Mount Vernon, New York
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Mount Vernon is a city located in Westchester County, New York, immediately north of New York City's The Bronx. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 68,381. A July 1, 2002 Census estimate showed the population at 68,615.
The city has three Metro North railroad stations: Mount Vernon West, Mount Vernon East and Fleetwood.
Denzel Washington, Ken Singleton, Dick Clark, Art Carney, Heavy D, Al (B Sure) Brown, Betty Shabazz, Ben Gordon, Gus Williams, Michael Imperioli and P. Diddy were born (or grew up) in Mount Vernon.
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Geography
Mount Vernon is located at 40°54'51" North, 73°49'50" West (40.914060, -73.830507)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.3 km² (4.4 mi²). 11.3 km² (4.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.46% water.
Neighborhoods
Residents usually define two distinct parts of Mount Vernon (North side and South side), whose dividing line is usually considered to be the tracks of the New Haven Line of Metro North commuter railroad. The North side of Mount Vernon contains Fleetwood, an upscale neighborhood of somewhat "high-end" shops, houses and apartments that seems to spiritually have more in common with the neighboring village of Bronxville than with the rest of the city. The South side of Mount Vernon contains many industries and is more densely populated than the North. The majority of the tax base for Mount Vernon is generated by the industrial section and retail shopping located on the South side.
Historically, the North side and South side had a racial/ethnic division as well, given that the South side is an almost exclusively African-American enclave (and has been since the 1960's) and the North side was mostly Italian, Jewish and Irish (in that order). However, since the late 1980's the "North side/South side" distinction has become more of a zoning-related and socio-economic divide and less of a racial/ethnic one as every part of the North side is now very much integrated, with the eastern sections tending to be majority Black and the western sections (including Fleetwood) majority White, but no neighborhood being entirely one or the other. In general (though there are a few exceptions) the neighborhoods of the North side remain more upscale and suburban than those of the South side. The city's website (see "external links" below) boasts that its residents come from 98 different countries around the world.
In 2004, a shopping mall opened on Sandford Blvd. in the hopes of economically revitalizing the South side and bringing in visitors who may not normally traverse the area (such as residents of neighboring upscale Pelham). The mall contains Target, T.J. Maxx, PETCO, and Bed, Bath + Beyond. Across the street a Best Buy and Staples store have opened as well.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 68,381 people, 25,729 households, and 16,672 families residing in the city. The population density is 6,055.5/km² (15,689.3/mi²). There are 27,048 housing units at an average density of 2,395.3/km² (6,205.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 28.63% White, 59.58% African American, 0.32% Native American, 2.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.85% from other races, and 4.44% from two or more races. 10.36% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. A significant portion of the White and/or Latino population (depending on if they classified themselves as Hispanic in the Census) are of Brazilian/Portuguese origin. Similarly, a significant part of the Black and/or Latino population is of West Indian/Caribbean origin.
There are 25,729 households out of which 31.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% are married couples living together, 23.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% are non-families. 30.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.63 and the average family size is 3.27.
In the city the population is spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 76.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $41,128, and the median income for a family is $49,573. Males have a median income of $36,493 versus $32,871 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,827. 14.2% of the population and 11.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.7% of those 65 y.o. and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Mount Vernon official website (http://www.ci.mount-vernon.ny.us/)
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