Todt Hill

History

The name Todt comes from the German word "Tod" for "death" and may refer to the cemetery (the present Moravian Cemetery, opened in 1740 and now the island's largest cemetery) on the southwestern foot of the ridge near the town of New Dorp that has been in use since colonial days. An alternate explanation is that the name was given by early Dutch settlers because of treeless rocky exposures on the hilltop, caused by the soil of the Staten Island Serpentinite locality.

At the beginning of the 20th century, many houses designed by the architect Ernest Flagg were built in the area. A significant part of Todt Hill is now included in the Staten Island Greenbelt.

Geography

The term Todt Hill is now often used to include the upscale developments in the hills along the eastern side of the ridge, which most island geographers classify as part of the neighborhood of Dongan Hills.

Two small, natural ponds are found on Todt Hill, and a Roman Catholic priory is located near the summit. Staten Island Academy, a private school, moved its campus to Todt Hill in the 1960s. There is a golf course adjoining the Moravian Cemetery, each of which has a man-made pond. Otherwise the hill is either parkland or private homes. There is no public transit available on Todt Hill, and most of the streets, including Todt Hill Road, the neighborhood's main thoroughfare, lack sidewalks.

The point of highest elevation is near the intersection of Todt Hill Road and Merrick Avenue.

Demographics

For census purposes, the New York City Department of City Planning classifies Todt Hill as part of a larger Neighborhood Tabulation Area called Todt Hill-Emerson Hill-Lighthouse Hill-Manor Heights SI0203. This designated neighborhood had 32,822 inhabitants based on data from the 2020 United States Census. This was an increase of 1,971 persons (6.4%) from the 30,851 counted in 2010. The neighborhood had a population density of 7.8 inhabitants per acre (14,500/sq mi; 5,600/km2).

The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 62.8% (20,597) White (Non-Hispanic), 4.1% (1,348) Black (Non-Hispanic), 19.8% (6,486) Asian, and 3% (971) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.4% (3,420) of the population.

According to the 2020 United States Census, this area has many cultural communities of over 1,000 inhabitants. This include residents who identify as Puerto Rican, German, Irish, Italian, Indian, and Chinese.

The largest age group was people 55-74 years old, which made up 24.9% of the residents. 75.1% of the households had at least one family present. Out of the 10,623 households, 57.1% had a married couple (22.4% with a child under 18), 3.1% had a cohabiting couple (1.2% with a child under 18), 14.3% had a single male (1.6% with a child under 18), and 25.4% had a single female (3.9% with a child under 18). 32.7% of households had children under 18. In this neighborhood, 30.3% of non-vacant housing units are renter-occupied.

Notable residents

• The Gambino crime family boss Paul Castellano lived there, in a house noted for its intended resemblance to the White House. His family continued to live on Todt Hill after his death, but moved in 2000.
• Mob Wives reality television star Drita D’Avanzo grew up in the Todt Hill Houses.
• Former New York Mets relief pitcher John Franco currently lives on the hill.
• The Corleone family compound from The Godfather was filmed on Todt Hill.
• Frank Matthews, a notorious drug kingpin in the 1970s, lived on Todt Hill.
• Frank Cali, acting boss of the Gambino crime family, was killed outside his home in Todt Hill on March 13, 2019.

Transportation

Todt Hill is served by multiple bus routes on Richmond Road, including the local buses, and the express bus.

References

References

1. Flegenheimer, Matt. (5 September 2011). "Todt Hill in Staten Island Offers a Different New York". The New York Times.
2. Sanderson, Eric. (2009). "Mannahatta A Natural History of New York City". Harry N. Abrams.
3. "Historywww.library.csi.cuny.edu".
4. (10 January 2012). "Top 3 Most Expensive Staten Island Homes Sold in 2011".
5. Douglas Keister. (2011). "Stories in Stone New York: A Field Guide to New York City Area Cemeteries and Their Residents". Gibbs Smith.
6. Frank, Dave. "Geology of National Parks".
7. Walsh, Kevin. (2006-08-26). "TODT HILL, STATEN ISLAND Part 1".
8. (2020). "Census Data for SI0203".
9. Raab, Selwyn. (2005). "Five Families : The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires". Thomas Dunne Books.
10. Andrea Boyarsky. (April 8, 2011). "New television show 'Mob Wives' follows four Staten Island women and their lifestyles". Staten Island Advance.
11. (March 14, 2019). "Todt Hill on Staten Island: Frank Cali's Neighborhood Is Known for Mob Ties". The New York Times.
12. (March 14, 2019). "Frank Cali, the Slain Gambino Boss, Was a 'Ghost' Who Avoided the Limelight". [[The New York Times]].
13. "Frank Cali of Gambino Crime Family Murdered In New York At Age 53". Def Pen.
14. {{Cite NYC bus map. S