Apparently this misleading information began to be circulated as a result of an incorrect minor but annoying error in reading a copy of Birth Certificate issued by the City of Yonkers.

Typically the old “hand written” details on a birth and death certificates as well as Various Licenses such as Drivers & Divorce and maybe marriages (I was not married in NY so don’t have one of those to reference), shows a location (address or hospital) followed by the COUNTY – usually abbreviated since many of the 62 counties in NY have rather long names. In my case WEST is the abbreviation used for Westchester County, followed by the City/Town/Village/etc. Today’s documents likely include Zip Codes

As an aside, Zip codes were not introduced until the early 60’s. I remember this because I was “given the job” to go to the local main post office and use their copy of the “reverse/address directory” to get the correct zips codes for mailing monthly bills to our customers.

Within the City of Yonkers, areas have “been known as” but these alias are not actually legal and for those who value factual details, are not helpful. Further, even as colloquialisms are not helpful and certainly not used by those “from Yonkers”.

As it happens, my family lived in what is often referred to as “North West Yonkers” But no, except for the improperly informed – not “West Yonkers” Oh, and No, YONKERS IS NOT PART OF NEW YORK CITY – it is North of the Bronx not, as I have read recently a part of the Bronx.

The above details of a birth certificate issued in “most of NYS” and definitely in the 1940’s & 50’s in located with in the COUNTY of Westchester in the CITY of Yonkers.