Yonkers, Jennings Joan, Perelman Luis

Discover the rich history of Yonkers as local Joan Jennings walks through the citys neighborhoods, landmarks, and notable characters who called the city home.

A study in contrasts, Yonkers, a sprawling city 20 miles north of midtown Manhattan, traces its roots to early Dutch settlers. Yonkers has a history of retail, boasting one of the first shopping malls in the United States, but prides itself on its backbone of mom-and-pop businesses. Seabiscuit, the legendary racehorse, once stood in the winners circle at Yonkers Raceway. The city has 38 distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character and identity. Yonkers was home to some of the 19th centurys wealthiest industrialists and inventors whose innovations, such as the Otis safety elevator, Armstrongs FM radio, Harveys elevated railroad, and Smiths carpet looms, shaped the world we know today. Currently, the city with a rough-and-tumble, blue-collar waterfront is undergoing dramatic revitalization.