Южный Бронкс: от упадка к возрождению.

Beginning in the 1950s, the older, more developed parts of the Bronx experienced a socioeconomic shift due to a number of factors. The construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway displaced thousands and physically divided communities, Co op City in the northeast Bronx offered modern amenities and spacious apartments, and suburban communities outside New York City became more appealing with their auto centric lifestyle. As people with financial means began to leave, impoverished people often replaced them. White flight and abandonment only accelerated over time. By the late 1970s, many buildings in the greater South Bronx had been burnt out in an epidemic wave of arson. Scammers realized they could manipulate the system and collect insurance money after more lucrative tenants had fled. The area was severely run down as the community became increasingly disfranchised. At this time, crime reached such a level that the 41st Precinct building at 1086 Simpson Street became known by the police as "Fort Apache". The wave of arson eventually ended with the help of community groups such as Banana Kelly CIA, Inc. and SEBCO (South East Bronx Community Organization), who worked to bring recognition and protect the remaining apartment buildings in the greater South Bronx. What was left was a wasteland of abandoned buildings, vacant lots, filthy streets and a severe lack of even basic commercial amenities. During this period of time, the neighborhood was dealt another blow as violent crime hit historic highs during the crack epidemic. The police seemed to be fighting a losing battle as many young men in New York City were killed on the streets over drug turf. The greater South Bronx was one of the hardest hit areas, with a largely poor population which lacked local jobs, many began to turn to the lucrative drug trade. Some of the first federal funding in decades for new investment began in 1986 under the Ed Koch administration. In blighted neighborhoods across the city, various housing experiments were attempted. The NYCHA was one of the first agencies to create and renovate residential units in Longwood, the city soon followed up with independent, locally driven developments. This construction resulted in escalating reinvestment in these communities Continuing into the mid 1990s, local and federal governments invested over $550 million in new subsidized residential housing and the expansion of businesses and commerce. This period saw the construction of the South Bronx headquarters of the Police Athletic League of New York City and the relocation of the 41st Precinct of the NYPD from Simpson Street to Longwood Avenue. Based on data from the 2010 United States Census, the population of Longwood was 26,196, an increase of 3,114 (13.5%) from the 23,082 counted in 2000. Covering an area of , the neighborhood had a population density of
The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 1.5% (382) White, 22.4% (5,866) African American, 0.1% (32) Native American, 0.5% (135) Asian, 0.0% (9) Pacific Islander, 0.3% (78) from other races, and 0.6% (163) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 74.6% (19,531) of the population. The entirety of Community District 2, which comprises Longwood and Hunts Point, had 56,144 inhabitants as of NYC Health's 2018 Community Health Profile, with an average life expectancy of 78.9 years. This is lower than the median life expectancy of 81.2 for all New York City neighborhoods. Most inhabitants are youth and middle aged adults: 28% are between the ages of between 0–17, 29% between 25–44, and 21% between 45–64. The ratio of college aged and elderly residents was lower, at 12% and 10% respectively. In 2018, an estimated 29% of Longwood and Hunts Point residents lived in poverty, compared to 25% in all of the Bronx and 20% in all of New York City. One in eight residents (12%) were unemployed, compared to 13% in the Bronx and 9% in New York City. Rent burden, or the percentage of residents who have difficulty paying their rent, is 58% in Longwood and Hunts Point, compared to the boroughwide and citywide rates of 58% and 51% respectively. Based on this calculation, as of 2018, Longwood and Hunts Point are gentrifying. The total land area is roughly The terrain is somewhat hilly.

Southern Boulevard is a long standing, mixed use district. The Southern Boulevard Business Improvement District, formed in 2008, sits between the two points of closest proximity for the IRT Pelham and White Plains Road Lines. Other primary thoroughfares contain amenities like supermarkets, pharmacies, barbershops, hair salons, fast food, bodegas, and cheap shops.

The Crossings is a two level mall at the intersection of Hunts Point Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard. Initially, the project included a residential component, but was quickly scrapped, much to the dismay of the community.

The landmarked Longwood Historic District is located south of Longwood Avenue along Beck, Kelly, Dawson Streets and Hewitt Place. The district largely consists of semi detached row houses, most of which were designed by one architect, Warren C. Dickerson.

In 2006, an online news outlet The Hunts Point Express began reporting on Hunts Point and Longwood. It is written by students at Hunter College, edited by journalism professor Bernard L. Stein, and also appears in a print edition that is available for free at community centers, clinics, and stores throughout the neighborhood.

Longwood and Hunts Point are patrolled by the 41st Precinct of the NYPD, located at 1035 Longwood Avenue. The 41st Precinct ranked 67th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per capita crime in 2010. as of 2018, with a non fatal assault rate of 151 per 100,000 people, Longwood and Hunts Point's rate of violent crimes per capita is greater than that of the city as a whole. The incarceration rate of 1,036 per 100,000 people is higher than that of the city as a whole. The 41st Precinct was located at 1086 Simpson Street until 1993. The Simpson Street building currently houses the Bronx Detectives Bureau.

Longwood contains a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) fire station, Engine Co. 73/Ladder Co. 42, at 655 Prospect Avenue.

as of 2018, preterm births and births to teenage mothers are more common in Longwood and Hunts Point than in other places citywide. In Longwood and Hunts Point, there were 101 preterm births per 1,000 live births (compared to 87 per 1,000 citywide), and 36.2 births to teenage mothers per 1,000 live births (compared to 19.3 per 1,000 citywide).

Longwood is covered by multiple ZIP Codes. The area north of Longwood Avenue is part of 10459 and the area south of Longwood Avenue is part of 10455. Though there are no post offices located in Longwood's borders, the United States Postal Service operates the Hunts Point Station at 800 Manida Street in Hunts Point.

Longwood and Hunts Point generally have a lower rate of college educated residents than the rest of the city as of 2018. While 16% of residents age 25 and older have a college education or higher, 41% have less than a high school education and 43% are high school graduates or have some college education. By contrast, 26% of Bronx residents and 43% of city residents have a college education or higher. Longwood and Hunts Point's rate of elementary school student absenteeism is more than the rest of New York City. In Longwood and Hunts Point, 35% of elementary school students missed twenty or more days per school year, higher than the citywide average of 20%.

The New York Public Library operates two branches near Longwood. The Woodstock branch, a two story Carnegie library building opened in 1914, is located at 761 East 160th Street. The Hunts Point branch, a two story Carnegie library building opened in 1929, is located at 877 Southern Boulevard. The Hunts Point library, designed by Carrère and Hastings in the Italian Renaissance style, was the last Carnegie library built for the New York Public Library system and is a New York City designated landmark.

Colin Powell lived on both Kelly Street and Fox Street, and attended Morris High School.