Political Formation and Topography 15 



the Harlem River on the west and the Bronx River, Cromwell's 

 Creek, and Mill Brook on the east. It presents a bold front 

 to the Harlem River all the way from Kingsbridge to Central 

 Bridge. Its southern terminus is known as Devoe's Point, 

 after one of the earlier proprietors, a descendant of the original 

 patentee, Daniel Turneur. This ridge is known as the Ford- 

 ham Ridge; its northern portion is called Woodlawn Heights. 

 Several brooks find their way down the easterly slope into the 

 Bronx River. The valley between Fordham Ridge and the 

 ridge on the easterly side of the Bronx valley is wide at its 

 southern part, allowing of several minor ridges forming the 

 valley of Mill Brook. 



The ridge forming the eastern side of the Bronx valley has 

 a considerable elevation at Wakefield and Williamsbridge, but 

 it falls away gradually toward the shores of the East River 

 and the Sound, so that they present in general the appearance 

 of low, salt meadows, which, at unusual high tides, are awash. 

 Castle Hill Neck below Unionport is an elevation of sixty feet, 

 separating Pugsley's and Westchester creeks. To the east- 

 ward of Westchester Creek is Throgg's Neck, which does not 

 rise higher than fifty feet. Before the Westchester meadows 

 were filled in, Eastchester Bay, the Sound, and Westchester 

 Creek virtually used to make an island of Throgg's Neck at 

 high tides. 



Tippett's Brook has its rise near Valentine's Hill in Yonkers 

 and empties into Spuyten Duyvil Creek, almost equally 

 dividing the former township of Kingsbridge. Its Indian 

 name was Mosholu. Just below High Bridge, there was 

 formerly a small stream emptying into the Harlem River, 

 which constituted the northern boundary of Turneur's patent ; 

 it has disappeared under modern improvements. A consider- 

 able extent of wet meadow lines the shore of the Harlem River 



