From “Little Belfast” to “Little Sylhet”: discover Norwood, a green and vibrant neighborhood in the Bronx

Written by Anneke Thiel

With a handful of exceptions, the Bronx is a rarely visited area of New York City.  North of the usual borough attractions – Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, Arthur Avenue, and the New York Botanical Gardens – rests a neighborhood known as Norwood.  People are drawn to this largely residential neighborhood by the relatively affordable housing partnered with easy access by two subway lines to all of Manhattan. The neighborhood has a unique appeal, as it is nearly completely bordered by green space. Van Cortlandt Park, Mosholu Parkway, Woodlawn Cemetery, and the Bronx River Greenway provide ample space for community barbecues and outdoor play.

“Valentine Varian House / Bronx Historical Society,” by Kristine Paulus is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This has been my home for the past three years and natural curiosity propelled me to delve into the history of the neighborhood.  On my morning walk to the subway, I pass the second-oldest house in the borough, the Valentine-Varian House. Now home to the Bronx County Historical Society, when constructed in 1758 it was a farmstead ideally situated with access to Manhattan markets. The Valentine-Varian House and the surrounding farmland saw military action during the Revolutionary War in the late 1770s and early 1780s, when British soldiers made camp in the midst of the present-day neighborhood.

As New York grew, the area evolved from rural to suburban by the beginning of the 20th century.  The initial population consisted primarily of European-origin Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish families. During the Great Depression and after the Second World War, many Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and other Latino groups moved to the area, leaving their home due to political, social, and economic instability.

In the 1970s Norwood and the surrounding neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge Heights, Williamsbridge, and Woodlawn, became home to many immigrants from Catholic areas of Northern Ireland fleeing the Irish civil war known as the Troubles.  During that time, Norwood started to be referred to as “Little Belfast,” after the city from which many of the immigrants originated. But the Irish population and cultural imprint have significantly decreased. While 25 years ago, I would have strolled by numerous Irish shops, restaurants, and pubs, the only remaining sign of the once-booming Irish neighborhood I was able to spot on my walk is McDwyer’s Pub on E 204th Street.

On the other hand, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans remain a mainstay of the community, and other immigrant families from a rich diversity of national, ethnic, and religious backgrounds have made their way to the neighborhood.

In particular, the Bangladeshi population has exploded in recent years.  Initially drawn to the neighborhood by cheaper rents, family and friends of the initial group have, in turn, been seduced by the appeal of a close-knit community. As a result, many of the Bangladeshi residents in Norwood come from one regional district in Bangladesh, Sylhet. Being predominantly Muslims, they have fueled the growth and dynamism of the North Bronx Islamic Center. A mosque is currently under construction to serve the growing population. Once completed, it will be a focal point for the community and is likely to draw even more Bangladeshi families to the neighborhood. Nearly every deli already advertises halal options, many on hand-written signs taped to the windows of the store.

“Williamsbridge Oval,” by Matt Green is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

In addition to this growing Bangladeshi community, Norwood is home today to immigrants from Mexico, Guyana, Albania, West Africa, India, and many more countries. Over 35 percent of the neighborhood’s total population is comprised of immigrants, offering a lively mix of ethnic markets and shops, cuisines, and languages. A relatively recent restaurant, Sodesh offers Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani dishes, while just down the same street Caribe serves up traditional Puerto Rican and Dominican meals.

I stop for a moment to rest in Williamsburg Oval, located just behind the Valentine-Varian House. Home in the late 19th and early 20th century to an active reservoir distributing water to the North Bronx, today it is a park where neighborhood residents can gather and intermingle, and play soccer, tennis, and basketball. A recently reopened recreation center offers indoor exercise alternatives, along with computer classes for adults and afterschool activities for children.  In recent years the park has also served as a site for special holidays such as Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha for the Muslim community, as well as events focused on promoting health and education in the neighborhood.

Montefiore Medical Center is the largest employer in the community, and has been a driver of community revitalization. The hospital and numerous affiliated buildings occupy a large swath of the neighborhood.  Not only does the hospital serve the immediate neighborhood, but it also draws patients from Manhattan and beyond. The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore is consistently ranked as one of the top hospitals nationwide. Just a few steps away, the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center focuses on serving the local community, offering free English as a Second Language classes in addition to many other activities.

For many people the Bronx conjures a negative impression, with headlines from the 1970s and 1980s still lingering.  For myself and for so many others, the Bronx is home.  While it may not have been where we were born and raised, it is an exciting, hospitable, affordable, and welcoming place to establish roots.