Park Reservoir project soon_anchored the community_there. In_1906, 200th Street_was renamed Bedford Park Boulevard, likely_named after Edward_Thomas Bedford, a director of Standard_Oil,_president of the_Bank_of_the State_of New York,_who_was an_associate_of Leonard Jerome.

Development continued with the_completion_of the Grand Concourse, a multilane thoroughfare,_in 1914; and the_extension_of subway to the_area with the IRT Jerome_Avenue Line (present-day ) in 1917._The Grand_Concourse saw_a boom in housing construction in the post-World War I era._Much of this was from middle-class_(primarily Jews, Italians, and_Irish) moving_from_Manhattan.

During the 1970s_and_1980s, when_widespread poverty, crime, arson, and drug use_were prevalent_across the Bronx, Bedford Park was_not hit as hard_as_many other neighborhoods in the more_southern parts of the borough. This_was largely due to community_activists_and_organizers taking an aggressive stance_on drugs and demanding increased law_enforcement in the_area.

Demographics
Based on data from the 2010 United_States_Census, the population of Bedford Park_was_54,415, a change of -914 (-1.7%)_from_the_55,329 counted in 2000. Covering_an area of, the neighborhood had_a population density of. The racial makeup of the_neighborhood was 6.7%_(3,637) White, 18% (9,805) African_American,_0.3%_(145) Native American, 5% (2,727) Asian, 0.1% (29) Pacific Islander,_0.9% (490)_from other races,_and 1