City Island, a small island in the northeastern Bronx, New York City, spans about 1.5 miles long and 0.5 miles wide. Originally inhabited by the Siwanoy band of Lenape Indians, it was part of a 50,000-acre tract purchased by Thomas Pell from the Lenape in 1654. Named Minnewits or Great Minnefords Island early on, it was bought in 1761 by Benjamin Palmer, who envisioned it as a major seaport to rival Manhattan and renamed it New City Island (later shortened to City Island). His plans were disrupt