Marble Hill is a unique neighborhood located just north of Inwood, a part of Manhattan, but with a geographical twist. If you visit the Marble Hill playground, you’ll find a curious sign embedded into the ground that marks the boundary between Manhattan and the Bronx. This sign represents one of the few areas in Manhattan that isn’t technically located on Manhattan Island.
So how did this unusual situation come about?
Before the 1890s, Marble Hill was physically a part of Manhattan, with the Harlem River flowing to the north of the neighborhood. But in the 1890s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers set its sights on improving ship traffic. To achieve this, they planned to build a straight, wide canal that would connect the Harlem River to the Hudson River, easing the flow of vessels.
In 1895, the Harlem River Ship Canal was constructed, cutting directly through 222nd Street and severing Marble Hill from the rest of Manhattan. For a brief period, Marble Hill became its own island, separated by the canal from the main island of Manhattan.
The Bronx Connection
In 1914, Bronx County was officially created, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. That same year, the old river to the north of Marble Hill was filled in, physically connecting the neighborhood to the Bronx. This move raised questions about the neighborhood’s true identity and its place within New York City’s boroughs.
Over the next few decades, there were several attempts to annex Marble Hill to the Bronx. One notable attempt involved a Bronx borough president who even planted a Bronx County flag at the intersection of 225th Street and Jacobus Place. Despite these efforts, the neighborhood remained tied to Manhattan, legally speaking.
Marble Hill’s Legal Status: Manhattan or the Bronx?
In 1984, a Marble Hill resident made a bold statement when they refused to serve jury duty in Manhattan, claiming that they were a resident of Marble Hill in the Bronx. This led to a legal battle that would resolve the neighborhood’s official status once and for all.
The New York State Legislature stepped in, passing a law that declared Marble Hill part of New York County, which is the legal designation for Manhattan. Despite having a Bronx zip code and Bronx telephone area codes, Marble Hill is very much considered a part of Manhattan.
A Neighborhood with Two Identities
Though it is geographically connected to the Bronx, Marble Hill remains a unique piece of Manhattan— its unusual location and legal status make it one of the most interesting and debated neighborhoods in the city.
As you walk through Marble Hill, you can’t help but be reminded of the quirks of city planning and the unexpected ways that history shapes our understanding of place.